Fran Burns Photography Exhibit

We would like to encourage everyone to come to the Library in to see a new photographic exhibit. There are over 20 photographs by photographer Fran Burns. If you have been around Haltom City, you might know Fran. She started the first Haltom City Photography Contest, which is now in its 29th year.  Here, in her own words, are how she got started in photojournalism:

I began working for the North Hills News in spring 1986 after graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in photojournalism. I was hired as the staff photographer, and the position gave me the opportunity to take photos of all kinds of subjects and events.  I was also able to do a little writing and page layout for the paper. 

North Hills News was a weekly that initially covered Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills and Watauga. We had reporters that regularly attended city council meetings in each of these towns. We also covered BISD and the private schools in our area. The paper later expanded limited coverage in Hurst, Euless and Bedford and the HEB School District. 

As staff photographer I ran a darkroom and was responsible for rolling bulk film, developing the film and making an average of 40 prints per week for publications. My most challenging assignment was getting good photos of high school football games. With limited equipment and taking photos basically in the dark, I found Friday night football a frustrating comedy of errors. 

I was present with people at their most celebratory times and during their worst times. It was all part of the job. As I think back on it now, I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to document a short timeframe of history in Northeast Tarrant County.
Today, I continue to enjoy taking photos of my kids and grandkids … still documenting history, but in a more personal way. 

A collection of the North Hills News is housed at the Birdville Museum, 6030 Walker St., Haltom City. All of my negatives from my time with the newspaper are also archived there.

For more information contact the library.