A Photographic View Of

 ‘When Fall Comes To New England’

An exhibition of photographs entitled “When Fall Comes to New England: A Short Lived Gift to Behold” will open at Cyrenius Booth Library in Newtown on Sunday, November 7. The work, by former Newtown resident Tom Kretsch, was inspired by the words and music from singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler’s song of a similar title, which captures the moods and feelings of this season of change.

With an eye for color, texture, shape and form, Mr Kretsch has assembled an essay of images depicting the splendor of this glorious but short-lived magical time. Along the shoreline, deep in the woods, across the meadows and by the rivers he has captured this season’s beauty: life’s last gasps before winter’s long cold sleep.

In this explosion of color and ending of the harvest season, “winter’s warning race across the sky,” as Wheeler so poetically sings. With camera in hand and an eye for the magic of light, Mr Kretsch has traveled both near and far in the beautiful landscape of New England to bear witness to this time of the year.

“The light in the fall is very special: whether it be the soft morning glow on a golden meadow, or on foggy gray morning along the water’s edge or just after a rain on a misty day light becomes that precious ingredient necessary for the mood and message of my images,” said the photographer.

A graduate of Newtown High School when there were probably more cows than people in Newtown, Mr Kretsch graduated from Springfield College, served in the Peace Corps, and went on have a very rewarding and satisfying career as a physical education teacher in the Norwalk Public Schools. His love for photography grew out of an interest in capturing the faces of children learning and growing, and he produced yearly visual and musical shows depicting the life of his school.

Over time his passion for photography turned to the natural world and his vision of peaceful and soothing places. He began his business Peaceful Places (PeacefulPlacesPhoto.com) and for the last 15 years has shown his work in galleries and art festivals throughout New England. His work is in the permanent collections of RBC Dain Rauscher, St Vincent’s Hospital, Wake See and Dimes, Morgan Stanley and Fairfield County Bank.

He has had one man shows at Good News Café, River Gallery, The Westport Library and Photographic Solutions in Norwalk. He has received awards at art shows including the Wilton Arts Council 2009 Best in Show, The Richter Park Arts Center, Mystic Arts Show and Trumbull Arts Festival.

“Having grown up in Newtown and graduated from high school here, it is nice to have a chance to share my work in the library,” said Mr Kretsch, who will host an opening reception for “When Fall Comes To New England” on Sunday, November 7, from 2 to 4 pm.

The exhibit will remain on view until December 5. For more information call the library at 203-426-4533.