Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Hite.
Hi Charles, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a life-long resident of Lexington County, in South Carolina, currently living in Cayce since 1977. My professions have included, the U.S. Army (serving in Germany), licensed professional land surveyor, sales/customer service rep, and right-of-way agent with the SCDOT. In addition to photography, my interests include astronomy and landscape gardening. I decided to pay attention to my photography in 2009 at the tender age of sixty. At the encouragement of family and friends, I began selling my images in late 2012 at Soda City Market in Columbia, SC. I enjoy speaking with folks when they come into my booth. When asked, I really enjoy sharing the stories of my photos with others and listening to their stories as well, thereby learning about interesting subjects and places. Most of my scenic photos are from SC and the Midlands, including nature, old buildings, historic sites, astronomy related events, and infrared captures.
My images are in numerous private collections, displayed in two local hotels, used on several web and social media sites, and have been published in local publications.
Fortunately, some of my work has been juried into several shows and exhibitions. Some shows that I am especially proud of are these;
• Columbia Metropolitan Airport 2014 Inaugural Art Exhibition
• Rosewood Art and Music Festival…several years
• ArtFields in Lake City, SC, 2015, 2017 and 2018
• SC State Museum 30th Anniversary Art Exhibition – 2018
• Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, SC – 2019, 2022, 2025
• The yearly SC State Fair Fine Art Exhibition
• The Newberry Opera House yearlong exhibition 2024-2025
I am just an old man with a camera. Various scenes or objects catch my eye…and when that happens, I open the shutter to let them in.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth…relatively speaking, yes. I like many artist, don’t/can’t make a living with our efforts. I never expected to and that’s ok. No pressure. My art is a quasi serious hobby. I was pleasantly surprised when strangers gave me their money in exchange for my art. Of course that encouraged me, and still encourages me. As a small “business”, it’s something about the interaction with strangers, that give me their hard earned money for something I enjoy doing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am just an old man with a camera. Various scenes or objects catch my eye… and when that happens, I open the shutter to let them in. In a nut shell, that’s what I do. I am not an editorial photographer. That is, I don’t snap it and print it.
Although many of my images are visually accurate, I no longer feel constrained to “take what the camera gives me.” Instead, I embrace the freedom to use available tools and capture techniques to render my impression of the scene before me, much like a painter, to make the object or scene my own. When I press the shutter button, time stops. As one writer put it, “the clock holds its breath.”
A recent exhibition venue wrote, “Many feel Charles’ choice of subject and capturing just the right moment offers us the opportunity to look through his eyes with him. His ability to use tools and processes to interpret the scene he is capturing, take his work from a picture to a photograph that is fine art.”
My work has evolved through the years. I’ve been making infrared images, using special equipment. And I’ve used an in-camera technique called Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) for years, and recently learned it is an art form.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The biggest thing these days is AI. Who knows where that’s going. I use it sparingly to write some photo descriptions and it’s helpful in coming up with a title for an image.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://charleshitephotographicart.com
- Instagram: charleshitephotographicart
- Facebook: CharlesHitePhotographicArt
- Twitter: @ChazHite
- Other: charleshitephotographicart@Gmail.com
