Summit Through the Lens
Beautiful and commanding subjects are as plentiful in Summit County as snowflakes in winter. Not surprisingly, they pique the imaginations of photographers, luring many to settle here and set up shop.
Those “shops” often include a gallery that showcases the owner’s work.
Each of Summit County’s photographer-owned galleries is as unique as the talents of its proprietor.
Individual interests and technical differences among local photographers can be substantial, but that’s what makes the end product all the more fascinating and rewarding.
As well, these inspired entrepreneurs further enhance the region’s artistic standing by exhibiting works of other exciting regional, national and international artists.
Join us, then, as we meet this richly diverse group of photographers and explore their galleries.
Todd Powell
Todd Powell Photography Gallery
Todd Powell moved to Summit County in 1986 as a freelance commercial photographer. In 2001, he began selling prints from his extensive image files to collectors at art shows in the region while continuing his commercial assignments.
He now is in his fourth year of operating his own photo gallery on Main Street in Frisco.
“There’s a wonderful social aspect to having the gallery,” he explains.
“Now I see people all the time, and really enjoy getting to know locals and second homeowners. Here there’s a constant flow of interesting people from all parts of the globe. I enjoy being able to share the scenes that I see and photograph with people.”
Since his wife, Tracy, became a partner in the gallery in 2007 helping with customers, printing, framing and other business items, Todd has been concentrating even more on shooting.
“I’ve been photographing a lot in the panorama format. It’s challenging because not everything lines up like a panorama.”
211 Main Street, Frisco
970-668-2280
www.toddpowell.com
Timothy Faust
Altitude Gallery
Timothy Faust spent last spring photographing in China, Tibet and Nepal, then returned to the U.S. to photograph New England for a month last fall. 
He is now back in Summit County doing scenic photography as well as portraits and weddings.
His work has been seen in publications such has National Geographic Adventure and Outside.
He also writes a weekly photography column in the Summit Daily.
He shoots digitally, but missed the feel of film and his first love, black and white photography.
So, he’s developed digital techniques for black and white, including the use of a digital infrared camera that recreates some of the aspects of that film.
Timothy has a chemistry degree and taught science before studying photography.
Altitude Gallery, which he opened in 2008, displays the work of local and international photographers, with ten percent of the proceeds being donated to charity.
In addition, Timothy plants 30 trees for every couple whose wedding he photographs through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.
107 N. Main Street, Breckenridge
970-453-2192
www.altitudegallery.com
Matt Lit
LITfoto
Matt Lit has been a photographer for more than 30 years and a photography educator at Colorado Mount
ain College since 1995.
Matt shoots digitally for his award-winning wedding, portrait and dog photos, but also receives international attention — awards and shows — for images created with a Holga toy plastic camera. He loves the serendipity and dream-like images the cheap toy produces.
“They look like old photos,” Matt says, “but then there’s something incongruent which questions the timing and the date.
My whole life seems to be about serendipity, so the toy camera is just an extension of that.”
In early 2008, Lit founded the Lake Dillon Art Center in the Dillon Town Center. LDAC is a non-profit organization featuring art and photography workshops, Open Artist Studios, a gallery and other creative programming.
115 Village Place
Dillon Town Center
Dillon, CO 80435
970-262-2006
www.LITfoto.com
www.LakeDillonArtCenter.org
David Pfau
Breckenridge Photographics
David Pfau shoots large format cameras: 4x5 and 8x10..jpg)
“I still shoot film,” he says, and prints his own images from color positives using traditional lab techniques.
David came to Summit County in 1991 with a Master’s degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, and fresh from a job with National Geographic.
For years, he photographed weddings and portraits, but now specializes in expert retail camera sales.
One of David’s most fantastic images is entitled Star Trails, a six hour exposure by campfire light which lets the stars produce enough light to expose the sky and surroundings.
He also specializes in documenting Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch and Spruce Creek.
500 S. Main Street, La Cima Mall,
Breckenridge
970-547-1518
www.breckphoto.com
Terry Talty is the editor of the contemporary art criticism website www.unsafeArt.com . She formerly wrote the weekly column “Out to Lunch” for the Summit Times, and is continuing this style of interview with Colorado artists.
