Traveling around the country on his motorcycle, Lou Wallach sees nature like no one else. 

Thirteen hanging framed prints and 22 unframed works of Wallach’s black-and-white photography will be on display at Salmon Falls Gallery, located at 1 Ashfield St., from Feb. 22 to April 28.

Wallach, who had a 20-year career as a commercial photographer in Manhattan, takes stunning photos of nature, prompting his audiences to contemplate the natural world in a new light. Now 68, he began taking photographs at age 9 when he sneaked his father’s camera out of the house. He later studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Wallach rides his Honda cruiser on country roads with a camera hanging around his neck; he stops frequently to document the beauty he finds, keeping the subject matter imbued with spontaneity. His current practice involves taking digital color photos which he edits, converting them to black and white, and controlling which grays correspond to what colors.

He explained that black and white photography allows him to draw attention to certain parts of the photo he hopes to highlight.

Seldom do people or human-altered landscapes appear in his work. Wallach focuses on things in their original form. “I’m open to what Mother Nature has to show me,” he said. 

His work for the show spans from the northern tip of Nova Scotia to Colorado. He explained that traveling to different places and “reporting on his findings” keeps his photos varied and interesting. 

Living across county lines in Stockbridge, Wallach resides on a farm where he has a showroom space that he invites guests to for open houses about four times a year and allows viewing of his work by appointment.

Along with photography, Wallach is also a skilled wood-turner. His work is available year-round at Salmon Falls Gallery and at his showroom. He explained that his sense of design applies to all of his creative endeavors and is evident in all of his works. 

“Whether traveling or stepping out the front door, hand-held stream-of-consciousness or slow careful study, I photograph as the surroundings call my attention. Often, I’ll pre-visualize some desired outcome, only to have that photograph altered by the light, structure, and nature of the location. Sometimes I’ll find an image I’ve sought for years, though generally not where I expect it,” Wallach said.

Reach Bella Carmela Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.