Baton Rouge News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Remembering A.J. Meek: A Nationally Acclaimed Photographer, Author, and Scholar A.J. Meek, a renowned photographer, author, and scholar, passed away on November eighth at the age of eighty-four. Meek was celebrated for documenting Louisianas landscapes and people, and for his significant impact on the art community. He retired as a professor emeritus from Louisiana State University in two thousand five, after teaching photography for twenty-eight years. Meeks mentorship and friendship were highly valued by many artists and former students, including Amy James, who recently photographed Meek for an exhibit honoring photographers and mentors in her career. James noted Meeks spiritual nature, even including a cross in the background of his portrait, a detail that resonated with those who knew his deep faith. Meek was a regular at church services and even considered training to be an Episcopalian lay minister. However, his true passion remained in creativity. His photographs offered new insights with every viewing, a testament to his unique artistic vision and ability to convey deep meaning through his work. Meeks influence extended to shaping the photography department at Louisiana State University, where he helped set up darkrooms and curriculum after arriving in nineteen seventy-seven. Born Albert James Meek in nineteen forty-one, he began his photography journey in the U.S. Air Force, eventually earning advanced degrees in fine arts. He was celebrated for his distinctive selenium-toned, silver gelatin contact prints, capturing not only Louisiana but also the American West with his large format banquet camera. Meeks extensive body of work includes five published books and his photographs are held in permanent collections at prestigious institutions across the country and even internationally. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia, and his legacy continues to inspire through his art and the countless lives he touched.

DNN | The Daily News Now!

The world’s first global local news network.

Every city. Every story. AI powered.