Smith Gallery - “Botanical” Photo Contest and Exhibition

• A Smith Gallery

• Deadline: February 17th 2025

• Prize: Exhibition + Sales + Publication

• Theme: Botanical

• Entry Fee: Yes

• REGISTRATION: CLOSED. Click HERE for more Opportunities

"As a young man, Finn read Thoreau’s Walden, though I didn’t know it at the time. I read it too but barely recall the content. For Finn, however, it was transformative. A friend once told me about seeing him attempt to fix an air conditioning unit in his backyard soon after, determined to embrace self-sufficiency. I can’t say how well that worked, but one thing was certain: it changed the way he saw nature, especially plants.

Before Walden, Finn and I viewed the plant world as a blur—a continuous green-and-brown backdrop shaped by our upbringing in East Texas’ pine forests. But afterward, Finn began to see plants as individuals. He became fascinated with their forms, functions, and potential uses. He threw himself into botany, studying books, meeting locals with knowledge of natural remedies, and even learning from a Coushatta elder who knew the plants intimately. Finn’s fascination spread into all areas of his life, from his collections of plant-themed art to his peculiar carnivorous diet.

Now, decades later, Finn is a retired biology professor and father of three. I’m a retired irrigation business owner with five kids. We’ve spent over forty years playing weekly golf together. If he passes before me, I’ll ensure the world knows about his life’s work: The True Taxonomy of The Flora of East Texas. This colossal book renames every plant and tree in the Big Thicket, showcasing his colorful drawings and unique insights. Take, for example, the sassafras tree, which he aptly named 'affable dinosaur foot.' He could have published it, but Finn’s passion wasn’t for fame. It was for the plants."