Image City Photography Gallery
Newsletter
Issue: # 86November 14, 2014

For a webpage version of the Newsletter Click Here

 

We publish our Newsletter during each of our exhibits to pass along information and reviews of the exhibit, selected images and news of 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 the 13 shows we produce in 2014.

In This Issue
Current Exhibit: "Black & White Invitational" by DG Adams, Bruno Chalifour, Tim Fuss, Susan C. Larkin, John Solberg, and Dave Valvo
The Magic of Light 2015 -- LAST Call for Submissions
Peter Marr's Picks of the Current Exhibit
Gallery Partner Picks of the Exhibit
Image City Critiques Group - Meets December 3
From our friends at the George Eastman House: November 22 Panel Discussion at George Eastman House: Photography Unfixed
Calendar of Upcoming Events at Image City

Black & White Invitational -- An Exhibit by D. G. Adams, Bruno Chalifour, Tim Fuss, Susan C. Larkin, John Solberg, and Dave Valvo

Current Show Runs Through Sunday, November 30

 

Our current exhibit is Black & White Invitational and features the photography of D. G. Adams, Bruno Chalifour, Tim Fuss, Susan C. Larkin, John Solberg, and Dave Valvo. They were chosen because of their aesthetic and technical excellence, and their impressive pedigrees.  The result is a striking, varied and fascinating exhibit, with something to please everyone.
  
The exhibit also includes Guest Photographers Steve Tryon in the East Gallery and Mike Erban, Mary Ellen Hill, Peter Mahan, and Tom McGlynn, who have all produced strong exhibits of their photography.  Gallery Partners also exhibiting are Dick Bennett, Carl Crumley, Steve Levinson, Gil Maker, Don Menges, Dan Neuberger, Betsy Phillips, John Solberg, Gary Thompson, Phyllis Thompson, and Sheridan Vincent, as well as Artists-in-Residence, Jim Patton and David Perlman. 

Click Here  to see a preview on our website of a selection of photographs from the exhibit. There is no admission fee at Image City and is accessible to all. 
The Magic of Light 2015 -- LAST Call for Submissions
 Only  few days left to submit your entry for The Magic of Light exhibit in January 2015

Dear Friends of Image City Photography Gallery,
 

The deadline, this Sunday, November 16 at 4pm, is rapidly approaching. We very much appreciate the participations of photographers who answer our calls for submissions for our juried exhibits. Remember that you can enter more than once.The modest contributions from the entry fees help us cover our Gallery expenses and sustain the operations at Image City.

 

After eight successful editions of our annual juried show, we are pleased, to let you know that there will certainly be another. The theme of the 2015 Image City Juried Theme Show is again titled  

The Magic of Light. The theme is open, to give you freedom to create astonishing pictures. The exhibit of selected photographs will be in January 2015 at Image City.You can find all details for your submission at the special link: The Magic of Light 2015 Call Page. The same information is also available via the Image City Website. If you have any question, please feel free to contact me at Gilbert.Maker@ImageCityPhotographyGallery.com or by phone at 585-271-2540. All Gallery Partners look forward to receiving your submission by November 16, 2014 even better, if we receive it before October 26, 2014 - see details on the link above.
 

Feel free to forward this announcement to any of your friends and relatives who might be interested in participating in the Image City Juried Show, The Magic of Light 2015.

 

Gilbert Maker, Gallery Partner
Chairman of the 2015 Juried Show at Image City.
  
Peter Marr's  Picks of the Show

  

We are very fortunate to have Peter Marr, photographer, competition judge, and past president of the Kodak Camera Club, select his "picks" by the featured artists in the show after a very careful critical review. We enjoy the added feature he brings to the exhibit by way of an enlightening review of the chosen photo and with his thoughts on what attracted him to it. We publish his comments with the photo in the exhibit and online, as well as in the newsletter. We very much appreciate Peter's contributions. Peter picked five photos from the exhibit and his commentary follows. They are also posted onlne, click here

 

Railing and Snow

by D. G. Adams

 

This creative and magical print is a wonderful example where cross lighting imparts a breathtaking luminosity that is dimensionally unmatched. It is enthralling to see the light pattern of the dark railings contrasted against the much larger and more delicate shadow patterns. Using such a large imbalance of tonality intentionally, results in the creation of tension within the viewer. Spectacularly, there are two distinct overall movements as the eye scans the image. Firstly, there is vertical movement from the lower right to the left, which falls short of reaching the middle of the frame. To maintain balance, there is a much greater weight placed on the right hand side. Secondly, the side lighting creates a moving shadow pattern of the black railings, and this elegant tracery moves not just from the right to left, but almost vertically before it disappears, along with the railing over the horizon. The perspective line of the railing consists of a sequence of closely related forms to create a visual pattern, and in counterpoint to this, the shadows set up a second design. There are distinct tonal variations between the railing and the shadow, resulting in a magical interplay between the two. The blowing snow has largely obliterated the series of steps to the right of the rail support, the steps becoming more evident towards the top of the rise. Where the steps are more clearly seen, one can envisage a series of crosses, although they are not visible in the lovely shadows at the left. I hope that every viewer will take the time to both admire and sense the serenity and quietness of the overall scene, and appreciate how the artist has transformed the harshness of winter into an idyllic masterpiece of peacefulness and grace, quiet beauty that is both creative and uplifting. 

 

Bouts

by Tim Fuss

 

As he states in his short biography, Tim portrays the elements of music visually by using the shapes of musical instruments. Many of his outstanding images incorporate a minimalist abstraction approach, often displaying somewhat sensuous curve relationships that are truly fascinating.

I chose Bouts to comment further on, because this print has much more information on the instruments, which additionally allows the viewer to have a true appreciation of the fine craftsmanship of the instrument makers. The studio lighting has been superbly controlled in terms of intensity and direction, leaving only the artist's imagination to create wonderful patterns and interesting variations. The instruments follow diagonal lines which creates powerful compositional effects because of their inherent instability. The high contrast lighting beautifully meshes with the mood and ambience in the image and the flowing curves enhances the visual relationships, which in turn, gives rise to visual harmonies. Although the instruments are at rest, there is an expressive movement and depth with the pattern variations that reflects on rhythms, timbres and harmonies that one can almost hear coming out of the print. Artfully arranged, these magnificent instruments, probably violins, suggest that they have been carefully laid down by members of the string section, possibly during an orchestral intermission. It is left to the viewer to provide their own score to listen to as they study this entrancing image. My own thoughts gravitate to Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings." The viewer can also stay longer to listen to what music will be played on these violins after the intermission.

 

 

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

by Susan C. Larkin

 

This is an amazing image of a plant bursting forth in all its glory and delicacy, captured at a peak moment in an incomparable manner by an artist who has an unsurpassed love and passion for nature, particularly taking superb close-ups that reveal extraordinary fine detail that few have been privileged to see. One would yearn to learn of the plant's life story and to understand its language, but of course at this time it is not possible. Thankfully, we have Susan's remarkable print that illustrates the last stages of this narrative. Here we experience a large seed pod, powerfully displayed on an entrancing diagonal line, bursting forth to release its seeds. This is a pod that has lovingly sheltered its precious cargo through an infinite range of climatic conditions, and has fostered a protective-paternalistic feeling for the seeds for a considerable time. The artist has captured the magical moment when the pod opens, and the seeds, with their silky parachutes that are superbly captured in this image are left to dance playfully together, before the wind plucks them into the air. One by one, the progeny of the plant drift off to an unknown destination, all hoping for a soft landing in perhaps moist soil, where they can eventually take root and successfully propagate the species. There is an impressive interplay of tonalities as well as the inspired use of the positive and negative space from the incorporation of the vibrant foreground and the black background. The vivid whites play against the dark grays and the black surround to create an artistic setting that results in a dramatic impact, together with the fact that the high contrast adds to the overall brilliancy of the image. Nature would be incredibly proud if they could see this print, that one of its magnificent creations has been captured so artistically and so inspiringly.

 

Sower of Places - False Kiva

by Dave Valvo

 

 All of Dave's breathtaking landscapes exhibit a power and majesty that is so appropriate for the areas where they were photographed. These prints visually excite us because they convey the excitement and the deep personal feelings experienced by the artist, when he is faced with the challenges of making memorable images from such momentous opportunities. "False Kiva" is a panorama of exalted inspiration, a natural expanse that to the Anasazi probably looked closer to paradise, a sheer temple of grandeur, one that no hand of man could have built. The author's love and real enthusiasm for the subject matter, reminds me of what Frederick Sommer once stated, namely, "Subject matter is subject that matters," As a result of the extreme exposure and dynamic range of the scene, the artist had to do considerable manipulation in the digital darkroom in order to come up with the wonderful final print. This is an awesome landscape which exhibits a magical glow befitting the grandeur and nobility of nature. It is very obvious that Dave has deep personal conviction, insight and emotion, and his years of experience in photography have resulted in him "seeing in B/W," and he has been moved to produce such meaningful work. The middle and light gray tonalities dominate this image, but any tonal imbalance has been artistically corrected in the digital darkroom. The viewer cannot help but be astounded by the outstanding detail, the tremendous feeling of three dimensionality from the Kiva perched high on an escarpment, all the way through the canyons to the remote structures in the background. If that were not enough, the impressive and somewhat menacing clouds add a realism that is compelling and powerful. The only other important detail that I would like to add, is that this print and all of Dave's other works are beautifully matted and framed, in keeping with such an outstanding exhibition.    

Gallery Partner Picks of Photographs by the Guest Photographers

In addition to Peter's Picks, Gallery Partners have called out three additional photographs from the exhibit. They are also posted online, click here

 

Along the Creek #7
 
by Bruno Chalifour

  

This is a wonderfully complex image with an active interplay between light and shade, each distinct and delicate.   Together they create an almost magical space along the creek.    Following the light can draw us from the foreground gently through a visual opening to the more distant creek, the small waterfall and the quiet space in front of it.    The light brings us back along the creek, and from there up into the canopy above.

 

These images are reflections of the artist's childhood experience, seen with young, curious and exploring eyes. When we allow ourselves to see this image through those eyes, the image becomes even more alive, and we can explore it and the magic it has captured.     Spend some time letting your eyes follow the light around this image, and see what you discover. You may find yourself "along the creek."

 

 

Lost
 
by Mary Ann Hill
 
 

Backgrounds are often not among the primary features of photography; in fact many times they can detract from a photograph---think of a snapshot of a friend with a "tree growing out of his head" due to poor composition.

 

Mary Ellen succeeds wonderfully in making the background a key feature of her photograph, having a background that is mysterious, beautiful and one that integrates so strongly with the two people on the water.  The people's pose is somewhat reminiscent of a Gondolier in Venice, however this is clearly not the subject....where are two people going?  Who are they and what is their relationship? How does the beautiful but abstract background help us understand this image?

 

Photographs can sometimes just show a subject, however Mary Ellen creates a mystery which entices the viewer to look, think, look and think again. Her use of scale of the people versus the background really underscores the title Lost which this photograph so aptly bears. This picture is just one of an entire series that Mary Ellen exhibits in her show, reinforcing her creativity.

 

 

Morning Light, Near Nรกjera Spain
 
by John Solberg

 

John Solberg has a marvelous series of images taken in 2013 on a 500 mile 34 day walk across northern Spain along the Camino de Santiago. We are invited to walk along with him and his wife, Louise as they walked from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

This particular path of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) is one of a series of ancient pilgrimage routes followed by people since the early Middle Ages to view the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. St. James, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is the patron saint of Spain.

 

The path itself is said to be relatively easy - fairly flat on good paths. We today, however don't experience the physicality and spirituality of walking as the only means of reaching your destination. To get an idea of the distances I checked out Google maps. A walk from the Gallery to Eastview Mall is about 12 miles down University Ave and eventually to Route 96. To the west, you make your way through the city and down State St. to Lyell Ave. and Route 31, the town of Spencerport is about 12 miles away. John and Louise averaged 15 miles per day over the more than 30 days that they walked.

 

I selected this image because of what it represents - the start of a new day, crisp light and fresh air, the path forward with vistas of a dirt road, fields of vegetation and some slight hills.  The road, the grasses on the right, the plowed rows of crops and the fellow travelers already on the road, as well as the hills in the background lead us into John's image. We can only imagine the sights and sounds and smells the day will hold. John controls the harsh morning light in the sky and balances the light and dark areas in the foreground and background. The composition is well balanced and places the viewer in John and Louise's shoes, as they are about to embark on a day like no other. We are thankful to John for allowing us to walk along side him and Louise on their wonderful pilgrimage of spirituality.  

Image City Critiques Meeting: Next is December 3
 
The Image City Critique Group meets the first Wednesday of the month. Participants meet and review images that they bring to a friendly critiquing session. We will meet on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7pm at the Gallery. The assignment for December is to submit 3-5 images using geometric shapes in your photography. Note there will be no meeting in JanuarySend your image files to Don Menges dmenges@rochester.rr.com so they can be set up for the meeting.
From our friends at the George Eastman House -- Photography Unfixed, a Panel Discussion

Saturday, November 22, 1pm, Dryden Theatre, George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue

         

Join a panel discussion on the ways in which the change from analog to digital photographic technology has affected our relationship to imagery. Panelists: Robert Burley, photographer and associate professor at the School of Image Arts at Ryerson University; James Estrin, New York Times Lens Blog co-editor and senior staff photographer; and Steven J. Sasson, electrical engineer and inventor of the digital camera. Lisa Hostetler, curator-in-charge, Department of Photography, will moderate. Attendance is included with the museum admission fee and is free to Eastman House members. Also on exhibit is the world's first digital camera designed by Steven J. Sasson in 1975, courtesy of Eastman Kodak Company. Robert Burley's The Disapperance of Darkness is a currently featured exhibit.

Calendar of Events
Image City Photography Gallery, 722 University Avenue 

 

November 16 Last day for submissions to The Magic of Light 2015 Juried Show  

November 27 Gallery will be closed. Happy Thanksgiving

November 30 Last day for The Black & White Invitational Exhibit

December 2 Opening Day Holiday Show 2014

December 5 Artists' Reception and First Friday Gallery Night Holiday Show 2014, 5 - 9pm

 

 

Image City Photography Gallery 
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, Noon - 6
 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 

 

In the Heart of ARTWalk in the Neighborhood of the Arts

THIS IS A TEST EMAIL ONLY.
This email was sent by the author for the sole purpose of testing a draft message. If you believe you have received the message in error, please contact the author by replying to this message. Constant Contact takes reports of abuse very seriously. If you wish to report abuse, please forward this message to abuse@constantcontact.com.