After winning First Prize in Axel’s 2025 Photography Shoot-Out, Vermont photographer Justin Highet returns to Axel’s Gallery for his first solo exhibition. Highet’s work captures the sensory magic of the everyday — from landscapes and night scenes to fine art minimalism — inviting viewers to see the world through both his lens and his sense of wonder.

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“I struggle to focus on one niche,” he admits. “This show is about exploring that, sharing different sides of what I love, and getting feedback from people who love photography, too.”

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For Highet, this show is both a celebration and a learning opportunity — a chance to gather feedback, meet like-minded people, and see where the next chapter leads. “My dream is to travel the world with my camera someday,” he admits. “But for now, sharing my work here, in this community, feels like the right place to start.”

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Asked what he hopes viewers take away from his photographs, Highet doesn’t hesitate. “I want people to feel what I felt while taking them—the smell of the ocean, the sound of the trees, that sense of being alive in a place.”

Artist Closing Reception: Friday, November 22, 5–7 p.m.​