For nearly 30 years, photography was an after-hours passion for Hudson-based Jeff Bucklew. He’d work in the dark room late into the night and head to his day job the next morning. Then last June, Bucklew retired from the printing industry to become a full-time photographer. “It’s a transitional point for me,” he says.
When Bucklew was in the Marines, he carried a 35mm camera everywhere he went. Now he’s got a bit more to choose from: Bucklew jokes that when he travels, he carries enough equipment for three photographers. Of the wide variety of subjects that grab his attention, it is landscapes that have the greatest draw. “There are just so many things out there to catch your eye,” he says.
Trips to Mexico and Yellowstone National Park have given Bucklew plenty to capture, but he hasn’t overlooked the beauty that’s so close to home. Of the regional landscapes he frequents, he says the North Shore of Lake Superior and the St. Croix Valley are favorite spots to work. This shot of two affectionate trumpeter swans was taken during winter on the cold St. Croix River. Capturing the image, Bucklew says, simply took some patience and awareness. “Moments such as this may only last a fraction of a second, so timing is critical,” he says.
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Jeff Bucklew’s work is available for sale at Seasons on St. Croix Gallery, 401 Second St., Hudson; seasonsonstcroix.com. View Bucklew’s online gallery at bucklewphotography.com.
