Photographer opens gallery at La Plaza La Jolla

Encinitas native and landscape photographer Jeff Mitchum’s new gallery is the latest addition to the roster of La Plaza La Jolla shopping center tenants. In August, Mitchum opened a 2,724-square-foot self-titled gallery at the 7863 Girard Ave. plaza to exhibit fine art prints.

He has other galleries in Las Vegas, and according to his website, “As a professional photographer, Jeff’s work has been sought by National Geographic and inducted on the walls of several fine art museums including the Smithsonian Institute, Getty Museum, and Museum of Natural History San Diego.”

The artist said, “After my Las Vegas galleries opened, I knew I needed to be very selective with my brand. San Diego is my hometown and I really wanted to showcase and raise the bar for fine art photography in my hometown.” When approached by La Plaza La Jolla management, he agreed La Jolla was the right spot. “We opened (a month) ago and so far people have been blown away,” he said.

Of his medium, he said he appreciates the ability to capture what our eyes see in the glory of nature. “One of the things I really enjoy about photography is when there is this crazy light, sky, clouds or setting, I can preserve it,” he said. “Our mind is the first photographer before the camera takes a picture.”

In the high country mountains, specifically, he said there are amazing sunsets he enjoys capturing. “There is just something magical about the dance of nature,” he said. Replicating that sensation, Mitchum said he hopes gallery-goers walk through and view the images and “absorb” them like they would if they were seeing the real thing.

At the La Plaza location, Mitchum said he would also roll out a program to work with budding photographers. Those interested can contact the gallery. Hours are 10 a.m to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• ON THE WEB: jeffmitchumgalleries.com