EAST DIXFIELD – Larry Bisbee, director of the Maine Countryfolk Music Theatre, Route 2, said a national photo shoot was conducted on June 23 at that western Maine location as part of a professional photographers’ seminar.

It was organized by Maine photographer Lee Ann Lafleur of Livermore Falls and master photographer Jay Stock of Martins Ferry, Ohio.

Stock is recognized as a premier photographic artist. He has traveled to five continents and created photographic collections of such diverse peoples as the Amish, the coal miners of South Wales, the Mountain People of Georgia and the Eskimos.

Stock is one of the few living members of the Photographic Hall of Fame. In 1975 he became the first photographer to exhibit his work at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Also included in his works are the Culture of 45 American Indian Tribes, People of Europe, Worldwide Impressions of Ballet, Black People of Alabama, People and Cultures of Central America, Spanish Culture of Art, Dance and Music and the Cowboys of Minnesota

The theater location brought together 16 professional photographers from as far away as Miami and Dallas.

Bisbee said, “We used many of the props that we’re incorporating into our new Maine Musicians and Songwriters Museum. That museum will be dedicated during the Wild West Show and Country Music Weekend July 29 to 31.”

Thousands of photos were taken of 10 local musicians: Forrest Blood of Jay, the Hobo Gospel Singers of Dexter and Abbot, Bing and Nancy Crosby of Jay, Shawna Edwards of Auburn, Patrick Libby of Livermore Falls, Country Music Hall of Famer Ginger Mae Dyer of Corinna, Herman Leblanc of Livermore Falls and Larry Bisbee of East Dixfield.

Linda Latham of Jay and Bisbee coordinated the event for Countryfolk Music Theatre, which hosts free country music jam sessions from noon to 6 p.m. every Sunday through the summer. More information is available at www.countryfolkmusic.com