All images copyright by the individual photographers

Partners' Picks of Featured and Guest Photographers
	Sunset at the Bluffs by Marie Costanza Marie, who usually photographs in the west, has found beauty right here at home.  Chimney Bluffs can be a challenging place to photograph. There have been many boring photos of Chimney Bluffs. Marie correctly identifies the secret; taking the time to find the right moment to do so.  Even then, you’re not always guaranteed a good opportunity to make an image.  Sunsets aren’t really about the actual sun setting, are they? It’s more about the beautiful light it creates on the subject you are trying to capture. In this case, the Bluffs.  Besides the light, Marie has set up a perfect frame for this photo.  The cloud line meets the bluff line at the water line perfectly.  There is tension created by all the triangular shapes Marie has carefully put together. The texture of the water, the clouds, and the bluffs all mimic one another. The colors complement each other. The darker water wraps around the reflection of the setting sun.  The trees on top of the cliff anchor that corner and push our eye back into the photo. Thanks you Marie for providing us a photograph that illustrates excellent photographic technique.
	Staircase “Mural” by Carl Crumley  It’s difficult to select just one of Carl’s excellent photographs.  As a collection, they let us move through the TWA Flight Center with its spacious grandeur, following the graceful curves and textures. We move from the images of the interior with their large open spaces to close-ups of shapes, surfaces and shadows – abstracts from the real. But, just as we enter this gallery and look toward the far end, we see a beautiful silver curving staircase, and it may take a moment to realize that it’s a photograph!  It wouldn’t be hard to believe that we can just walk up to the second floor. It’s a masterpiece of composition and clarity.  The way that Carl has printed and installed this giant image really lets us “experience” the photograph – not just see it. The same photograph, here, on the wall is a more “standard” size, and its structure invites us visually to move up the staircase. The curl at the end of the railing immediately draws our attention and then the long curve of the railing brings us to the top of the stairs.  The composition reveals a sweeping staircase that seems to be held “in the arms of the building.” In the entire structure of this building there are no right angles—everything flows from one part to another. This photograph captures that flowing quality so clearly – both in the structure itself and the negative space that remains. The fine vertical spindles of the railing have a veil-like quality giving the staircase an additional grace.  Carl’s photograph reveals the beauty and elegance of this staircase and the flowing context that surrounds it. Great work, Carl!  Thank you.
	Blood Moon by Gerry Iuppa We are pleased to host Gerry’s first gallery presentation.  He has provided many strong images for visitors to the gallery to enjoy. Gerry states that his photographs have in common an emphasis on color, strong leading lines and moments when Mother Nature has provided a glimpse of something truly spectacular.  The color of the sunset and the rising moon above the water could have been a striking photograph on its own.  Gerry has taken this photograph even further with a “blood moon” between the filled sails which creates a story and engages the viewer. Repeating graphic shapes provide symmetry to the photo, with strong vertical lines running from the top to the bottom of the image.  The blood moon pulls everything together, providing a focal point for one’s eyes, with a color that echoes and blends so well with the similar color tonality of the sky.  Looking closely at this photo, you can actually see three boats, the one in the foreground with its sails down and the other two moving with the wind. Gerry must have been ready, waiting for the passage of the sailboats, to be able to capture this image. Patience has paid off with a striking image. Looking toward the moon, one focuses on the  sails – and that brings us as viewers close to the boats, and more involved in the unfolding story.
	NYC Top of the Rock by Kyle Preston Earlier this year, before Covid-19, Kyle spent a quick 24 hours in New York City with a predetermined plan for the photographs that he wanted to take. This photo of Lower Manhattan at dusk is simply marvelous. The horizon is placed just above the middle of the picture, giving us a breathtaking view of the skyline of many of the skyscrapers we have become accustomed to against a dramatic sunrise. Kyle employs a good balance of light and color. Taken during the golden hour, the colors are warm and rich looking. The photo is sharp throughout with the lights of the buildings at just the right brightness. I can just imagine if this were a puzzle, the fun of trying to find the correct place for all the pieces. Well done! A beautiful rendition of the skyline.
	Descending the Staircase by d dargan teska This photograph is wonderfully creative, leaving the traditional approach to photography and creating a virtual collage of imagery.  The same photograph of a young girl being led by an older man (presume it is her father) is shown in triplicate, against a background of interesting colors and patterns. The individuals are in black and white contrasted with this colorful background.  This photography practically leaps out of the frame and challenges the viewer to really look at it, notice the separate pieces, joined by both a common subject and overlapping. What does it mean? What is the artist trying to say? Why the subjects were chosen? Why showing the same image in triplicate but with a different crop and angle for each? Questions, questions, questions.  This is what a strong, creative image should generate. There are probably no obvious answers to these questions, but looking at this photograph, thinking about what d dargan teska is saying makes for a really challenging and enjoyable image.