FORT COLLINS.- One of the best kept secrets in the art world is The Center for Fine Art Photography. Occupying the third floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art in historic Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado, this unique international organization and its gallery is best known on the world wide web than around its own state. According to Google statistics, with 61,000,000 returns, the Center’s website is ranked in the top fifteen for "fine art photography" searches. An incredible accomplishment in just over two years.

Where can you see…and feel the emotional impact of
a Bangladesh child sorting through trash,
a young couple breaking-up in a shiny red car, or
an old man daydreaming at a diner,

Or experience the nostalgia of an old Mississippi farm road,

View of city sky-scrapers from the window of an old flower mill,

Or the intrigue of a city stairway to heaven.

Beginning as a dream of Larry Padgett, who combined his love of photography with a 20 year background in business and marketing, The Center for Fine Art Photography became a reality in May 2004 when the local art community got behind his vision to create an international showcase for established and emerging photographers. The Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose goal is to promote the art photography, whether traditional or digital, foster the growth of creative artists, and educate the public to the collectable value of photograph. Currently, over 659 photographic artists from more than 30 countries have been represented in its juried shows.

"Following in the tracks of the masters, such as Ansel Adams, Edward Curtis, Ruth Bernhard and others, there are many fine photographers today who deserve greater recognition. And that is what we provide: a variety of venues which include gallery exhibitions, publication in the Center’s Artists’ ShowCase, both on the internet and as a regular feature of CameraArts magazine a publication of an annual catalogue featuring exceptional artwork," said Padgett. Artists’ ShowCase is an eight page, full color, pull-out section which features a selection of juried work from the current gallery exhibition. This publication is a valued reference for galleries, collectors and art purchasers.

The Center has received support and sponsorships from British Airways, Denver International Airport, CameraArts magazine, Fort Collins Arts Alive, the Bohemian Foundation, and Fine Print Imaging, as well as from private donations. Beginning in September, a traveling exhibition will be featured in the Bridge Galley at Denver International Airport, which sees over 45,000,000 travelers a year. In February 2007, an exclusive six month show will be displayed in all of DIA’s concourse galleries.

According to Padgett, The Center’s goal is to become an international leader in promoting the art of photography. Toward that end, The Center presents programs that promote public awareness and appreciation of fine art photography and provides educational workshops and forums that inspire photographers to extend their talent and creativity.

The Center plans to build a 45,000 sq.ft. international fine art photography facility in Fort Collins in 2010. It will be the third largest facility of its kind with three galleries dedicated to exhibitions of photography. It will include state-of-the-art classrooms for workshops and its Masters of Fine Art Photography program.