Sometimes

we notice the minute changes in the appearance of an

object when it is affected by a change of some sort, but

typically, the object remains the object for us and we

take that unique vision for granted. For Harry Callahan,

a change in light, time or camera position, would create

fantastic new objects and scenes out of what seems

ordinary or plain. The High Museum of Art Folk Art and

Photography Galleries will be displaying his work from

1981-1996 through Nov. 7.

Callahan

was born in 1912 and did not make a serious move into

photography until 1941. He had just witnessed a

presentation by Ansel Adams and had decided to quit his

accounting job and make a go at being a photographer.

Over the next 36 years, Callahan honed his skills through

experimentation. He often explored a single subject or

theme through numerous images, changed only slightly but

creating radically different compositions.

Callahan

established himself as a master of black and white

photography and then moved to almost exclusively shooting

in color. Callahan taught photography at such

institutions as Institute of Design in Chicago, Black

Mountain College in North Carolina, Rhode Island School

of design, and the University of California, Berkley. He

retired from teaching in 1977 and moved to Atlanta in

1983.

The

majority of the photographs in the exhibit were taken in

the South, especially Atlanta. Habitual walks in the

Peachtree area inspired him to photograph the evolving

city scene. It was also one of the only times that he

went back and shot some black and white photos, an

extended series devoted to north Georgia grasses and

trees outside his home near Ansley Park.

"Callahan

made photography his life," said Tom Southall,

curator of photography at the High Museum. "The last

of Callahan's works have an almost effortless subtlety

and control that comes from a lifetime of experience, and

have a special interest to us because so many of his last

works were devoted to exploring our city."

The High

Museum of Art Folk Art and Photography Galleries are

located downtown in the Georgia-Pacific Center at 133

Peachtree Street. The gallery is open Monday through

Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.

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