Red River Gorge: A 50 Year Journey

When J. Miles Wolf first began photographing Red River Gorge 50 years ago, he could not have known that it would become a lifelong project. What began with camping trips and early explorations grew into an annual tradition, creating a visual record of the Gorge as well as Wolf’s changing life, family and photographic art.

That story unfolds in Red River Gorge: A 50 Year Journey, opening Saturday, Sept. 26, at Behringer-Crawford Museum. Presented as part of the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial, The Long View, the exhibition brings together five decades of personal memories and landscape photography and will remain on display through Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026.

Red River Gorge, a National Natural Landmark, is known for its more than 100 natural stone arches, wild rivers, sheer cliffs, enormous rock houses and distinctive plant life. Wolf’s photographs capture the remarkable beauty and geological wonders that have drawn him back to the area year after year.

Presented chronologically, the exhibition follows Wolf’s journey through five decades of visits to the Gorge. His images document his early years of camping and exploring, his personal and family growth and the evolution of his work as a professional photographer.

The exhibition also traces the changing technology Wolf has used to capture the landscape. His work began with 35mm cameras and later expanded to medium-format and large-format 4-by-5 film. Today, he uses digital cameras and drones, along with techniques such as High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography and long exposures, to reveal the intricate details of the Gorge’s geology and flora.

A Cincinnati-based photographic artist, Wolf has built a 45-year career that includes exhibiting and selling his work, operating photo labs and galleries and self-publishing 10 books of local-interest photography. His photographs are held in hundreds of private and corporate collections and have been exhibited and included in the permanent collections of the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Wolf has also presented numerous solo exhibitions throughout the region, including several as part of FotoFocus.

Before the exhibition opens, Wolf will offer a virtual preview of his work during the NKY History Hour on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m.

Presented live on Zoom and the museum’s Facebook page, the free program will explore Wolf’s photographic journey, the stories behind his images and his experiences documenting Red River Gorge across five decades. Registration is free and required to participate through Zoom

at https://us06web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_a2jgosPgQZ-MyVjjVYZiFA

Behringer-Crawford Museum will also host an artist reception and talk with Wolf on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the photographer, view the exhibition and hear more about the memories, cameras and techniques behind his work.

Red River Gorge: A 50 Year Journey is part of the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial: The Long View. Now in its eighth iteration, the Biennial activates over 70 exhibitions at museums, galleries, universities, and public spaces throughout Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky in October 2026.

Each FotoFocus Biennial is structured around a unifying theme. The Long View considers aspects of time and perspective in photography and film and how these mediums shape our understanding of the world. Wolf’s half-century of photographs reflects that theme through an exploration of place, memory, artistic growth and the passage of time.

FotoFocus will welcome artists, curators, critics, educators and visitors from around the world for exhibitions, talks, performances, screenings and panel discussions during its Biennial Opening Program, Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, 2026. Biennial events will continue throughout October.

Visitors can register for a free 2026 FotoFocus Biennial Pass, which provides access to participating exhibitions during October, including free entry to regularly ticketed venues. The pass also includes entry to Biennial Opening Program events and invitations to Spotlight BusTours. To register for a free pass and learn more about the Biennial, visit fotofocus.org/biennial/2026⁠.

Exhibition and Program Details:

NKY History Hour with J. Miles Wolf: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Presented virtually on Zoom and Facebook Live, Free; Zoom registration required:

https://us06web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_a2jgosPgQZ-MyVjjVYZiFA

Exhibition: Red River Gorge: A 50 Year Journey: Saturday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026, Free for FotoFocus Biennial Passholders during October. Included with museum general admission for others.

Artist Reception and Talk: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington, KY 41011. Free for FotoFocus Biennial Passholders and includes museum general admission. Included with museum admission for others.

Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by its members, the City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Court, ArtsWave, Kentucky Arts Council, and the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame.