By Jeff Petersen

Observer Staff Writer

You're never too old to think young — and start something new.

Judy Seydel of Mount Glen Road proves that adage. The 63-year-old graduated last spring with a bachelor's degree in art from Eastern Oregon University.

An artists' reception for Seydel's photo show, "Real Cowboys," will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Union County Museum, 331 S. Main St., Union. Admission is free.

The black-and-white photos, shot while Seydel was a student of Mel Buffington's at EOU, will be on display through Oct. 17, when the museum closes for the season.

Seydel's Nikon FM-10 camera, all manual, got quite a workout.

The photos in the show come from spring roundup at the Shaw Ranch on Owsley Canyon Road. Seydel happened on the roundup by accident. She was returning a western jacket she had borrowed from Diana Shaw for "The Laramie Project" at EOU, of which Seydel was the costume designer. Photography is just one of three art forms Seydel focused on at EOU; the others were costume design, and drawing and painting.

The roundup turned out to be a photographic silver mine. The smoke, the tack room, the cowboys and stock milling about — all provided excellent photo opportunities.

"I'm really interested in documenting life as it is now, living history," Seydel said. "I have a long ways to go in photography, but when you're developing film, it gets really exciting, like reliving the day."

Seydel is a big fan of Dorothea Lange, a photographer who became famous during the Depression for her pictures of real people surviving and thriving in hard times. That's why Seydel likes to work in black and white, and will continue to do so when and if she sets up a darkroom in her basement. The photos for the show were developed in the EOU darkrooms.

Seydel knows about the challenges of real life. She started in a nursing career, then stayed at home to raise kids, while her husband, Jim, continued his CPA career. She started back to school with the intention of resuming her nursing career, but then art raised its captivating head and the rest is history.

Seydel tells people of all ages that life is a lot like photography. It's about taking risks, and moving ahead, developing the courage for the task as you go along.

Seydel's exhibit fits right in with the museum's popular Cowboys Then and Now Exhibit. The exhibit includes items from the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, the Pendleton Roundup, area ranches and more.

Part of Seydel's joy is setting up the exhibit. It's more like an installation, she says, with hay bales for benches and a buggy and a wagon donated by the Red James family for a backdrop, continuing the western theme.

Besides the photography, Seydel has other art interests. She is currently busy putting together a creative, artistic archive of Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council history.

She credits her mentor Buffington with establishing an environment for students that allows them to create with an open mind. His encouraging approach was instrumental in her launching a new stage of life.