It is said a photographer is like a writer in that he or she tells a story through pictures. For Selma Art Guild’s October “Artist of the Month” Karen Weir, the camera lenses do all the talking.

Moving to Selma in 2000, the photographer, water colorist and architectural designer deems herself as a history buff — embracing historical aspects of nature, manmade projects or dilapidated structures in her work.

“I like black and white photos … it’s only recently I started painting again,” Weir said. “Not many people have done old-timey country things. I started thinking about things that have fallen, that are no longer here like barns, windmills …”

Taking workshops in San Antonio and photography instruction from University of Alabama professors Jim Morrison and Chip Cooper, Weir said the style of photography she’s learned is priceless.

“I’m attending an honors photography class … I took night photography and professional photography … I’ve enjoyed that,” Weir said. “A lot of Jim Morrison’s works uses misty things — fall, early morning, not sparkly type. I really like it, I’ve been doing it for a couple of years, it seems to … click with me.”

Having drawn since a youth, Weir has taken her talents to Italy, Greece and the Ukraine, painting or shooting scenes of ancient architecture or ravishing rivers. “I’ve always played with art materials here and there … most of my stuff is not agitated, it’s serene,” Weir said. “I like to do things abstract, more modern looking but soft.”

Weir said one of her goals in her artwork is to create a sense of “timelessness.” Weir wants others to appreciate a subject’s authenticity, no matter the first-impression.