More than 40 years ago, at the age of 21, John Peterson was ready to return home to Iowa from Papua New Guinea. While preparing for the trip, Peterson decided, that while he could be home in about three days, he would take the long way home instead.
That journey included stops in points across the globe, including England, Nepal, Australia and Thailand.
“I heard about this bus company that took these simple bus trips, 63 days, from Khatmandu to London, England, through Afghanistan, Iran, places that are not so easy to visit anymore,” Peterson said.
All along the way, Peterson, an amateur photographer at the time, was documenting everything he saw and all the people he encountered.
Now a professional photographer living in Lexington, Peterson is sharing his images with the public through a special exhibit, “Who is My Neighbor?” at the Clark County Public Library. The photographs will be on display through the month of October during regular library hours.
“I’ve only recently rediscovered some of these images in the last three years,” Peterson said. “Going back into that treasure trove of images and slides, I’ve discovered images that reach across both culture and time.”
The pictures document cultures in the early 1960s, and show life in countries that have been shaped by war and economic struggle during the past four decades.
“I thought these photographs were
See WHO, B2
just something quirky from my history, but hearing people’s comments, I’ve realized that we are indeed one global village, even if we don’t always understand each other, we can respect each other,” Peterson said.
Finding the images again after so many years was so exciting for Peterson that he admitted, “I couldn’t sleep.”
Although he has been capturing images since he was 12-years-old, Peterson, now 64, only recently decided to pursue photography full-time after a career in TV and radio production and marketing.
“I am of the age now where I want to find things that are satisfying to me ... but also providing images that help people tell stories,” Peterson said.
The pictures all have a story to tell. Peterson recalled encountering a man and his daughter crossing the Khyber Pass, and trying to use hand signals for permission to take the photo. The man was carrying a rifle, and Peterson said he had some trepidation approaching them. The picture, “Khyber Father and Daughter,” dated 1972, became part of the exhibit.
“People want to know how was it that I was able to take some of these photographs. It’s a combination of both confidence and humility that you need to have when you’re approaching people,” Peterson said.
Other exhibit photos, like “Iowa Gothic,” circa 1972, and “Dubuque Blond,” circa 1974, show people and places from Peterson’s native Midwest. The photos are interspersed with Peterson’s travel photography to show a complete representation of his life during that era, and of the people he encountered.
“I was going through and really paying attention to the negatives. ... and I¿looked at some of the negatives, and thought, ‘Oh, my goodness. There are some wonderfully powerful images here that I¿need to attend to,’” Peterson said.
There will be an opening reception Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and Peterson will be available to answer questions and meet with the public.
Peterson will give a free talk at the library Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.clarkbooks.org, or www.johnlynnerpeterson.com.
Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com.
That journey included stops in points across the globe, including England, Nepal, Australia and Thailand.
“I heard about this bus company that took these simple bus trips, 63 days, from Khatmandu to London, England, through Afghanistan, Iran, places that are not so easy to visit anymore,” Peterson said.
All along the way, Peterson, an amateur photographer at the time, was documenting everything he saw and all the people he encountered.
Now a professional photographer living in Lexington, Peterson is sharing his images with the public through a special exhibit, “Who is My Neighbor?” at the Clark County Public Library. The photographs will be on display through the month of October during regular library hours.
“I’ve only recently rediscovered some of these images in the last three years,” Peterson said. “Going back into that treasure trove of images and slides, I’ve discovered images that reach across both culture and time.”
The pictures document cultures in the early 1960s, and show life in countries that have been shaped by war and economic struggle during the past four decades.
“I thought these photographs were
See WHO, B2
just something quirky from my history, but hearing people’s comments, I’ve realized that we are indeed one global village, even if we don’t always understand each other, we can respect each other,” Peterson said.
Finding the images again after so many years was so exciting for Peterson that he admitted, “I couldn’t sleep.”
Although he has been capturing images since he was 12-years-old, Peterson, now 64, only recently decided to pursue photography full-time after a career in TV and radio production and marketing.
“I am of the age now where I want to find things that are satisfying to me ... but also providing images that help people tell stories,” Peterson said.
The pictures all have a story to tell. Peterson recalled encountering a man and his daughter crossing the Khyber Pass, and trying to use hand signals for permission to take the photo. The man was carrying a rifle, and Peterson said he had some trepidation approaching them. The picture, “Khyber Father and Daughter,” dated 1972, became part of the exhibit.
“People want to know how was it that I was able to take some of these photographs. It’s a combination of both confidence and humility that you need to have when you’re approaching people,” Peterson said.
Other exhibit photos, like “Iowa Gothic,” circa 1972, and “Dubuque Blond,” circa 1974, show people and places from Peterson’s native Midwest. The photos are interspersed with Peterson’s travel photography to show a complete representation of his life during that era, and of the people he encountered.
“I was going through and really paying attention to the negatives. ... and I¿looked at some of the negatives, and thought, ‘Oh, my goodness. There are some wonderfully powerful images here that I¿need to attend to,’” Peterson said.
There will be an opening reception Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and Peterson will be available to answer questions and meet with the public.
Peterson will give a free talk at the library Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.clarkbooks.org, or www.johnlynnerpeterson.com.
Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com.
