Famed Flathead photographer is focus of museum presentation

When Northwest Montana Historical Society founder and longtime Kalispell photographer Ed Gilliland died last September, he undoubtedly left a hole the museum struggled to fill. But he also left behind his photography, which was his driving passion in life and captured Montana skies like few have done before or since.

Photography historian and Historical Society board member Arne Boveng will present an “analog film night” of Gilliland’s photography from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the Northwest Montana History Museum. This will not be a typical digital or Kodak Carousel slideshow — all the slides that Boveng will present are larger format, at least two or three times larger than the typical 35 mm. The brilliance, clarity and precision of these slides (which are mounted between glass plates) is far greater than nearly any other photography format.

Every negative that will be presented is an Ed-Gilliland-original taken in the 1980s or 1990s. Besides his beloved Glacier Park, Gilliland’s photography from the American Southwest and the Pacific Coast will also be highlighted. Gilliland was known for his ability to capture light just perfectly, and he worked hard at his craft, often returning to the same location day after day or at multiple times through the year to reveal changes to the landscape. Photography aficionados will be able to spot the subtle, yet remarkable differences in the different slide formats that will be on display.

The event is free and open to the public to share this special presentation of works from one of the Flathead's finest photographers.