Photography is a labor of love for Henry Hartman at the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show
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Henry Hartman doesn't confine his photography to the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show. He also operates Creative Images, where he specializes in categories such as nature and wildlife, oil field and advertising and industrial advertising.
For more information, e-mail ...
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Henry Hartman doesn't confine his photography to the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show. He also operates Creative Images, where he specializes in categories such as nature and wildlife, oil field and advertising and industrial advertising.
For more information, e-mail him at hhart@suddenlink.net.
Looking to find Henry Hartman? Catch him if you can.
During the two-day South Texas Farm and Ranch show, the 64-year-old Dallas native was on the move.
Hartman has worked as the show's photographer for seven years, finding the action, capturing it with the click of a button and moving on.
His day began at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, meandering in and out of the Victoria Community Center.
"I always take a sunrise picture," he said, his light blue eyes rivaling the darker blue of his button-down shirt. "Today it was just too cloudy. But I got a nice one yesterday."
He also avoids traditional photos, with people grinning at the camera.
"You want the candid shots," Hartman said with a glance around the Victoria Community Center's dome. "You want to see the people looking at the equipment or asking questions at the booths, gaining knowledge. That's what I'm looking for."
Photography wasn't always Hartman's focus.
Before stepping behind the lens, he was a science teacher at schools including Stroman High School, Patti Welder Middle School and, after consolidation, the Memorial High School Stroman campus.
He took part in a technology program at Patti Welder and, after completion, the school received money to put technology in the classroom. Hartman purchased digital cameras.
"The only problem was no one knew how to use them," he said, smiling. "So I took one to figure it out."
After playing around with it and working with the printers, scanners and programs he had also purchased for the school, Hartman improved and people began wanting to purchase his photos.
With no professional training, Hartman said he learned much of what he knows from friends willing to offer advice.
"I'm kind of like a little chimp among gorillas," he said. "You know, you do the best you can."
His work at the farm and ranch show is pro bono, he said, calling it his "community project." He often doesn't leave the show until 8:30 or 9 p.m., he said, until everyone is packed up.
Without Hartman, there would be no pictorial history of the show, Victoria County Extension Agent Joe Janak said, adding that the money Hartman saves them means more can go into the show and its programs.
"We're fortunate to have him," Janak said.
And the lack of payment doesn't phase Hartman.
As long as a person enjoys what he's doing, he said, it doesn't seem like work.
"I'll tell you," he said as he cleaned a foggy lens, "they fouled up and gave me the most fun job of the bunch."
Comments
Henry is a great guy! I've only known him for a short while, but anyone willing to sacrifice day after day, month on end shooting wildlife photos has my respect.
October 30, 2009 at 12:52 a.m.Henry always has a kind and sincere smile that makes you instantly feel better. God bless!