Photography | Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County CT Travel

To help kick off its 90th birthday, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo launched “Picture Yourself at the Zoo,” a new program that invites the public to share favorite photos, both new and old. Both amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate and photos of people, animals, and scenery are welcome. Throughout the year, the Zoo will select photos to feature on its Web site, http://www.beardsleyzoo.com and on their Facebook page, and winners will receive a Family Four Pack of tickets to the Zoo.

“It never ceases to amaze me what fond memories folks have of the Zoo, from generation to generation, and these memories are often captured in cherished family photo albums that only a handful of people ever see,” stated Gregg Dancho, Zoo director. “What better way for us to showcase these special moments than by creating a community photo album for all to participate in and enjoy?”

Anyone may enter by e-mailing photos with the photographer’s name, e-mail address, and any details about the photo he/she would like to share publicly to PictureYourself@BeardsleyZoo.org. By submitting photo(s), the photographer retains ownership but gives Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo permission to use and publish the pictures without restriction in the future.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo celebrates its 90th birthday in 2012 and is closer than you think! Connecticut’s only zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won’t want to miss the Amur (Siberian) tigers, Brazilian ocelots, Red wolves, and Golden Lion tamarins. Other highlights include South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with “pop-up” viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on a colorful carousel. For more information, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org.

The Sharon Historical Society located on 18 Main Street in Sharon CT in the historic Gay-Hoyt House is hosting the work of artist Emery Roth. The show will run through April 25. Roth’s work will be displayed in the Society’s Gallery that is open Wednesday-Friday, from 10 to 4 pm and by appointment.

Emery Roth is an accomplished photographer. This exhibit melds contemporary photography of the industry of Connecticut’s Naugatuck Valley, with text and objects from the museum’s collection that tell the stories of Sharon’s industrial past. The exhibit evolved as Mr. Roth began following the old railroad tracks through the Naugatuck Valley and photographing what was left of its industrial past.

In his photographs, he was searching for rust and a glimpse of another age. He admits that he never expected to find himself in a time warp, photographing where giant hydraulics are still hissing, steel clanking, hot, glowing metal flying through the air, where the steam still rises from old pickling vats, and men charge furnaces in buildings where the soot has had more than a hundred years to cake. He never dreamed such a place still existed and took the photographs to prove that it does still exist in Connecticut. This is a show about those places.

A highlight of this show is a guided walk through the exhibit by the photographer on Sunday April 1 at 3 pm. All are invited. For additional information, contact the Sharon Historical Society at 860-364-5688 or via email sharonhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com, or our website, www.sharonhist.org.

About the Sharon Historical Society

The Sharon Historical Society is a community museum dedicated to connecting people to the town of Sharon, its history, and its culture. Museum professionals are assisted by volunteers who care for more than 5,000 artifacts in their collection – cataloging, preserving and sharing Sharon past for the public. Tours of the Gay-Hoyt House are self-guided. Collections include American furniture from colonial to colonial revival; decorative arts, iron and iron-industry related artifacts, five portraits by folk artist Ammi Phillips, a library featuring a collection of CT history and decorative arts resources and archives/photo collection.