New Hampshire through the Lens of Guy Shorey

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Karl Drerup Art Gallery held a reception for the Guy Shorey's "Among The White Hills" exhibit. Shorey's exhibit featured breathtaking photos of the White Mountains with viewpoints from the valley's and ridgelines to atop the summits and peaks. Shorey was born in 1891 in Gorham, NH where he started photographing local images of his ‘railroad' town. In simple attempts to boast about the beauty of his homeland, he captured moments of nearby carnivals, weddings, sports, and even natural disasters. His younger years gave him time to photograph for play and time to develop a lens for careers. He was soon engulfed in his knack for capturing people and dramatic surroundings while studying a new art of photography.

It didn't take long for Guy Shorey to come to know this landscape on an intimate level. His Korona panoramic camera became his best friend, and accompanied him on hikes, climbs, and crouches to capture the deep vertical clefts. Shorey's deep and personal relationship with the White Mountains enabled him to seek extreme peaks and summits for a perfect shot. Unfortunately in 1921, arthritis took a permanent toll on Shorey and his ability to climb to such altitudes with so much equipment. This started an era of roadside exploration for Guy Shorey. Still being driven by allurement and enthusiasm of his surroundings, he continued to grasp these images even from such an opposing point of view.

Photography for Shorey, at this point, was so much more than just a hobby. He used his photographs to serve the community with encouragement and appreciation for the town of Gorham and its surroundings. Shorey played vital roles in the foundation of the Gorham Rotary and the YMCA of Berlin. In 1938, he offered a slide presentation to audiences looking to bask in their ambiance or for tourists to gain a better perspective. 1939 brought Shorey the business with his New Hampshire information booth. Shortly after, the "Among The White Hills" photos were being released and becoming a phenomenon within the Shorey Studio. The studio featured Shorey's photography in note cards, pads, holiday cards, photo sets, and bookmarks. All made memorable souvenirs for visitors, locals, and anyone with similar appreciation for New Hampshire as Shorey. 1,500 of Shorey's illustrations were published and used for brochures and postcards.

Guy Shorey died in 1961, leaving behind photographs from the first half of the 20th century that are still remarkable to this very day. Shorey's focal points include his ability to work with play of light, inspiring views, and a matured eye with development of creativity. Guy Shorey served his country loyally while playing the role as a devoted family man, father, husband, and grandfather.