Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

‘If These Walls Could Talk’ featured at Carri Bass Photography Studio and Gallery 

 

TRYON—Columbus resident Jeff Dale may be a local photographer, but his work and experiences have taken him across the county, around the world and now to downtown Tryon.

Dale was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, left for the Navy in his early 20s and started his photographic journey at the Naval Photographic Intelligence course in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he learned the basics of taking good photos. 

“One of the instructors was also a professional photographer outside of the Navy and he took me aside and told me that I have an eye for composition and tonal balance,” says Dale, who bought one of the photographer’s cameras. “I started taking more high-level pictures at that point.”

During his 30 years in the Navy and Coast Guard Dale traveled to 36 countries. While based in San Diego he competed in rodeos and boxing tournaments. He later worked as a photographer at studios in South Dakota and Michigan. Dale, who has Norwegian roots, says his travels through Scandinavia with its history and scenery inspired him the most. 

“I’m a very slow photographer,” says Dale. “I like to get to a scene, wander around and find the best angle and really work on trying to get the image in my mind before I actually pull out the camera and do the physical part of taking the photograph.”

Dale’s work will be on display at Carri Bass Photography Studio and Gallery at 158 North Trade St. in Tryon beginning with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. during Fourth Friday on July 28. The exhibit is called “If These Walls Could Talk” and features photos of abandoned barns and homes, as well as photos of scenes from around the world. The exhibit runs through August 20.