Les Campbell's Quabbin Exhibition

Les Campbell may be the most eminent photographer in Western Massachusetts. Having reached the age of 85 this summer, he is still active as a teacher and lecturer. Not least, he is an inspiration to younger photographers in the area, including myself.

Over the years Les has rescued large numbers of historical photographs depicting life in the area flooded by the Quabbin Reservoir, which was constructed in the 1930s to provide water to Boston, 90 miles to the east. He began working at the reservoir in 1944, and still lives close by in Belchertown.

Recently he has organized funds to underwrite that preservation project more substantially and as an outgrowth he is staging an exhibition at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It's in a library, which accounts for the student sitting at the monitor, while Les gives a brief tour. As here, most of the show displays historical photos juxtaposed with Les's color images showing the same area after the reservoir flooded it. The entire project is a true labor of love.

An earlier tribute to Les is here (though a bit repetitive, it gives a good sense of his many achievements and awards). I did a blip of his studio last month.