Fashion and Fine Art Photographer Michael Belk Opens Gallery at WaterColor

December 2004 -- WaterColor now offers area visitors, residents and guests a way to professionally capture the kaleidoscope of colors and sights of Scenic 30-A and the WaterColor resort, with the debut of the Michael Belk Photography Gallery and Design Studio. Located in WaterColor's Town Center, the gallery offers a wide array of fine art photography from Michael Belk, winner of Kodak's highest international award, whose work has been featured in Vogue, Elle, GQ and Vanity Fair. The studio - available for portrait sittings on location at WaterColor - takes advantage of Belk's experience shooting spreads for such high-end clients as Christian Dior, J. Crew, and Nautica.

"The quality of Michael's work - and his appreciation for the small details that make good photography great - is an excellent fit within the WaterColor community," says Rod Wilson, president of St. Joe Towns & Resorts residential operations for West Florida, developer of WaterColor. Our residents and guests have come to expect the finest in service, amenities, and vision, and the opening of the gallery and studio at WaterColor continues that tradition and gives the community and visitors to the area yet another first-class amenity - and a unique way to chronicle the WaterColor experience."

The gallery features a large catalogue of Belk's images captured during his 20-year career, many of them signed limited editions, and all available framed or unframed. Recognizing similarities in subject and tone, Belk and his staff have grouped similarly-themed collections into series such as the Coastal Series, the Western Series, and the Scenic Series, with more planned. And while visitors will find a mix of black-and-white, sepia-toned and color images, a wide array of black-and-white prints - from soft beach shots to dramatic portraits - hint at Belk's fondness for the medium and the drama it so often reveals.

"There is no hidden agenda in my work," notes Belk. "I photograph that which pleases my mind's eye, finding the beauty within the subjects I explore."

Area visitors, guests and residents can also partake of Belk's years of portrait photography experience by commissioning individual, group or family portraits taken in various settings around WaterColor - on the porch of a stunning private residence, artfully arranged in front of Western Lake (the community's rare coastal dune lake), and of course, on the glorious beach, bathed in the legendary palette of light that continues to seduce WaterColor's visitors and homeowners. Belk and his staff offer a range of portrait packages, based on the number of people in the portrait. A typical shoot will include 200 frames, which is then edited down to a final 100 or-so proofs, and presented to the client in a rich leather album.

Guests of the studio might be surprised to learn that much of Belk's work takes place outside the traditional realm of film, negatives and the darkroom, but Belk is quick to point out that "going digital" was not a decision that was made lightly.

"Michael Belk & Company embraced the digital age only when the technology reached the point where a digital image could be reproduced as well, if not better than, an image printed through the traditional process of the darkroom," says Belk. "Now, instead of the darkroom, we work in the 'lightroom,' using computers and high-tech digital inkjet printers with lightfast inks and European mold-made, acid-free papers that will last indefinitely."

The gallery and studio are located in the WaterColor Town Center, adjacent to Beachside WaterSports and Sockeye's tropical attire shop, and across from the WaterColor Beach Club. Hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Guests and visitors can call 1-850-231-6050 for appointments, and more information can be found online at www.watercolorvacations.com/dining.asp?page=michaelbelk.

SOURCE Water Color Vacations