Brad Sevaldson is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He is co-owner of BIRCH Home Furnishings and Gifts in Wiscasset, with his partner Greg Uthoff.

BIRCH is one of those shops that look so clean and elegant from the always open door, you get drawn in. Once inside, you'll find yourself immersed in some delightful home décor — furniture, lighting, art and accessories.

If all that's not enough reason to stop in and meet Sevaldson, there's more. He's also an achieved photographer, and his photographs, some graphically enhanced, make you stop and take notice.

Some of Sevaldson's photographs adorn the walls, which are shared with other artists' works, including the bright, colorful paintings and prints by Francine Sokol. The photographer is not one to showcase his art just because it's his. He's humble about his enchanting photographs, taken all over the world — from sides of old barns to doorways of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy and all over Europe — England, France, Netherlands (Amsterdam), Germany, Austria and Norway.

True to form, Sevaldson underplays the talent and ingenuity that is evident in his photographs. He obviously has an artful eye and an innate knowledge of just when to click his camera of choice, a digital Nikon D-60.

“Doorways, balconies, terraces — I love taking pictures of those things,” he said. “I've found that people love doors and windows of Europe. Everybody has an infatuation with them.”

It's hard to believe Sevaldson didn't start getting serious about photography until 2009, when Uthoff suggested he start doing something professional with his talent.

When he began, in the 90s, digital pictures weren't really in the picture yet. “I'd come back from Europe with 16 rolls of film, not really knowing what I had,” Sevaldson said. When he started really looking at the processed photos of the Ufizzi and of Lake Constance in Germany — one of his most coveted photos — he was pleased.

“The beauty of digital pictures is that you know what you've got as you're shooting them.”

Sevaldson began selling his photographs at art shows and festivals in Boynton, Sarasota and The Villages, Florida after he was laid off from Saks.  It took off. “The art festival thing was fun,” he said. “I enjoyed being a carnie.”

Gradually, Sevaldson began having some of his photos printed on large canvases, art paper and metal. He said that's when the fun really began. “I was able to produce them in different sizes and shapes than you'd normally see.”

Then Saks asked him to come back. He went. “Unfortunately that was just when I had started having fun with the carnival life.” He continued with the festivals on weekends, and when his position was eliminated for the second time, he said, “Fine. I'll just do art festivals.” He started renting vans and traveling longer distances to art shows and festivals.

Sevaldson's photographs aren't your typical run-of-the-mill photos. Aside from many of them being of interesting subjects in foreign countries, his creative use of Photoshop colorization techniques enhances them, turning what might be a humdrum travel photo into a work of art. “Playing around with Photoshop can produce some unexpected rewarding results,” he said.

He admits he's no techie when it comes to the finer points of photography. “It's not like painting a watercolor — anybody can take a photograph, but it's the subject matter and what the photographer sees through the lens, and how you frame the picture that makes a good photograph. It's not what you're using to shoot with — you don’t need a thousand-dollar camera.”

A couple years ago Sevaldson and Uthoff started thinking about settling down in Wiscasset.

After they opened BIRCH, Sevaldson thought he may still be able to pretend he was a carnie, but the shop is flourishing and it requires both his and Uthoff's full-time attention. 

Sevaldson still takes photographs, often using his smart phone. “It's tricky carrying the big camera with all its components all the time,” he said. “I used to go places just to take photographs, but now our trips are mostly to the grocery store.”

Francine Sokol had this to say of Sevaldson’s work: “Brad is a man of fine taste and style. His photography shows this and his photographs are taken with a sensitive and experienced eye,” she writes in an email. “They show many interesting things that capture his discerning eye – local scenes, plus the atmosphere of Europe. It is a joy to know him and his creative work!”

John Webster of Orr’s Island agrees. “My partner and I have been friends with Brad and Greg for about 38 years, and for the last 12 years we’ve been encouraging him to do something with his photos. When he retired he starting doing art shows in Florida and it has blossomed into what it is today in Wiscasset. His photographs are amazing.”

“I'm an amateur photographer, but people are nice enough to say I have a good eye,” said the always demure Sevaldson.

With BIRCH being open seven days a week, Sevaldson doesn't have a lot of free time to pursue his photography these days, but when things slow down in the fall, look for him whenever you visit a beautiful spot around midcoast Maine, or Europe.

BIRCH is located at 72 Main Street. Call 207 522-4045.