Partner's Picks
	Light of My Life by Peter Blackwood This alley in Canandaigua is just outside of a gallery that I am a featured  'permanent' artist in; the Finger Lakes Gallery and Frame. I had been observing the light in the alley for some time while coming and going, and  realized that during March and April the 'golden hour' setting sun beamed  half way up the alley creating a light and darker area of brick  illumination and potential for dramatic shadowing. Using myself and my wife as 'models', and using tripod and timer, I was able to position the  'models' so their shadow barely blended into the darker area of brick. I processed this image using Adobe Lightroom. Because of the dramatic lighting based on the aspects of bright, dark, and shadow areas, I found that converting to black and white (with Lightroom)  brought out those aspects as well as adding a style that matched the  somewhat retro subject matter of the couple kissing. My hope is that when others view the image, they not only appreciate the lighting and shadowing, but also that the lighting aspects bring out the  romantic aspects of the kissing couple. What the viewer will not know is the 44 years of marriage presented in our embrace! Technical Information: Canon 6D, Canon 24-105L lens at 67mm,     1/100th sec at F8,   ISO 160    Manfrotto tripod Peter Blackwood
	Disney Concert Hall, Interior (2016) by David Bleich, Signs of Light The interior of the Frank Gehry creation is perhaps even more dramatic than the total exterior view, which is nothing less than overwhelming. This is one of the many corridors flanked by the gleaming sheet metal, which urged me into an otherworldly frame of mind. As I stared down this seductive path, I looked up and there were the leaves of the tree hanging over my head. If only I can get all of this into a single vision, I thought. In several passes, I took about 25 horizontal frames, with a D800 and a 20mm lens, panning up and down. Of these only six were needed to complete the view, and plenty of post-process acrobatics were needed just to reproduce the scene as seen—the radically high contrasts, the rich subcolors on the walls, the tantalizing curves we see in this structure at every step as we walk through it. Of course, it is always luck when we have rendered properly the feeling produced in us by the breathtaking view. In this case the image does indeed make feel as if I were back there on that “high noon” day, the sun doing its utmost to reach us by itself and through the walls’ many interpretations of its light. David Bleich Technical Information: Nikon D800, 20mm lens with 6 stitched image. The Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles is the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center, opened in 2003.
People's Choice Award
	Off White Balance by Clay Arnold This abandoned house sits just before the roundabout located at Rt. 65 (Clover Street) and Rt. 251. It is perfectly shaped, but the missing windows, the weathered wood and brittle structure of the building leave a haunting impression. I first photographed the house on a summer evening and the warm oranges and yellows did not feel right. Then on a January 2016 morning shoot; I reached the house during the last moments of the “blue hour”. Using a wide-angle lens, I took this photo while standing in the road. The tree in front of the house, as well as some of the branches from another tree in the right foreground, create an eerie feeling that reminds me of Boo Radley’s house in To Kill a Mockingbird. But the key to the mood comes from enhancing the blues by shooting this in the “fluorescent” white balance mode - inspiring the name for the piece. Details:  Camera - Canon 5D, Mark III; Lens Tamron SP 24 - 70 mm f/2.8 DI VC USD; focal length 35mm; ISO 1600; F-stop: f/3.2; ss: 1/200 (Date: January 31, 2016). There are no obvious answers, but many more questions. That is what makes this photograph fascinating. Clay Arnold
Camera Rochester Award The Peter Nelson Photography Award is given in memory of Peter Nelson. Peter was an enthusiastic photographer, who eagerly shared his passion for photography. Peter was a long-time member and officer of Camera Rochester. He also exhibited at Image City. Camera Rochester and Image City are showing their appreciation of this dedicated photographer by giving the Peter Nelson Award to other deserving photographers.
	King Penguin Quartet - Falklands by Gary Paige This quartet of King penguins was photographed on Saunders island in the Falklands, and at one of the most remarkable wildlife sites on the planet that is typically referred to as 'The Neck.' Our group of 7 spent 5 days in this isolated area in a single structure resembling a train car, with a small generator for electricity. We carried in all our food and supplies for the duration of our stay and we all shared the duties of daily life. Everything worked out well All 5 species of penguins in the region are there, plus black-browed albatross and many other birds. There are no land predators in the Falklands, and all critters seem quite calm about their odd giant-penguin-like visitors. We witnessed groups of Kings like this frequently. From fixed positions, they would suddenly begin a slow coordinated movement and then freeze for ~15s, only to move on to yet another formation. I felt determined to capture this fascinating social ritual, given its grace and beauty. Here, I was prone on the ground for the vantage desired, and waited for the sun to move along so as to project that shadow of the leftmost penguin onto the belly of its neighbor in full. To capture this image, I was prone on the ground for the vantage desired, and waited for the sun to move along so as to project that shadow of the leftmost penguin onto the belly of its neighbor in full. This was one of many truly moving and glorious experiences in the Falklands, an experience shared with my wife, Myrna (we are a 'photo couple'), and 5 other wonderful humans who were equally awed and inspired by our time together here--a trip that included 5 unique islands in the archipelago.  Gary Paige Technical Details: Nikon D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 v.2; ISO 400, 1/500sec @ f/16 -- close to 'sunny 16'.