McCurry, O'Brien exhibt in Central Texas

After spending 5 years driving for hours and braving the downtown Dallas or Austin traffic, just to spend an hour or so looking at some great photographs, I now have local exhibits of two amazing artists right in my backyard. (now you know why it's easier for me collect books) Michael O’Brien who has worked as a freelance magazine photographer for more than 25 years, for publications such as, Texas Monthly, National Geographic, Esquire, Life, Vanity Fair, ESPN, Time, Fortune and Forbes has opened an exhibit in the little Texas town of Belton (pop. 15,000) and just 15 min from where I work. Michael is also the author of an excellent portrait book called "The Face of Texas" featuring environmental portraits of some of Texas' best known personalities such as President Bush, Willie Nelson, Michael Dell and George Strait. But, my favorite images are that of some local colorful characters like the Anahuac, Texas Gatorfest Queen of 1989 and Ran Horn, an eccentric artist from Van Horn, Texas. With stories written by his wife, Elizabeth O'Brien this book and showing are on my definite not-to-miss list. The exhibit runs at the Bell County Museum until August 25th.

World reknown photojournalist Steve McCurry also opened a nine month long showing of "South by Southeast" at the Art Center of Waco. Although most recognized for his 1985 National Geographic photograph of a young emerald eyed Afgan girl, McCurry is also the author of several books. My favorites among them include, Monsoon and South by Southeast. While McCurry is one of my favorite photographers, I do have to admit that his 2005 book Sanctuary is not one of my favorites.I find it more a landscape and travel feature of the Temples at Angkor Wat then what I would consider a piece of documentary journalism. While the printing is slightly subdued and book somewhat small in size, the photographs are exquisite but just missing alot of the human emotion and facial expession that I have come to admire in Steve McCurry. For landscape, travel and those interested in Asia, esp. Angkor Wat it is a must have, but for documentarians I would pass this one up for South by Southeast or Monsoon.