Wesleyan alumnus opens exhibition

Some people get excited about a brand new car. Casey Scalf finds excitement in great photo.

“If I’m not creating,” said Casey Scalf. “I’m not living.”

The Wesleyan grad is gearing up for her first individual exhibition opening 8p.m. Friday September 17 at Relative Theory Records on Granby Street, in Norfolk.

Scalf, 29, was born in Tennessee and moved to Chesapeake with her family after her father got a job in the city in 1984.

She has been passionate about photography since high school.

After graduating high school, she enrolled at Tidewater Community College to study photography.

“I took every photography class they offered,” she said, “Even Ghost Photography.”

After exhausting the photo program at TCC and with the desire for a stronger degree, she enrolled at VWC, majoring in Communications and concentrating on journalism.in addition became photo editor of “The Marlin Chronicle.”

Tragically, her father passed away suddenly. With his death she began to notice life differently.

“I understood meaning more,” she said. “It made me see the world in a whole new light and a whole new way, and strangely my work began to improve.”

While on a school trip to Europe, Scalf found escape from sadness and grief in the culture, art, and history.

After college, Scalf found herself forty miles from the Canadian border, in Montana, working as a Photographer/Photo Editor of the Havre Daily News.

She had the chance while in Montana to see an Indian pow-wow on a native reservation.

“With their music, colors and dancing I must have taken at least 500 photos,” said Scalf.

After her stay in Montana, Scalf came running back to the comforts of the city.

“It’s breathtaking and beautiful,” she said. “But I like the convenience of the city, where there’s something to do all the time.”

For about a year, she has been working for Alpha Music, taking photos for their website and freelancing. Her photos range from nature to rock bands.

Scalf has taken photos and done several album covers for the bands Emery, Skinlab, Pedestal, Some Odd Sense, Scarborough Band and Tim McDonald. To date, the biggest talent she has photographed is the rock band Chevelle.

When she was taking pictures during the concert at the NorVa in Norfolk, with people screaming, jumping and moshing, she had one thing on her mind.

“Nothing happen to my $2,000 camera.”

Scalf photographs art, people and various modeling agencies. She will do about anything out of the ordinary, but avoids weddings.

“Everything is so cliché, there’s no way to get a meaningful shot.”

Lasting anywhere from 6 to 8 hours, model shoots are some of her most intense work.

“I’m constantly moving. Moving models, posing them, bringing them in and out of locations,” she said.

“It’s so exhausting but it’s so much fun.”

Scalf’s work has also been published in many magazines and she was even picked in the top 100 out of over 32,000 entries to be published in “The Best Photography Annual” in 1998.

However awards and accolades are not Scalf’s favorite part of her work.

“My favorite part is making people feel emotion, making them say ‘Wow, how did you do that?’ Creating art from your vision, your soul on paper, every one of my pieces is a piece of me.”

Also, color plays a big role in Scalf’s work. Often color is the subject itself and speaks volumes.

“Every gallery has nothing but black and white photos,” she said.

“People often think because they shoot a roll of black and white film that they are automatically an artist. I have seen a lot of bad art out there.”

Scalf’s passion and work doesn’t come cheap. With expensive cameras and equipment, money is tight.

“It’s the whole ‘starving artist thing.’ The struggle to have a passion that is in your mind, heart, and soul.”

She will be showing at least 20 photos at her individual exhibition including art, people, nature and bands.

“I’m excited, but I have a feeling Hurricane Ivan is going to hit since it’s my first individual show.”

To view more of Casey’s work, check out her exhibition, which will be on show for two weeks or her site at www.caseyscalf.com. Just don’t expect to see any photos of brides.