Live life on the wild side

ROANOKE RAPIDS — Think you have seen the river? Try it from the perspective of Winston-Salem author and photographer Carl Galie. He will bee the featured artist at Monday’s Halifax County Arts Council Sip & See reception at the council’s gallery.

Galie has been featured in Outdoor & Travel Photography Magazine, Woman's World Magazine, National Geographic's Scenic Highways and Byways, Outside Magazine, Ducks Unlimited Magazine, Our State Magazine and Backpacker Magazine to name a few. His photos have been used by The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife in North Carolina , Orion Afield Magazine, North Carolina Aquarium, Roanoke Canal Museum , Roanoke River Partners and the National Park Service.

“It’s going to be nice,” said Galie at a recent interview. I love being on the river. It became my first love when I started photographing the River Basin in my first book.”

Galie began his career in 1991 and has two books to his credit. “Vision Quest, A Visual Journey through North Carolina’s Lower Roanoke River Basin,” was published in 1999. This project was funded through an Emerging Artist Grant from the Winston-Salem, Forsyth County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council.

His latest work “175 Paces,” funded through a regional artist grant from the Winston-Salem, Forsyth County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council, was released in November 2008.

This book is inspired by the writings of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson and extols finding beauty in the ordinary. “It’s a photo study in simplicity,” said Galie. “It started when I went to my friend’s cabin and noticed all the beauty around me. People tell me there’s nothing to see around here and I wanted to show them what they’re missing.”

Galie said the images in “175 paces” were taken within 175 paces of the front gate of the cabin over the four seasons, “It’s sort of a Walden Pond experience.”

Galie said his first book was shot in 35mm and though he enjoys the quality of the median format, he prefers digital.

Galie shot “175 paces” digitally, and found the “instant gratification” to be satisfying. “You get a little better quality with the median format (35 mm), but with digital I can see instantly if I’ve got a good shot and there’s no processing. All you have to do is print.”

Twenty-six of Galie’s photos are on display at the Art Council Gallery at 1027 Roanoke Avenue. Galie will speak briefly on his work Monday night at  6:30, and he’ll share some photography tips, “If anybody wants’em,” he said good naturedly.

His books will also be available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be served and Sip and See is open to the public.

Galie’s work will be displayed at the Halifax County Arts Council Gallery through July 31.