Leon Maxson is CAAC featured artist for February, March

Leon Maxson of Creston began his work as a photographer during his military service. He was offered a position in the photo lab and found his passion there. After six or eight weeks he was told about an opening at a military photography school and spent 16 weeks there.

After finishing his tour in the military he went on to more schooling at Pitsburg State University in Kansas earning his undergraduate degree and becoming a staff member there running the photography program and teaching for five years. He then went to Ft. Hays State University and taught photography and headed up the photography lab as well as obtaining a master’s degree during his five years there.

Maxson then came to Iowa and worked for Southwestern Community College for two years, then went to Ottumwa where he worked with administrators of schools and taught photography at Indian Hills Community College.

“I’ve shot just about every type of picture that you can shoot,” said Maxson.

Maxson has had photos in numerous university publications and now belongs to the photography club in Creston.

“I think the thing that’s enabled me to get different kinds of pictures is because I carry my camera and I’m always looking beyond the surface at what would make a good picture,” said Maxson.

Maxson knows that there are different things to look for depending on the category of photography that he is working on. In sports photography he recognizes that consentration is the most important thing. The photography needs to ge the looks on the sportsman’s face and be able to convey the energy of the moment in the photo. Whereas in nature photography he says patience is the most important thing. Maxson believes nature photographers need show depth in the photos without distracting from the thing being emphasized.

Maxson has worked with many types of cameras and styles of developing photos over the years. He has negatives of photos from the early 1950’s from his military days. With degrees in technology Maxson has been keen to learn different editing styles and likes to give some of his photos texture.

“I do what I want to do and shoot what I want to shoot. It satisfies an inner need in me and I hope you like it but if you don’t maybe there will be one coming up that you do,” said Maxson.

Leon Maxson’s photography will be on display at the Clarke Area Arts Council’s art wall in the Lakeside Hotel & Casino events entrance lobby February and March. Maxson’s artist reception is 2-4 p.m. Saturday Feb. 8 at the CAAC art wall.