Acclaimed photographer Wyman Meinzer to visit Brownwood

Friday August 26, 2005
News

Meinzer sets book signings, open house

Wyman Meinzer will be at the grand opening of Newman Farms Unique Art, Etc., next to Steves' Deli, 110 E. Chandler, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Meinzer's book and note cards will be available for purchase. Steves' Deli will be also open during the same hours. For more information, call Novella Newman at 646-6361.
Meinzer will also be at an open house at Gallery One Fine Arts, 504 Center Ave., where his books and prints will also be available. For more information, call 646-3520 or (800) 847-4316.
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Friday August 26, 2005
News
Acclaimed photographer Wyman Meinzer to visit Brownwood
By Gene Bering -- Brownwood Bulletin

Wyman Meinzer knows a thing or two about cowboying, so he didn't hesitate when offered the chance to capture the spirit of one of Texas' legendary ranches.
"Getting to shoot the Four Sixes Ranch, I felt it was almost a reflection of the life I had as a youngster," the photographer said. "I was real excited when I was asked to do this. I'd started out in my career shooting wildlife and moved into other areas, but I always wanted to to have a chance to interpret the heart and soul of a working ranch."
He teamed up with author Henry Chappell to document life and legend at the 290,000-plus acre ranch headquartered in Guthrie, and the result is "6666: Portrait of a Texas Ranch," his 18th book, published earlier this year by Texas Tech University Press.
And Saturday he'll be making a pair of appearances in Brownwood to sign books and visit with admirers of his art.
Meinzer will first be at the grand opening of Newman Farms Unique Art, Etc., adjacent to Steves' Deli at 110 E. Chandler, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The visit is slightly more than a business venture -- hosting the event is Novella Newman, the mother of Meinzer's wife, Sylinda.
Then from 6 until 8 p.m. Meinzer will be featured at an open house at Gallery One Fine Arts, 504 Center Ave.
Meinzer grew up near Benjamin, north of Abilene, and learned early about ranch life -- his father for 30 years was the foreman of the League Ranch, a 27,000-acre spread in Knox County. He learned to hunt and was trained to be a cowboy, but after graduation from Benjamin High School he entered Texas Tech, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management in 1974.
"I was doing research on coyotes and Texas Tech loaned me a camera," he said. "I was immediately attracted to the capabilities of a 35mm camera."
He had plans to become a government trapper in Reagan County, but the job fell through, so he decided to continue hunting and trapping on his own.
He became a "professional coyote trapper" for three years, living in a half-dugout on a ranch, trapping and shooting coyotes and selling their pelts. All the while he improved his photography skills and upgraded his equipment, absorbing everything he could about the craft.
Meinzer's photography started drawing notice in the late 1970s, and he became a regular contributor to Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. Before long, his work began appearing in National Wildlife, Texas Highways, American Hunter, Audubon, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream and Sports Afield, as well as in magazines in Europe and Japan.
In 1978, near the end of his hunter/trapper days, he discovered a roadrunner's nest near his father's house, and began to document the bird's life. A few years later he found another nest, then a third. The result in 1993 was "Roadrunner," his first book, published by Texas Tech University Press.
Since then, his books have focused on topics including Texas' coyotes, playa lakes, skies, canyons, seasons and its vanishing natural heritage.
After an estimated 250,000 images and 18 books, he's not one to pick a favorite title or theme, but Meinzer said he is slightly partial to "6666: Portrait of a Texas Ranch;" 2002's "Texas Rivers," with text by legendary Texas author John Graves; and 1998's "Texas Sky."
And set for release in February is "Between Heaven and Texas," which Meinzer describes as sort of a "sequel" to "Texas Sky," but featuring poetry by a number of contributors, principally acclaimed poet/essayist Naomi Shihab Nye.
Meanwhile, the accolades have accumulated. Meinzer was voted "Outstanding Alumnus" in 1987 by the department of Range and Wildlife Management at Texas Tech University for contributing to the field of range and wildlife management through writing and photography. He was the recipient of the "Distinguished Alumnus" award in 1995 from the School of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University.
In 1996, Meinzer received the "John Ben Sheppard Jr. Award" from the Texas State Historical Foundation for contributing to the preservation of Texas History through writing and photography. With Andrew Sansom, he received the 1997 National Literary Award for their work on the book, "Texas Lost: Vanishing Heritage."
"Roadrunner" received the San Antonio Conservation Award, and in 1997, then Gov. George W. Bush and the 75th Legislature of Texas designated Meinzer "State Photographer of Texas."
Most recently, Meinzer has been near Alpine, shooting production stills for "Texas Ranch House," the latest offering from New York PBS affiliate WNET/Thirteen that places contemporary people in the settings of earlier times. Previous such miniseries have included "Frontier House" and "Colonial House."
"It's all about families and cowboys living on a Texas ranch in 1967," Meinzer said, "and everything is consistent with the period -- the dress, the tools, the living conditions. It's a tough period, primitive. They're raising goats, horses, and have about 120 head of cattle. Right now in the show they've been driving the cattle to sell to the military, the way they did it back then."
As far as his craft goes, Meinzer has embraced digital technology. "I still enjoy shooting film, but digital has a place, and it's a big place. It's quick, immediate, and you can review instantly and edit what you don't want."
On the other hand, he said, "I'm glad I learned photography using film, because film teaches you to be almost perfect... Regular film photography teaches a certain discipline that you won't be able to get with digital."
Meinzer and his wife Sylinda still live in Benjamin, in the 1887-vintage Knox County Jail they remodeled. Three years ago they completed an annex addition to the jail "compound." The jail can be booked for weekend getaways or events like weddings or receptions.
The Meinzers have four children: Sarah, studying nursing at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth; Hunter, a horse trainer in California; Pate, a horse trainer and cowboy at the Tongue River Ranch near Paducah; and Maggie, majoring in pre-veterinary studies at Texas Tech University.
Meinzer said he realizes his has been an extraordinary career, with its own rewards.
"My photography has given me countless opportunities to see regions of the state that most people will never get to see," he said, "and to meet a multitude of people, some of the finest people that I'd never get to meet otherwise. There are some special souls in the most obscure locations."
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2005/08/26/news/news02.txt