Mountain Light Opens July 11

RIDGWAY – Mountain Light – an exhibition of Colorado photographs by local photographer Jim Pettengill – will open at the Ridgway Public Library on Saturday, July 11. An opening reception with refreshments will be held between 4 and 7 p.m.

Pettengill first visited the San Juan Mountains in 1961, while on vacation with his parents. After falling in love with the dramatic scenery of the Southwest, he eventually left Western New York to attend graduate school at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where he received a Master of Science degree in geology. While pursuing a career in geology with the U. S. Department of the Interior, Pettengill returned to the San Juans regularly. He retired to Ouray County with his wife Kathy in 1999.

Pettengill has been a freelance writer and photographer for 25 years, with more than 130 feature articles and hundreds of photographs sold to national magazines. He specializes in the history of the American West, history-related travel, and vintage motorsports. He is a member of Western Writers of America and the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.

“There’s always a story behind every photograph,” Pettengill says, “so each of my images in this exhibit has a brief story attached that tells its tale. There is quite a variety of images – narrow-gauge railroading, historic mining structures, dramatic scenery, and a few surprises.”

Pettengill’s recent publications have included articles on area ghost towns for Wild West Magazine, travel articles on the San Juan Skyway and Colorado Route 141 for Classic Motorsports, and articles for the Ridgway Railroad Museum’s just-published book of area railroad history. Recent photographic awards have included People’s Choice at the 2008 Ouray County Historical Society show and the Alpine Bank Purchase Award at the 2008 Artist’s Alpine Holiday.

Pettengill's show at the Ridgway Library will remain on display until Aug. 7.