I am a visual person and have always loved taking photographs.  After graduating from college many moons ago, my mother gave me a 35mm camera and a book by Freeman Patterson called "For the Joy of Photography."  I snapped a lot of photos through various travels and as I went about my business career, and then concentrated on my family.  I never did get around to reading the book.

Somewhere along the way, I became fascinated with Ansel Adams and his images of Yosemite and the southwest.  In 1995 my family vacationed in Yosemite and this trip inspired me to take my first photography class at the Indianapolis Art Center.  Coincidentally, my instructor, Mike Bowman, had been an assistant for Ansel Adams!  My passion for photography was ignited.

Thirteen years later, after taking several darkroom classes at the Art Center, and participating in workshops at Taos, New Mexico and St. John, New Brunswick (twice), my love for photography has only grown stronger.  My workshop instructor in New Brunswick was Freeman Patterson, author of the book my mother gave me so many years ago.  He taught me visual design, among other things, and is one of my mentors.  I have now read most of his books.

Photography is actually a spiritual practice for me.  It keeps me grounded, present, and connected to the natural world.  My goals in presenting my work are twofold: to help others to pay attention to the beauty of the natural world that is always around us and to help people sense that humans are, in fact, not separate from nature, but deeply connected and interdependent.

Exhibit - "God is Light" is permanently hung in a conference room at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis.

Email: kimmanleyort@mac.com

Web: http://www.kimmanleyort.com

phone: (317) 407-3751