"Recent Journeys" Photographs by John Fletcher

JOHN FLETCHER’S PHOTOGRAPHS, “RECENT JOURNEYS”

IS STETSON GALLERY SEPTEMBER EXHIBITION

The masterful photographs of John Fletcher will be featured in the Stetson Art Gallery in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead during the month of September. The opening reception for Fletcher’s exhibit, “Recent Journeys,” will be held Sunday, Sept. 9, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the church, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead.

John Fletcher’s photographs glow with the light and color he finds in his many travels throughout the world. Whether it’s the craggy face of a camel driver, the wistful gaze of a four-year-old monastery novitiate, or an exotic landscape, Fletcher finds subjects that intrigue and captivate the viewer. His motto is a quote from St. Augustine: "The world is a book and those who don't travel read only one page."

The Stetson Gallery exhibit will include a selection of images from Fletcher’s recent trips to Bhutan and Myanmar (formerly Burma.) While both countries are almost exclusively Buddhist, Fletcher says, “the similarity ends there.” His pictures reflect the exceptional beauty and variety of both countries.

John Fletcher started taking pictures as a young boy, using a Kodak Brownie box camera. “My fascination with the images I created with that little box kindled a life-long interest and involvement with the medium, he explains.  I try to use the camera as a tool for artistic expression, concentrating on composition and subject matter.”

Fletcher’s strong interest in travel photography has led him and his wife, Debby, to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.  “In addition to documenting our travels, I try to capture the human condition in the countries we visit, along with the natural beauty we observe,” Fletcher says.  Travels to Sub-Saharan Africa and his passion for photographing African wildlife led him to publish a book, Images of South Africa & Botswana, available through the bookstore at www.blurb.com.

John Fletcher’s images have been exhibited at the Marblehead Arts Association, the Marblehead Festival of the Arts and several private venues, garnering multiple awards, including Best of Show, Outstanding Work, Honorable Mention and Photojournalism.  He has also received recognition and awards in local and international photography competitions through the Greater Lynn Photographic Association.

For further information about John Fletcher’s “Recent Journeys,” contact Stetson@uumarblehead.org.