All images copyright by the individual photographers

Partners' Picks of Featured and Guest Photographers
	The Cow Gang by Peter Blackwood Peter is a nature and landscape photographer who enjoys making images of things that are interesting and hopefully beautiful…. Thus, The Cow Gang!  This photograph is interestingly engaging. These four gals (and possibly a couple more in the wedges) are looking right at us. It’s as if they are standing, crowding at a doorway, framed by the photographer, waiting to join the coffee clutch just on the other side of the fence. The foliage in the fore ground tops out at the bottom third of the frame. The eyes of the bovine are right at the top wire, which is conveniently located at the top third of the frame. The eyes of runt of the “gang” are just below that line.  Those wires are perfectly positioned by the photographer. The color is desaturated, and the tones are soft creating a quiet and peaceful environment. Peter has done a wonderful job putting us in his place as if we are actually there conversing with these ladies. I feel like I know them.
	Dance Macabre by John Kosboth Johns work transcends “traditional” photography though still using photographic elements in his compositions. He has a painterly approach to his work, assembling elements to create very challenging photographs. The use of colors contributes to the beauty of this photograph. He has chosen to use a strong orange square background almost hanging in space and then picks up the color in the figure. The top hat and the legs suggest to this writer that this is a rendering of a dancer…but that is left up to the imagination. As with much modern art, John does not just present a simple image that one can look at for a couple of seconds then move on to another photo.  The viewer should spend time with it, appreciating not only the color and graphic composition but think about how this photograph is linked to its title, Dance Macabre. Even after doing this, one leaves not sure that they understood the photograph and encourages them to come back and looks some more. Or better still bring it home and hang it in their home. John goes way beyond just presenting “pretty” images…he challenges the viewer with all of his work, and this is what makes his work stand out so strongly.
	Lady by Devin Mack Devin departs from the “traditional” head shot with this very creative portrait of a “lady”. He employs high contrast and a posterization technique to create a strong graphic composition. The subject contrasts strongly with the black background and with the limited color palate makes for an almost surreal photograph. Almost all of the fine textures have been removed leaving just the eyes, nose and mouth—especially the eyelashes.  The pose is intriguing…the hand in front of the open mouth…is it a yawn, singing, a moment of pleasure or something else? That is left to the viewer to decide for themselves. The finish of this photograph, large in size, printed on a reflective medium makes for a wonderful presentation.
	Edge of Clarity by Don Menges This major show of Don Menges reinforces his creative skills and variety in making photographs. It is a somewhat retrospective of his work over the last years. Edge of Clarity is an Award Winner….in a recent issue of Black and White Magazine….which it truly deserves. The photograph is somewhat reminiscent of some of the portrait work by Robert Mapplethorpe. However, the model is not of this world….a mannequin. The drape of the head scarf envelopes her head, beautifully framing it. Using Black and White allows the viewer to focus on the composition and subject and not be distracted by color….just allowing them to enjoy blacks, whites and articulated grays. Strengthening this photograph is the technique Don used to separate the subject from the viewer…a frosted barrier. Although hard to pick on photograph from this excellent show, this photograph stands out as a beautiful creation.