Brian Alworth goes behind the camera

Most people know Brian Alworth for his weather forecasts on KFVS, channel 12. But now he's sharing another of his talents.

Alworth will be showing his landscape film photography from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Crowe Gallery, 13 S. Spanish St. Alworth said he will be exhibiting some of his more interesting landscapes in both color and black and white.

"It felt like it had been so long since I had a show, and I thought it would be fun to show people what I do," he said.

Alworth said he is looking forward to people coming in and having their perceptions changed about photography and himself.

"I want to surprise people and for them to look at my photos and say, ‘Wow.' I want to see their reactions," Alworth said. "I also enjoy hearing honest opinions. I learn from why people don't like shots. Being an artist, you never know how good you are until you put it out there. It would be nice to get objective opinions."

Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, by Brian Alworth

Alworth said people are always surprised by the quality of his shots, and he is inspired by a love of the art form.

"I found I have a good eye," he said. "This is my artistic outlet."

Alworth said some of his favorite locations to photograph are the Four Corners region and the Smoky Mountains.

"One thing I love about photography is it forces me to be in beautiful places and shoot remote places," he said.

Alworth said he loves the beautiful views of canyons, colors and American Indian ruins of the Southwest. He described photography as "contemplative."

Smokey Mountain Stream by Brian Alworth

"I get to experience real solicitude," Alworth said.

He often hikes out to remote locations at sunrise and photographs the light and colors changing over the landscape. Alworth also said he uses film over digital cameras for the experience.

"There is a quiet, deliberate and contemplative process involved in the creating of an image on a manual, non-metered large format film camera," he said. "With enough software, perhaps the image can be duplicated but most assuredly the experience cannot."

Alworth said photography has been a serious hobby for the past 20 years.

"My first camera was an inexpensive Pentax given as a gift, and it was love at first sight; or more precisely, at first roll," he said.

Alworth has always had a love for the outdoors, and photography a was natural extension of that, he said.

"At first my photography was about documenting hiking and camping trips, and I would take time and frame my shots, but I quickly became bored with the unimaginative ‘postcard' look of these snapshots, and soon landscape photography became the actual goal of my excursions," he said.

Alworth said Dr. David Crowe served as a mentor an will host today's show.

"I want to let people know who I am, that I am more than who am I on TV, and come away with an appreciation for art and photography," Alworth said.

Want to go?

What: Brian Alworth photography show

When: 4 to 7 p.m. today

Where: Crowe Gallery

Info: 334-7110

Pertinent address:

13 S. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO