Image City Photography Gallery
Newsletter
Issue: # 57July 21, 2012

We publish our brief Newsletter during each of our exhibits to pass along information and reviews of the exhibit, photographic tips, selected images and news of other participation opportunities at Image City. We thank you for your interest and we look forward to another great year of fine photographs and events. We hope to see you at each of our 13 shows in 2012.

In This Issue
Tradition and Transition by Carl Crumley and Dick Bennett
Peter's Picks from the Exhibit
Gary's Photo Tip
Image City Critiques -- Wednesday, August 1 at 7pm
Calendar of Upcoming Events at Image City

Tradition and Transition by Carl Crumley and Dick Bennett

Current Show Runs Through Sunday, August 5  

 

  Image City Photography Gallery's current exhibit, Tradition and Transition, features Carl Crumley and Dick Bennet, partners at Image City. Tradition is the theme of Carl's exhibit that captures the lives of the Amish and Mennonites in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, as they maintain traditional lifestyles in an increasingly high-tech world. Dick's exhibit studied the Transition of a new development in Rochester's Maplewood Neighborhood on Dewey Avenue near Ridge Road. Over a year-and-a-half, he documented the demolition of the Crescent Puritan Laundry factory and the construction of an 80 unit supportive housing community, Eastman Commons, that uses the tradition of community support to help whose who are less fortunate. Dick's exhibit is underwritten by Eastman Commons, a supportive Housing Community. Be sure to read "Peter's Picks" for additional details of the two exceptional exhibits of photographs. 

  

The Guest photographers for the exhibit are Bridget Aleo, Timothy Cuffe, Helen Ellis, Julie Oldfield, Lou Ryen, and Mark Widman. Bruce Elling takes us to Chicago with his exhibit in the East Gallery. Camera Rochester's award-winning photographers with photographs are Ted Barnett, Earl Jackson, Bob Hinkelman, Nancy Stockmaster, Dave Valvo, and Wu-hsiung Yang..

 

We round out the show with work by Jim Patton, Artist-in-Residence, and Gallery Partners Steve Levinson, Gil Maker, Don Menges, Dan Neuberger, Betsy Phillips, Gary Thompson, Phyllis Thompson, and Sheridan Vincent.

 

For full details of the show click hereBe sure to check out the link to the "Preview of the Show Gallery" to see a selection of the fine works in the show that runs through Sunday, August 5th.

Peter's Picks from the Exhibit

 

We were pleased when Peter Marr was able to return to make his "Peter's Picks" from this exhibit. He chooses his favorite photographs by the featured artist and guest. Click here to visit the website for the complete discussion and the larger image. 

 

Scarlet Cast by Bruce Elling Peter found Bruce Elling's photograph Scarlet Cast "an exquisite, creative image, of detail from probably an auditorium or concert hall. Set against part of the lovely sweeping contours of the inside structure, are rows of chairs which curve effortlessly from the foreground, until they eventually disappear from view. What is so electrifying, is that these chairs are bright red in color, a hue that takes on an added vibrancy due to the varied gray values of the background stonework. The lighting is superb, and I love the way the shadows cast by the end seats in each row, create their own powerful statements as they are projected onto the concrete floor. As these shadow's eventually vanish, and the chairs disappear from view, there is a possibility that our interest may also wane as one is immediately confronted with a metal barrier fence, probably put in place to prevent people from walking further on the concrete ledge. For myself, I have no such obstacles in my path, for my eyes sweep along the curve of the chairs until I can view the stage, which I know must be at the far end of this magnificent building....."

 

   

Traditional Hay Harvesting by Carl CrumleyA second choice is Traditional Hay Harvesting by Carl Crumley. Peter notes that "This impressive image, together with "Amish Farm After the Rain", are my two favorite "farmscapes" in this inspiring exhibition of memorable photographs, that strikingly illustrate various lifestyles of the Amish and Mennonite culture. Although it was a difficult decision, I decided to comment further on the Traditional Hay Harvesting print, because not only is it a superlative image in its own right, it imbues the very essence of hard work, dedication and traditional mores of these communities. The setting is magical, with alternating bands of deep greens and yellows that sweep effortlessly upwards, to reveal two pristine white buildings that are set majestically against a clear blue sky. This scenic alone would be captivating by itself, but into the foreground, there is a compelling setting of an Amish family harvesting hay, probably with the assistance of close neighbors who have brought their team of Belgian horses to share the workload. In this field the hand baling of the precious product results in sheaves, which in turn, are arranged in their own imposing pattern, as they stand in proud array across the open expanse of stubble......" 

 

Smokestack Demolished by Dick Bennett In another of Peter's Picks he asks, of Dick Bennett's Smokestack Demolished "What better way to illustrate Dick's dedication and hard work to fully document the Eastman Common's project, than to comment on the spectacular razing of the tallest feature on the site. In this masterly image, he has dramatically captured the very moment when the wrecking ball delivers a direct and telling blow to the top of the smokestack, the initial assault on a structure that has long been a highly visible feature in the neighborhood. The huge crane, superbly delineated against the sky, towers like a giant over its prey, as the initial assault sends a vast shower of bricks, mortar and debris earthwards. Although we marvel at how modern technology can rapidly result in the conversion of a tall chimney into a pile of rubble, one cannot help but think of the hard work, skill and dedication that all contributed to constructing this smokestack many years ago. Upliftingly, this impressive print, resplendently details the striking, circular brick arrays, together with the massive iron bands and vertical supports, elements that have worked in harmony over time, to ensure that this smokestack would survive all of nature's furies. Although there must be sadness in the fact that this long cherished edifice should meet such a swift and dramatic end, one must also be thankful that this loss, and the subsequent demolition of the surrounding buildings, will result in the construction of a housing complex that will greatly benefit future residents, as well as enlightening the neighborhood."

 

Church Service is Over by Carl Crumley In selecting Church Service is Over, Peter commented that Carl "is to be congratulated for braving the intense cold conditions to capture a precious moment that is truly inspiring, as we see members of the Mennonite community returning home from a Sunday morning worship service. The setting is just exquisite, with the church situated on a small hill surrounded by a single-railed fence, together with a line of stately trees, appropriately clad in winter's attire. This is all set against a pale blue sky that is striated with soft yellow clouds, creating a magical backdrop to this charming scene. The graceful snow-clad slopes that are interspersed here and there with remnants of corn stalks and grasses, are divided by a paved rural highway that has been cleared of snow, a road that bends delightfully from a small rise, and sweeps effortlessly down the hill and out of one's sight. Exiting from the church and proceeding down the paved route, is an expressive line of buggies, resplendent in their shiny black attire. The strong morning side-lighting impressively highlights much of the elegant detail in the carriages and horses, together with emphasizing the exhilaration of racing for home as the buggies in the forefront pick up speed......." 

 

Basement Fixtures by Dick Bennett Basement Fixtures by Dick Bennett is Peter's final Choice. "Rather than comment on a print from the completed Eastman Common's project, so wonderfully documented by Dick over one and a half years of photography that resulted in over eight hundred prints, I decided to highlight an image that included one of the skilled crew in a typical workplace environment. What could be better than this outstanding print of an electrician, creatively captured, carefully feeding large power cables into a massive control-box enclosure? This is no household installation, and profoundly illustrates that on this job, muscular strength as well as dexterity in completing multiple electrical connections are needed assets. The lighting in this image is really excellent, and of course it helps to have the electrician wear a bright blue shirt, stand on a red ladder, and have a predominantly gray background, yet even with these elements in your favor, one still has to compose and capture the photograph in the creative manner that Dick has so impressively done."

 

Peter Marr We are often asked, as people study the Peter's Picks discussions displayed with the photographs, Who is Peter? A brief answer is here from our Peter's Picks webpages: "We are very grateful to Peter for his thorough review and selection for Peter's Picks. Peter was born in England in 1935 and came to live in the United States in 1968. He worked for the Eastman Kodak Company for 34 years, retiring in 1998. During his employment and continuing into retirement, he has been an enthusiastic photographer. His photography has won him numerous awards throughout Kodak and in International Salons, including 5 George Eastman Medals, which is the top honor awarded to the most outstanding picture in the Annual Kodak International Salon. He has served as a judge in both local and international photographic competitions for the past 20 years, and is a Past president of the Kodak Camera Club and past chairman of many of the Kodak Camera Club organizations. In the past five years or so, he has devoted his photographic skills and interest into nature photography, notably bird photography. His bird photography has been the subject of several one-person exhibits, the most recent being at Ding Darling NWR, in Sanibel, Florida, The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, New York, and at the Webster Public Library in Webster, NY."

 

 

 
Gary Thompson's Photo Tip
 Bounce Light into Shaded Areas can Help in Photographing Streams on Sunny Days 
 

Gary Thompson Gold on the Little River Generally I avoid photographing streams on bright sunny days. However, sometimes there are ways of producing stunning stream images when encountering bright light conditions. On these kinds of days I search for shaded areas in a stream where bright color is being reflected. The bright colors are usually the result of sunlight bouncing off of colorful vegetation and then being reflected down into shaded water. The walls of a gorge can sometimes provide the surface for reflecting light. The light from a blue sky may directly reflect off of the water in the shaded areas adding intense blue colors.

 

The patterns of colorful light can be used to produce unique abstracts in the small shaded areas or, if you are fortunate enough to have large shaded spaces can be used as part of a landscape. These shaded areas, whether large or small, are easy to overlook so you will need to really concentrate on searching for them. Once you locate a shaded area you need to study the reflected light and make sure there are no extreme bright areas (hot spots) within the frame of your photograph. Direct light, except possibly from a blue sky, will usually overpower the reflected light providing too much contrast in the image. Reflected light bouncing off foliage, tree canopies, and/or gorge walls can produce the same kind of vivid color as bounce light in the shaded canyons of the Southwest.

 

My example image is Gold on the Little River. Because the shaded area was large the reflections worked well in a landscape. The image was made on a sunny autumn day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Click here to see a larger image and to see the full series of "Gary's Photo Tips."
 

Image City Critiques

At Image City on Wednesday, August 1 at 7pm

 

Each month, we enjoy a good turnout for Image City Critiques, our program at Image City to provide participants an opportunity to engage in a friendly, constructive, and positive critique and review of their photographs. The sessions are held on the first Wednesday of the month. Join us for the next on Wednesday, August 1st from 7:00-9:00 pm.

 
The assignment for this session is to send two of your, well thought out and composed, vacation or summer images to share with the group. Send all images to Gil Maker (gmaker@mac.com) before Wednesday. August 1st.
Calendar of Events
Image City Photography Gallery, 722 University Avenue 

 

August 3 - First Friday Gallery Night at Image City, 6 - 9pm
August 5 - Last day of Tradition and Transition by Carl Crumley and Dick Bennett
August 8 - Opening Day for Portfolio Showcase 2012
August 10 - Artists' Reception 5 - 8:30 pm
 
Image City Photography Gallery   Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 11 - 7, Sunday Noon - 4  
 

There is no admission fee to visit Image City Photography Gallery

Contact Information

 Image City Photography Gallery, 722 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

585.271.2540 
website: www.ImageCityPhotographyGallery.com 

 

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Image City Photography Gallery | 722 University Avenue | Rochester | NY | 14607