TAMC exhibit features
selection of Voscar’s work
By Kathy McCarty
LOVE OF A LIFETIME — Oscar Nelder — aka Voscar, the Maine Photographer — is the featured artist this month at The Aroostook Medical Center. Here, Voscar straightens one of his earliest creations, a drawing of a young lady he did at the beginning of his career. He said drawing was his first love, having grown up at a time when the likes of Norman Rockwell and Walt Disney made the art form popular. From portraits to scenic photographs, the show covers several decades of the photographer’s career. The Presque Isle artist’s exhibit will be up for the month of August near the main entrance of the hospital. Works include drawings and photographs, with several items for sale.
PRESQUE ISLE — A local photographer’s work is the latest to adorn the wall just beyond The Aroostook Medical Center’s Main Entrance.
Each month, TAMC features items done by local artisans as a way to promote County talent and to provide a venue for artisans to also make the public aware they have items for sale. Oscar Nelder — better known by his professional name, Voscar — is the latest artist to have works displayed at the hospital.
The August exhibit includes current photographs as well as two of Voscar’s earlier works inspired by one of the nation’s most famous artists.
“My first love was drawing. I was in love with the works of Norman Rockwell and Disney. I’ve included two drawings from early in my career. I also have photos covering several decades,” said Voscar, the Maine photographer.
For about six decades he’s captured the life and times of Mainers, as well as visiting dignitaries, including queens and presidents. Much like Rockwell, he’s devoted a great deal of time working with families, capturing such special moments as senior portraits and wedding photos. He also spent time as a journalist/photographer, covering area news.
“Some of the children I’ve photographed over the years now have children and grandchildren of their own,” he said.
Many of his works have gained national and international attention.
“A lot of photos have run in publications and advertising campaigns, including “Spudman,” “Newsweek,” “Time,” “Reader’s Digest,” Sothebys and the New York Times; I even had something in the Japanese equivalent of “Newsweek.” Some of what I have here are for sale, some aren’t,” Voscar said.
About 24 examples of Voscar’s work appear on the wall just past the receptionist’s desk near the hospital’s main entrance.
“My wife, Darlene — she’s my first editor. She selected the items for the exhibit. They include two of my drawings, one digital photograph and the rest are transparencies or black and white film,” he said.
From scenic landscapes to portraits, the installation features a bit of everything.
“It’s just stuff — an example of some of my work over the years,” said Voscar, who’s been at this line of work for over six decades. “It’s been fun.”
Voscar said things were different when he first considered photography as a profession.
“There are too many ‘photographers’ now. Cameras have gotten more affordable and everyone seems to have one — regular cameras, cell phones that take pictures. When I started, I was the only ‘professional’ photographer because I was the only one with a camera,” Voscar said with a chuckle.
He said being a ‘real’ photographer takes patience and a bit of luck.
“It involves taking several pictures and hoping that ‘the one’ is among those you’ve taken. It’s about being in the right place at the right time — capturing a moment and having a shot that tells a story,” said the seasoned photographer.
When asked what his favorite subject was to photograph, he said he likes editorial-type photos and portrait work best.
“I’ve always been interested in the Maine Potato Queen pictures. Probably the first I took was around 1946. Darlene’s sister was Potato Queen. That’s how I first met my wife,” said Voscar.
Working for a newspaper and having deadlines to meet meant having to plan ahead when it came to taking some pictures.
“We would take all the contestants to a (potato) field, get photos and IDs, then run the winner (who was named that evening) in the next day’s Bangor Daily. Back then, the festival used to be in different towns and there wasn’t always time to get photos of the actual pageant and get them processed in time for the next day’s paper — that’s back when I had to use a dark room to process film and that took time,” said Voscar.
This isn’t the first exhibit Voscar’s had in Presque Isle.
“I had a great show about five years ago at UMPI. I had about 200 people show up for the reception,” he said.
While he prefers portraits, Voscar said his favorite pictures in the TAMC display are a couple of scenic shots.
“I like the one of Mt. Katahdin and also the one of the Portland Headlight. They’re two of my favorites,” he said.
Voscar said he still does a few senior portraits, for which he prefers to use film rather than digital cameras, as well as an occasional project or assignment for publication.
“The good thing about the older and newer cameras is I’ve found a lot of the equipment is interchangeable, which saves money,” said Voscar.
Voscar said he’s not ready for retirement just yet.
“People have asked my wife when I’ll retire. She asks them, ‘What would he do, take pictures?’” said Voscar.
For more information about the exhibit or to schedule a photo session, contact 769-5911.
SCENIC PHOTOS, like these of the Portland Headlight and Mt. Katahdin, are among about two dozen works of Voscar’s on display for the month of August at TAMC in Presque Isle.
