All images copyright by the individual photographers

	Morning Snow by Dennis Adams Living in the Rochester area, winter provides a dramatic change from the beautiful summer weather. Appreciating this beauty helps us “survive” the snowy cold months. Dennis has reminded us how beautiful winter can be with his photograph Morning Snow. Stripped of color this photograph is beautifully composed. Dennis uses long lines connecting the image, the strong upright vertical elements of the trees. The stream provides a perfect “S” curve leading the eye through the space. The flecks of snow provide an almost texture effect, bringing all of the elements together. Most photographs of winter show sharp outlines of the components….the use of this snow effect makes this photo stand out on its own as an excellent creative photograph. Having this photograph on one’s wall is a great way to focus on the positives of winter!
	Faroe Island Town by Dede Hartung  Denise has shared with us five photographs taken in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands is a self-governing archipelago, part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It comprises 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean, connected by road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges. The Faroe Island Town photograph provides us a fine example of what life on the islands might look like.  Small towns are built on the jutting terrain created by ancient volcanoes.  Pastures and grazing land are created literally on the side of this topography. The islands are rugged and rocky with some low peaks; the coasts are mostly cliffs. In this photograph Denise has done an excellent job highlighting all these characteristics. This very small town is nestled at the bottom of the photo. There is a strong diagonal line created by the cliffs with a small cove making access to the sea a bit easier. Denise has also managed to include a bit of the Faroe windy, cloudy, and cool weather through the year by including the possibility of rain that is always in the air. Sunny days are rare and overcast days are common.  It’s difficult for one photo to capture a complete experience of a location, but Denise has done a fine job with this quality shot.
	The Dark Hedges by Michael J. Keaton This is actually a location used in the series “Game of Thrones”. It is an amazing, almost magic spot which Michael sought out during a trip to Ireland. In this photograph the viewer is actually inside this “tree-hallway” being pulled deeper and deeper into the woods, increasing the impact of this landscape. The shadows on the road reinforce this effect. The opening on the left, unexpectedly showing the hills and a single tree in the distance act like a window, a place other than where the road would lead us. This is a simpler world, without the trees almost merging into each other along the road on the right side of the image to a simple hill and a lone tree. The photograph is well balanced, with tension from the left-hand side making this photograph so much more interesting. Michael uses a nice range of grays to blacks, with the lighter toned trees leading us into the distant darker tones. This technique strengthens the emotional impact of this image. A photograph that demonstrates his skill in composing such a strong image.
	Be Still by Julie Oldfield When viewing Julie Oldfield’s display, one is immediately drawn to the mysterious image entitled Be Still, which received a Gallery Pick recognition.  By choosing to use monochrome for this image, Julie’s photo is effective at creating drama and mood.  Since there aren’t colors to distract the eye, the contrast between the blacks, greys and whites, gives the image a strong feeling.  The clear guardrail at the front of the road, coupled with the white line in the road, provide a contrast with the surroundings, while these leading lines draw the viewer through the fog towards the bright lights of the approaching car.  The image is illuminated just enough to see the water on the left, while providing enough details in the foreground to know what is happening. At the same time, the fog and darker tones create a mysterious atmosphere. The simplicity of black and white creates a strong emotion and helps to tell a story that adds intrigue.   On this foggy night with a vehicle approaching from the distant street, one might infer that anyone in the car’s path must indeed “be still” in order to stay safe as the car travels through the mist. Congratulations, Julie, on your Gallery Pick.
	Beak Tapping Affection by Michelle Turner Michelle Turner visited the Faroe Islands during late spring, which is the perfect time of the year to observe the courting behavior of puffins.  In courtship, puffins often perform billing, a behavior where they rub their beaks together.  Michelle receives a Gallery Pick for her image entitled Beak Tapping Affection, which clearly illustrates this puffin ritual.  Michelle’s photographic techniques are demonstrated in her effective use of depth of field, exposure and composition.  The crisp eye and colorful beaks along with the details of the puffins’ fur provide the viewer with a realistic image of what Michelle experienced. By getting down to the birds’ level, Michelle’s use of low perspective provides a feeling of the birds’ world. Additionally, Michelle created distance between the subject and the background, which produced a background that is pleasantly out of focus; thus highlighting the puffins, rather than distracting from them. There are many reasons for taking photos of birds, but creating images that capture bird behavior and tell a story often has an impact on the viewer.  While observing this happy little puffin couple, Michelle has allowed the viewer to imagine a pleasant story with a happy ending. Nicely done, Michelle!