Gallery Photographers
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Gallery Picks of the Show B&W Invitational June 14 - July 10, 2022
Gallery
Partners have chosen our "Picks of the Show" All images copyright by the individual photographers
Sue’s Suit Many black and white photographs tend to be
dark and moody…one of the features that make this genre of
photography considered being “artistic”. Clay has turned this upside down, creating an
image that is almost entirely white, with the exception of his
model’s head and shoes. As you look closely you can see the high-key
outlines and texture of the white suit that the model is wearing. Sue (assuming that is the name of the model) is
beautifully lit, framed by an all-white background. At first, she
seems to almost disappear into it, but upon further scrutiny, you
can see the entire model's suit. Her face is beautifully rendered,
her eyes look at the viewer, a casual pose making good eye contact. This very novel approach to portraiture makes
for a beautifully composed image which draws the viewer into a
relationship with the model, wanting to get to know her better! Preening It was difficult to pick only one photographs
of these beautiful egrets. There is real appreciation for Archie’s
patience in waiting for the perfect moment, his eye for composition
and his skill at creating such elegant, finished images. This
photograph, Preening, could also be called Showing Off, as
the egret displays the fine structure of its feathers and the
elegance of its long neck. It might be rewarding enough to focus our
attention only on the bird, his feathers, neck, eyes and long
pointed bill, its posture, but there are other important elements of
the photograph. The use of selective focus keeps our attention on
the sharp image of the egret – the trees in the background are very
defocused, providing the deep green backdrop. That allows the fine
plumage, fanning back, to be seen with real clarity. The bird’s
structure. as a whole, provides a strong diagonal, encouraging our
eyes to move up and down along the white plumage. The leafy
structure supporting the egret seems so natural, and the two exposed
branches move our eyes back to the preening bird.
Guardian of the Bridge Andrea describes her core as a photographer to
act as an “emotional witness” capturing and curating her work for an
emotional, empathic response. Her Gallery Pick, Guardian of the
Bridge, is an example of the quality and creativity of her
craftsmanship. The figure and bridge are slightly off center,
there are an abundance of triangles and leading lines, and a very
significant contrast in textures. The soft skin, the skirt and
blouse contrast with the texture that surrounds her. Andrea uses a
narrow focal length so that only the figure and a portion of the
bridge to the viewer’s right is in sharp focus. A touch of lighting
further embraces the subject creating a powerful pull to the eye of
the viewer. The stick and her left leg are in parallel, but she
appears balanced. Her stance demonstrates assurance and confidence
in her abilities and yet is also relaxed and non-threatening. Andrea’s goal is to engage the viewer with the
image on a deep level. To think of a guardian, one usually thinks of
a protector, but a guardian is so much more than that. A parent
guardian protects their children, but they also provide them with
many opportunities to learn and function in a world within which
they will eventually be independent. Libraries and museums protect
knowledge, history, and culture and serve as learning vehicles for
understanding. Is this guardian for the protection and awareness of
a culture that may not be understood or celebrated? Is the bridge a
metaphor for a pathway to this better understanding and protection
of a culture that may be lost? Andrea has presented us with a powerful image,
carefully photographed and processed with an aim to engage you on a
deeper level. What does the ‘stick’ represent? How would you
describe the woman’s expression? What is your response to Andrea’s
work?
Yellow Fruit on Yellow Fruit Most people who know Susan Plunkett refer to
her as Suzie Tomato, a reference to her catering business, Susan
Plunkett’s Fabulous Foods. However, many do not know that in
addition to growing and cooking all of her tomatoes, she also enjoys
photographing them in creative compositions.
When composing each photo, Susan plays around
with the backgrounds and colors, which ultimately affects the feel
of the image and has a significant impact on the overall
composition. By using bold colors, dramatic lines, and shadows;
Susan creates drama in her food images. The colors and lines tend to
stimulate emotions. In her Gallery Pick entitled Yellow Fruit
on Yellow Fruit, Susan has cleverly used a background of yellow
and black swirls to lead the viewer into her creative photo of a
squash leaning on a yellow tomato. They almost seem human as the
large squash rests its stem on the small tomato as if to demonstrate
that even small living things can help those that are bigger. Though
many believe that a tomato and a squash are considered vegetables,
Susan has titled her photo of a tomato and squash as fruit, which is
botanically correct because fruits contain seeds and develop from
the flowers of the plant. Thank you, Susan, for sharing your love of
creating tomatoes in your garden, and for bringing them to our
viewers to enjoy in your images.
Last Chance: Equilibrium
Hickory This is one of the many excellent photos
submitted by Anthony to the annual Black and White Show. There are many beautiful landscape photographs
produced by photographers. Many of these record a striking
landscape, utilizing their skill in composition, shadows and
highlights, lighting, color (when appropriate) and capturing the
beauty of the environment. The photograph, Hickory, goes beyond this
creative recording, as it is a photograph that has gesture and
metaphor. This is in addition to the composition, lighting etc. The
subject matter, a lone tree silhouetted against a dramatic sky with
rows of some kind of crop leading the viewer’s eye to the main
subject. The composition is wonderful, symmetrical yet complex. The
shape of the tree is echoed in the clouds, with a band of clear sky
almost producing a glow around the tree. | ||||||||||||||
Image City Photography Gallery ♦ 722 University Avenue ♦ Rochester, NY 14607 ♦ 585.271.2540 In the heart of ARTWalk in the Neighborhood of the Arts |