Ben Pearson – “Lakescapes of the Rangeleys”

Opening Reception:
Friday, July 29, 2022 5:00-6:30 PM
The exhibit continues through August 18, 2022

Ben Pearson’s love affair with the Rangeley region began with his first early childhood memory – catching a  16” brook trout from a Rangeley boat with his dad. He was age 4. And although their remote camp, Deer Park Lodge, in the Narrows of Richardson Lake was always home base, Ben has pursued exploration of all the nooks and crannys of Maine and beyond with adventures such as a 3200 mile circumnavigation of New England and Atlantic Canada by sea kayak, to traversing Baxter State Park in the winter on xc skis over a dozen times, and guiding wilderness canoe trips down Maines great rivers such as the Allagash, St Croix and the Penobscot. Wild remote places with the power of the elements and big vistas have always been an attraction for Ben. His first stint in outdoor photography ended when his Pentex K1000 floated away in its dry bags off the coast of Nova Scotia. 30 years later with the mentorship of his two dear friends, John and Cindy Orcutt (Orcutt Photography), Ben re- equipped and set out to capture the natural beauty of the Rangeley region, especially what he calls “Lakescapes” , those places in the Rangeleys that still offer up the wild ,remote, big vistas that put him in a mood of awe and reverence.

“But there is something else, a grounded wholeness you often feel in the Rangeleys that is missing in the hectic swirl of our workaday lives.

This primal consciousness can be awakened by the raw elements such as the roar of the northwest wind, and its galloping white caps, and then take a new form with sunset, as a sublime hush descends over the land. “   From the introduction of “The Rangeleys”

This exhibit will feature many of the photographs found in Ben’s recently published , and highly acclaimed book, The Rangeleys – A photographic journey through an iconic region of Maine, which was featured on the 207 TV show, as well as some newer work created since the book. In addition to the 207 segment Ben’s photographs have been featured in Maine Boats, Home, and Harbor, and Maine The Way magazines and recently his Blue Moon Thunderstorm photo was chosen by Downeast magazines photo editor ,Ben Williamson, as one of his top 20 favorites of 2021. Although close to selling out at this writing Ben promises to hold back some signed books to have available during this show.