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* TROPICALIA » THE NEWS-PRESS » SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 » 3

COVER STORY

The photos focus on the unspoiled beautyand uniquely built environments ofSouthwest Florida.

Key West-based nature photographerAlan S. Maltz has been taking photographs since1970, and his latest coffee table book, “JourneyThrough Paradise: Naples, Marco & The Ever-glades,” (the book’s narrative was written bylocal travel writer Karen T. Bartlett) takes read-ers on an amazing journey. The News-Press satdown with him recently to discuss his work, hislife, and how Southwest Florida’s beauty in-spires him.

“Open for Discussion” at Chokoloskee PHOTO BY ALAN S. MALTZ

PHOTOSCAPTURE

AMAZINGBEAUTY

Key West-based artist searches fordiversity in Southwest Florida’s

unique environmentsBy Cathy ChestnutSpecial to The News-Press

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Tell me about how andwhere you got started. I wasat my college graduation cere-mony and heard a voice thatdirected me to “pick up a cam-era.” The message was power-ful and clear. Before that mo-ment in time, I had never takena picture or had any experi-ence with art. I graduated witha degree in psychology. A fewhours after hearing that mes-sage, I went to a camera storeon Broadway in New York Cityand purchased a camera, filmand a Kodak 101 basic photog-raphy book. The next day, I leftfor Europe with some friends,camera in hand.

We rented a car in Belgiumand started to drive around.Three days later, we were inMarseilles, France. I had been

studying the 101 book and hadenough information to attemptmy first picture. I noticed avery European-looking older

couple engaged in conversa-tion standing on a street cor-ner, rolled my window downand captured the scene, whichI titled “Meeting in Mar-seilles.” To date, it is one of mymost talked-about images.

Why do you prefer thismedium, and color? Color has

become part of my style andvision. Photography is themedium in which I can expressmyself as an artist (and not beembarrassed by the resultsbecause I can’t paint, sing ordance) because there are noboundaries or restrictions. It iswhat I do best.

Favorite places you visitedwhile working on this book?I love Big Cypress and the TenThousand Islands. The outerislands off Marco Island areenchanting. I like the beachesand water areas in Naples, aswell. Parts of downtown Na-ples make me feel at home,specifically by the water.When I am in that area, I stayat The Cove because it is a“mom-and-pop” atmosphere on

“Ripples in the Water,” Marco Island PHOTOS BY ALAN S. MALTZ

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Photos MORE INFORMATION» “Journey Through Paradise:Naples, Marco Island & TheEverglades” is available frommajor booksellers and from theAlan S. Maltz Gallery in KeyWest. alanmaltz.com» 144 full-color pages. Retailprice: $60. Published by LightFlight Publications (January 2014)

“Shell Island”

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** TROPICALIA » THE NEWS-PRESS » SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 » 15

COVER STORY

the water by the city docks.Do you have any favorite

images in this book? Fromthe new book it is “Sea ofDreams” (taken at DelnorWiggins Pass State Park) be-cause it takes me to a place farremoved from reality, thus thename.

What is the most challeng-ing aspect of your work?Taking on the business end aswell as being “the artist.”

What is the most reward-ing aspect of your work?When I am in the field and onewith nature. Magical thingsseem to always happen.

Why did you choose toexplore the Naples/Ever-glades region of SouthwestFlorida? I love the area be-cause it is so diverse and filledwith beauty. It seemed like thenext logical step after complet-ing my fourth book, “Visions of

Beauty — Fort Myers, Sanibel& Beyond.”

That book was inspired bymy Southwest Florida Interna-tional Airport project in 2004-2005.

I am intrigued by the pho-to called “Winging It” takenin the Big Cypress featuring15 black vultures, all in thesame pose. Tell me aboutgetting that shot. I was re-turning to the Keys from Na-ples and traveling on StateRoad 29 near the intersectionof 41. I am always looking forimages to capture while trav-

eling; it’s my favorite way toshoot. In the book, it is re-ferred to as DSS (drive, stop,shoot). I came upon that scene,slowly pulled over to the oppo-site side of the road, put downmy window and started shoot-ing. I was able to get off abouta dozen shots before the birdsnoticed I was there and startedto change positions. Only oneimage captured the birds withall of their wings in the upwardposition.

You opened your Keysgallery in the 1999. Whatwere you doing before that?

I was doing anything that keptme in the profession, whichincluded: advertising and ar-chitectural photography, aerialphotography and even wed-dings (I used to dread them).In 1990, I published my firstbook titled “Key West Sun-sets,” which helped change thecourse of my career. I nowhave five coffee table booksand two smaller volumes.

Why did you choose to belocated in the Keys? In 1977, Iwas living in Woodstock, N.Y.,when a friend invited me to hishouse in Coconut Grove. One

day, he, his wife and I took adrive to visit their friend wholived on Sugarloaf Key. Whenwe arrived, I had a powerfuldeja vu experience. It’s diffi-cult to explain, but his houseand surrounding area was veryenchanting and struck some-thing deep inside me. Longstory short, I returned threemonths later and bought thathouse.

Tell me about your gallery.Who are your customers? It isa large, multilevel gallery onDuval Street in the heart ofOld Town. My clients are peo-ple from all over the world,including Asia, Europe, Aus-tralia and of course, the UnitedStates. My art is produced onaluminum, canvas and water-color paper. We do most of theproduction in-house, includingprinting, framing and ship-ping. I have a staff of about 12employees. My wife, Leslie,designs and does the layoutsfor my books as well as thegallery. We work as a greatcreative team.

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Photos

“Winging It” PHOTO BY ALAN S. MALTZ

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