MOULTRIE — After his father retired from the Moultrie Police Department, Mike Maxwell moved with his family to Carabelle, Fla., where at age 15 he got his first camera, a Polaroid Instant camera, and began photographing the environs of that Gulf Coast community.

Now, though a few years have passed, his passion for photography has become more acute and his artistic ability has matured exponentially. So good in fact that he astounded the Georgia National Fair photography contest last year by having 18 of his 24 entries place in the judging of more than 1,600 entries. The judges also conveyed on him the contest’s Sweepstakes award for winning the most ribbons in the event.

The 2007 Georgia National Fair event was not his first photo contest and it surely will not be his last.

His photographs have stood against some of the best professional and amateur photographers in the state. He enters “Open” class judging in color and black and white categories.

Maxwell’s first entry, “Clipper at Calloway” received an Honorable Mention at the Sunbelt Photography Club & Albany Arts Council contest in Albany in 2005. Also that year, Maxwell placed six of his entries at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. He had two first place awards, three fifth place awards and a fourth place award in that event.

In 2006, Maxwell had a second and third place in animals and plant life respectively at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon; a first place and second place at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge contest in St. Marks, Fla.; two first place awards, two second place awards, a third place award and three honorable mention awards at the Georgia State Fair photography contest in Macon; Best in Show; three first place awards, a second place award, a third place award and an honorable mention at the Sunbelt Photography Club/Albany Art Council contest in Albany, and a first place, a third place, a fourth place and two sixth place awards at the Georgia National Fair in Perry.

Maxwell’s photographs offer a wide range of subjects. The photographer’s entries in area photo contests include still life, plants, animals, birds, scenics, nature, and people captured through lenses from macro, wide angle and extreme telephoto.

His unique perspective captures his subjects in their natural elements, but sets them apart from it.

A devout Christian, Maxwell believes his talent is God-given.

“If I have a talent with this (photography),” the unassuming Maxwell said, “the Lord has given it to me. It’s His to use in anyway he pleases.”

Maxwell, who returned to Moultrie and now works with his brother-in-law as a mechanic, doesn’t try to make a living taking pictures. He is content to enjoy his craft for the satisfaction it brings him as an escape from the daily grind.

“I don’t do it as a job,” Maxwell said of his photography. “If I did, I don’t know is I’d enjoy it as much.”

So for the time being, he’ll be content to make these spectacular photographs as a hobby and for the enjoyment of it.

“Of course,” he said with a sly grin, “I’d like to have a picture in National Geographic.”

In the meantime, Maxwell will continue shooting images that portray a harmony and balance in nature and humanity, and he’ll be using his weekends and vacations to collect views of the world that most of us only see through the eyes of Mike Maxwell.