January 21, 2014

EXTRA: Jan Bell, my friend and colleague turns 60 today


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, get out the party hats and horns because my good buddy and confidant, Jan Bell, the well known and highly accomplished photographer based in Bowling Green, Ohio, is celebrating his 60th. birthday today.

I met Jan seven or eight years ago when he was in this area on a photo trek. He had stumbled across some of my old photos on the Internet of Lagunitas Creek, so I had the opportunity to show him where I had been snapping my colorful ripple and reflection images. Jan LOVES this area, especially the peaceful environs near Bolinas and Point Reyes Station.

Jan Bell's work is coveted by both private and institutional collectors, and has the skills necessary to win competitions at the drop-of-a-hat. He has been exceedingly patient with me, and has taught me volumes about photographic and Photoshop techniques. Jan is a true artist and creativity comes naturally to Jan, as he had a long career in Ohio with WBGU-TV as a graphic artist.

I snapped that photo of Jan (above) at Point Lobos State Park, south of Carmel a few years ago. We were retracing the footsteps of Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, focusing our lenses on the same old dead and gnarled Cypress that our idols had photographed years before. It's always fun when Jan finds time to visit here in the West. Always educational to pick his brain for specifics on technique. Over the years I've been able to help Jan with the HTML on his website and I recommend you visit his site at Bellimages.com.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   


2 comments:

Zoomie said...

What un for you to have such a like minded friend. His images are stunning and his website a marvel.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

The man does have some wonderful photos. Wow! I can only dream.

 
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