THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509200193
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
EDWARD E. BROWN'S love affair with photography began less than 10 years ago with a $5 camera.
Since then, the 36-year-old amateur photographer has upgraded to two new cameras and a 300mm lens costing hundreds of dollars.
Being a Portsmouth native, Brown has a flair for shooting his hometown in such a way that leaves people wondering, ``Is this really Portsmouth?''
``A lot of people don't understand just how pretty Portsmouth can be in certain areas until they actually get out there and see it for themselves,'' said Brown, a Churchland resident.
``But a lot of times they're afraid to do it because they've heard so many negative things about the city, which is not really that bad. You've just got to get out there and explore. You've got to know where to go and when to go.''
Currently, a collection of Brown's photographs is on display at The Art Atrium, a black history center and art gallery in the 600 block of High Street.
``When Mr. Brown came down and showed me his work, he was the first artist I'd met who wanted to focus specifically on Portsmouth,'' said Robert Floyd III, manager of The Art Atrium.
``He had some pictures of Norfolk, but the bulk of his work was Portsmouth. Using Portsmouth itself as a subject was unique, and the uniqueness of it was enough for us to want to bring it down here. The quality of his work speaks for itself.''
Brown's best work includes sunsets at Portsmouth City Park; High Street at night; shots of the city's skyline taken from across the river; outdoor festivals; and local sporting events.
``I love doing sports,'' said Brown. ``If anything, my dream is to be a sports photographer, because I've really got an eye for that.''
In the last few years, Brown has become a regular on the sidelines at high school football games, especially at his alma mater, Wilson High School.
Under former Wilson football coach Darnell Moore, Brown had the opportunity to photograph the Presidents from the playoffs through the state championship. Since then, Brown has followed Moore to Norfolk State University, where he now shoots the Spartans in action.
Brown rarely gets paid for the sporting events he covers. He does, however, make a little extra pocket change on weddings and modeling portfolios. But photography is only a hobby. Brown makes his living in telecommunications for the government.
``I've read articles where some guys have had photographs that somebody noticed, and the next thing you know they're asking outrageous prices for them,'' said Brown. ``I never thought it would come to that. I just feel like I want to express something that God has blessed me with.''
Brown has not had any formal training in photography. Everything that he has learned about the art has been self-taught.
``I started reading magazines, I went to libraries, I started buying books,'' said Brown.
``I took the owner's manual and read it line for line so that I could make sure I knew exactly what was what and what to use when and where,'' he said, ``And it just kind of grew on me.''
Brown, who has two sons, ages 17 and 11, said he wants to show young people ``that any time you have a skill or a trade - no matter how small it might be - if you exercise it and stay on it and apply it, it can always mean something else later on in life.''
Through his photos, Brown tries to make a statement or tell a story, he said.
``Some of the stuff I do, I can set it up on the wall, and I can look at it for minutes and try to imagine what took place then or what inspired me to do it, and I can get so much feedback from it,'' he said.
``So every time I see something that appeals to me or catches my eye, I may not get it at that particular moment, but I'll go back and try to capture it later . . . Timing is everything.'' ILLUSTRATION: ON THE COVER
[Color cover photo]
The picture on the cover of Edward E. Brown and his works at The Art
Atrium was taken by staff photographer Mark Mitchell.
Brown's photo of the Portsmouth skyline taken from across the river
is considered one of his best.
Sunset at City Park inspired Brown to snap this picture.
Brown, a graduate of Wilson High, has followed former Wilson
football coach Darnell Moore to Norfolk State University, where he
now shoots the Spartans in action, as in the photo at left. ``I love
doing sports,'' Brown said. ``If anything, my dream is to be a
sports photographer, because I've really got an eye for that.''
Portsmouth's Confederate Monument caught Brown's eye.
by CNB