Photographer celebrates Maine in new book
When Tom Kretsch was 8, his family made the journey to Maine’s Acadia National Park for a summer vacation. It was the beginning of a lifetime affinity for the state — a love that led to publication of his beautiful new photography book, “Touching Maine.”
Kretsch, who lives in Westport, says he and his family drove that summer in a classic 1938 Chevy and stayed in a rustic cabin “with our grandmother who decided this was a bit too primitive and moved on to other accommodations.”
But his parents, who’d grown up in Austria and cherished the outdoors, “took us to these extraordinary places of beauty to hike, climb the rocks, pick blueberries and feel the wind in our faces.”
From the start, Kretsch was fascinated by the coastline and its ever-changing moods. “In later years my wife and I returned to Maine with our children to camp, hike and immerse them into a similar journey.”
Kretsch, who spent 37 years as a physical education teacher in Norwalk schools, and is president of The Norwalk/Nagarote Sister City Project (which helps disadvantaged children in Nicaragua), shares in his book how he was inspired by the work of many fine painters and photographers to create this tapestry of Maine.
For the past 10 summers he’s spent time on the coast, trying to capture what he describes as “the soul and spirit” of the state. “Touching Maine” includes short essays related to images of fog, water, islands, rocks, structures and more. He’s been marketing it through his photography business, Peaceful Places, which he started after retirement.
Kretsch will hold an outdoor book signing as a health-safety precaution at Frame and Save, at 596 Westport Ave. in Norwalk, Saturday, Dec. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. There’s an exhibit of some of his work there, as well.
“Touching Maine” is on sale at Rowayton Arts Center, 145 Rowayton Ave., as part of its holiday sale. Call 203-866-2744 for hours.
Published by Edition One, in California, it’s $50 for the book, alone. For $100 you can receive the book, plus your choice of one of three limited edition 8-inch-by-10-inch prints from it. Kretsch can be reached via tom@peacefulplacesphoto.com