January 31, 2007

A summer camp workshop and his grandfather’s camera beckoned Brian Schmidt into the world of photography. As a teenager, he discovered that he liked capturing beauty and balance on film. He’s been shooting stills ever since.

A selection of his photographs are on display in Corban’s Psalm Center Gallery during the month of February.

Raised in Salem, Schmidt attended McKay High School and graduated from Corban College in 1990. He earned his master’s degree in management from Willamette University. He is now Corban’s director of information systems. For him, photography is a perfect meshing of art and logic.

“There’s the idea that it’s the balance that makes a picture,” he says. “There’s a management, almost mathematical part that I really enjoy.”

Breathtaking photographs by Schmidt and two alumni regularly adorn the college’s intranet. These photographers restrict their online offerings to images from the Northwest, but Schmidt has captured scenes all over America.

Now a fan of digital photography, Schmidt has visited historic buildings and famous sites in Chicago, on the East Coast and elsewhere. With his nephews, he’s pursuing a family challenge to visit all the U.S. state capitols. So far, they’ve visited – and photographed – many of these picturesque government buildings. Schmidt says Oregon’s is still one of his favorites, though, with its understated 1930s art deco architecture.

The gallery is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The college is located at 5000 Deer Park Dr. SE, Salem, Ore., 97317. The campus’ main phone number is 503-375-7005.