Neal Wells' photostream

I've been blacksmithing since 1981, most recently I make a line of tongs for handling graphite crucibles used in the precious metals refining industry to recover gold, silver, and platinum. Married to my high school sweetheart in 1968 and we have 3 kids, all grown. Both my sons are currently on active military duty, one a Marine with 2nd Division; the other is Army with the 101st Airborne. My daughter served eight years in the Marines as a bassoonist with the field bands. Three members of my family had polio back in 1952 and my dad died from it. I am currently working on the background for a forthcoming book telling that story.

I started photography on a serious basis about 5 years ago when I was diagnosed with Post-polio Syndrome, knowing that one day I would be forced to close my shop. I shoot mostly nature and macro in the Great North Woods of NH. I have a lifted Jeep Wrangler for a camera bag and weekends usually find me deep in the woods taking pictures, sometimes 30 miles or more from civilization. The Jeep enables me to go many places where my weakened legs would not carry me.

I use Nikon gear and have both digital and film cameras. Lately I have been gravitating more towards film, specifically 35 mm slides. I don't like the high contrast, over processed look of digital pictures. All my shots are from a tripod.

I try to visit the groups to which I post and offer heartfelt feedback for photos which strike me as above the average but I do not measure success, yours or mine, in photography by the number of people who scratch each others back. As a rule and when I have time, I try to elaborate on what it was about your photo that struck me-color, form, techniques, etc. and I welcome the same feedback on mine but please don't use those cut & and paste invitations as comments to try to build your group size. Awards don't mean much when you have to give a bunch just to get a picture posted!

NOTE ABOUT MY PHOTOS: I believe that a photo should stand on its own as it comes out of the camera with only minor tweaking but because many of my pictures are scanned for the web from 35mm slides of Velvia film, the colors change from the original slide. In nearly all cases the originals far exceed the beauty of these small reproductions. Colors, tone, and levels have been adjusted in Adobe Lightroom specifically to try to recreate on Flickr, the appearance of the original photo. I never add or remove photo elements in post processing except for sensor dust.

© NEAL WELLS
All photographs are the property of Neal Wells. They are protected by the US copyright laws and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Neal Wells.