Photo Finish Opening Reception

03/02/2012

photo finish: Photographs by Neil Chaput de Saintonge

Rocky Mountain School of Photography Gallery, March 2 - April 27, 2012
Opening Reception with Neil Chaput de Saintonge and Run Wild Missoula, March 2, 2012  -  5 - 8 pm

Run Wild Missoula and the Rocky Mountain School of Photography Gallery are proud to announce the upcoming exhibit, Photo Finish, by photographer and RMSP founder and co-owner, Neil Chaput de Saintonge. This exhibition opens on March 2, 2012, from 5–8 p.m. and will remain on display through April 27, 2012. Neil Chaput de Saintonge and representatives from Run Wild Missoula will be in attendance at the opening.

In recent years Missoula’s running community has gone from a casual jog to a full-blown sprint.  Not long ago, the activity of running was no big deal. Some people ran; others didn’t. Sure, runners could be seen at all hours of the day in every neighborhood in Missoula, but by and large, the activity was nothing more than it had always been. Then something happened. Things changed. A dedicated running store, Runner’s Edge, opened in downtown Missoula. An organization dedicated to Missoula’s running culture, Run Wild Missoula, was born. Events were planned. A marathon was organized and quickly rocketed to the national spotlight. Icons of the running world started appearing in Missoula. Wearing moisture-wicking clothing, reflective everything, and hot pink shoes that digitally tracked miles and minutes, runners came out of the woodwork.  For the better part of this growth spurt in Missoula’s running scene, photographer Neil Chaput de Saintonge has been a fixture at many races, documenting the jolt offered by the starting gun, the crazy costumes and camaraderie, and of course, the always-photogenic finish line. Photo Finish is a collection of these photos.

The stories behind the photos are so much more than about running. Look deeper and you’ll see athletes who are running for a cause or for a friend with an illness. See the runners who took up running to get through a divorce or the death of a friend or family member. There are also the runners who signed up for a race to gain confidence and to do something that makes them feel proud.

Neil Chaput de Saintonge has been teaching photography for more than 35 years. In that time, he has taught thousands of students in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. He is well known for his enthusiasm, technical knowledge and love of teaching. In 1973, Neil studied under Ansel Adams. Neil’s photography interests include ballet, documentary, people, landscape and fine art. Neil and his wife Jeanne started Rocky Mountain School of Photography in 1989. Neil has also been a massage therapist for 28 years, is a Reiki Master and teaches healing work.