TRIBUTE TO AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER I

My dad's brother, Earle, was a good amateur photographer. In fact, a number of the photos in the Dobson collection are Earle's work, so I felt a tribute was in order.

Earle was a babe in arms when his parents homesteaded in the Gilbert country. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and then graduated from the normal school in Lewiston. Beginning in the 1920s, he taught math and industrial arts at the Idaho Falls (Idaho) High School. He and his wife Bernice lived simply and returned home each summer so that Earle could help his aging parents with the farm duties.

Living in Idaho Falls put Earle in proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and he loved their majestic beauty. Though he took good pictures of the family, eventually he took pictures of scenery almost exclusively. As you read the descriptions of these photos, penned by Earle himself, you can see that he wants to develop as a scenery photographer. This sampling of pictures he took with a Kodak in the '30s.

Photo 1 -- The window in the other picture is in the rear of this church. This is one of my best pictures. This little Episcopal church stands in Jackson Hole and foresight was certainly slow in the selection of this location and the installation of the window. Grand Teton Mt. Curtis.












Photo 2 -- Taken through window behind the pulpit in the little Episcopal church shown in the other picture. Anyone, regardless of creed, could worship here. When one steps through the church door he is immediately silenced with a great awe when he beholds those majestic peaks behind the cross. 

 





Photo 3 - A silhouette of yours truly taken against a medium sunlighted window on 1/25 sec., diaphragm set at f.16.












Photo 4 -- This is the finest scenery picture I have ever taken bar none. It was taken about 11:00 a.m., October 23, 1938, and is one of the Teton peaks with Jenny Lake at the foot. We came suddenly upon this view and it almost took my breath away. Horizontal view would have been better but not enough Kodak. Note the pebbles in the edge of the lake. [An enlargement of this photo, or one that is similar, hangs in the farmhouse today.]





Photo 5 -- Teton Peaks from Jackson Hole. Grand Teton is second from right (el. 13766 ft.). This picture is not so good on account of too much foreground. The car should not have been it it. Also, there isn't enough sky behind the peaks. [Yes, too much foreground, not enough sky -- and yet, I surely wish I could see more of the car!] KW