Three spindly telephone poles on a rocky hill somewhere in the Idaho desert are part of a humdrum landscape – gone in the blink of an eye – for passing motorists. But when photographer and artist Larry Kassell glanced up while driving between Boise and Idaho City, he saw potential.

“Larry slammed on the brakes and pulled over, right out of the blue,” says his wife, Julia.

Kassell, 61, of Silverton, whipped out his camera, a full-frame digital Canon EOS, and went to work. The resulting photograph bears haunting similarities to the barren hill outside Jerusalem upon which biblical records say Jesus Christ was crucified. The connection is strengthened by Kassell’s graphic addition, the words, “And when they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other from the left,” from Luke 23:32.

This modern Golgotha and a selection of Kassell’s other photographs, photocompositions and cartoons are on display all month in the Psalm Center at Corban College. The gallery is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Subjects range from renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams, with whom Kassell studied, to obscure farm children. Kassell has woven Bible verses together with his best shots to create striking photo compositions. Each piece gives visitors a view of the world that might otherwise be overlooked.

“I’ve read many philosophical statements on what forethought and agony goes into picture-taking,” Kassell says. “It’s really not that hard. A good, reliable camera is a must. Then one has to have it nearby when God presents us ‘gifts.’ Some we look upward for; others are at our feet.”

Kassell has been looking at the world from an artist’s perspective since he was a teenager. He learned to paint with oils as a student at North Salem High School and took the craft with him when he joined the U.S. Air Force. His habit of pulling out a canvas anytime a vertical surface was available landed him a job as an illustrator. While stationed in South Korea, he produced a weekly comic strip for the air base’s newspaper.

In Korea, Kassell also bought Minolta SR-7 and began experimenting with photography. By the time he completed his tour of duty and returned to the Salem area in 1966, he was hooked. For the next 10 years, he worked as a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer for the state, the Statesman Journal, the Silverton Appeal-Tribune and SEE Graphics in Salem.

During those early years, Kassell greatly admired the work of Ansel Adams, known for his Spartan black-and-white images of Yosemite National Park. Rarely intimidated, Kassell contacted Adams and struck up a friendship. Among other things, he corresponded with, visited and took a week-long class from the master photographer in 1971.

"Now I take time for people who are seriously interested in photography because Ansel Adams took time for me,” Kassell says.

In 1976, Kassell formed his own graphic arts company, Kassell Concepts, a business he continues to operate from his home in Silverton. For 30 years, he’s worked as a photographer, graphic artist and illustrator for private companies. He and his wife have six children and 14 grandchildren, many of whom appear in his photographs.

Athough he’s published two photo books about Silverton, “Silverton Sampler” and “Silverton Sampler II,” Kassell doesn’t typically show his photographs and cartoons gallery-style. The month-long show at Corban is a rare opportunity for Salem-area residents to view some of his best work.

“I’ve met so many interesting people and witnessed so many gorgeous sunsets that I can’t keep it inside,” Kassell says. “A photo in an album, attic or still in a camera is like a tree that falls in the forest and nobody hears.