Gallery Photographers Image City Feature Articles
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Greece – Athens Dick has presented us with ten collages each
containing a piece of his European trip in 1971 and 1972.
It’s important to recognize that Dick resurrected these photos
from square Ektachrome slides processed in Europe in the early 70’s.
Once printed the edges were customized to complete a vintage style
photograph. I carefully reviewed each collage, as should
you, before I settled on the Greece collection to review.
The Athens set attracted me because pf the classic columns and
hillsides. The Parthenon and the Theatre of Epidaurus are my favorite
photos of this set and they are well documented in Dicks short bullet
points. There are obvious exhibiting similarities in
each set and this is what holds the complete presentation together along
with a few posed single shots accenting the wall every so often.
Along with the bulleted notes accompanying each collage, we feel
as if we traveled along with Dick and his wonderful experiences.
Path Through the Oaks
Here is a photograph that immediately demands our attention when we see
it. Just as if we were physically standing on location, we would have to
walk toward the path through the natural entry arch made by the sentinel
oak trees. It would guide our footsteps and as a photograph it guides
our eyes to look into the photograph to see the narrow passageway where
the path narrows. The arch is decorated by nature’s texture and color
with a pallet, warm in tone, with sufficient contrast against the
natural green foliage so that the detail of the scene is dramatically
enhanced. We know this scene is not “from around here” making it all the
more exotic a photograph. We are visually aware of two image planes, the
arching trees frame the entrance to the path and at the same time, we
can pull back our focus to admire the trees and hanging vegetation. It
is a pleasing image when we can focus on each of the planes back and
forth and not feel obligated to adhere to any leading lines. Chip has
balanced the color and contrast exceptionally well to hold our attention
to the fine detail with nothing being lost or distracting to our view.
Wouldn’t it be even more pleasing if the photograph was larger to
appreciate even more the fine detail of the scene, the bark, the leaves,
the moss; it doesn’t end.
The photographs selected for this, the first of three exhibits by Chip
as our first “Visiting Artist”, certainly demonstrates his keen
photographic eye and a mastery of print production and presentation. His
two themes of “scenic” and “still life”, very diverse selections, are so
well done that we really look forward to his future exhibits in the
months ahead at Image City.
Amiens
What do you do when you have some time on your hands and you are bored.
Susan hit upon a creative idea to take a photograph of a computer
circuit board and take elements from that to create new images of real
or imagined places.
Amiens is a city in northern France near the Somme River where some of
the heaviest fighting of World War I occurred. Built in the 13th
Century, its cathedral is the largest in France and one of the largest
in all of Europe. Fortunately, it escaped major damage during both world
wars. Susan and her husband spent some time in France, so the Cathedral
was a natural to duplicate.
Most photos of the Cathedral are from the front and positioned in the
center. Susan choose to offset the cathedral creating more of a dramatic
effect. The patterns she employs for the Cathedral are exquisite. One is
able to picture the stone edifice, windows, spires and entrances.
Placing triangular pieces of the board in the foreground provides
leading lines to the subject of the art work. Susan artfully recreates
the flying buttresses that provide support for the main walls using
other elements of the board as well. Unlike some of the other photos,
Susan decided to add an aspect of depth using other pieces of the board
and lowering the opacity and making them appear smaller, so they look
more distant in the background.
Mona Lisa Smile Bob has put together a wonderful collection of
portraits making it difficult to pick only one from his portfolio. His
use of black and white intensifies the drama in all of his
photographs. But the Mona Lisa
Smile has a mysterious quality about it that draws attention and
admiration. Perhaps it’s the simplicity, a simple and peaceful face and
crossed hands standing out from a black surround. It creates a
“presence” that can easily connect with the viewer. This is an example
of light painting the scene, and the photographer capturing that magic
is his photograph. The composition of the photograph holds our
attention, too. The face, the hand moving to the left and the object at
the left edge of the photograph form a triangle, and our eyes, moving
around the image return to the face, to the eyes and to her Mona Lisa
smile.
Bob has created a meaningful story with his collection of portraits, and
this photograph is a very memorable part of that story.
Rapa Nui Cemetery
Easter Island, a Chilean territory, is a remote volcanic island in
Polynesia. Its native name is Rapa Nui. It’s famed for archaeological
sites, including nearly 900 monumental statues called moai, created by
inhabitants during the 13th–16th centuries. The
moai[S1]
are carved human figures with oversize heads, often resting on massive
stone pedestals called ahus.
Michelle’s collection of photographs from Easter Island fill the
Neuberger Gallery so when you stand in the center you can almost feel
the ocean breeze blowing your hair.
This cemetery is place where it is possible to appreciate the religious
syncretism of the Easter Island. Some of the tombstones are adorned with
motifs that combine Christian and Rapa Nui iconography. | ||||||||||||
Image City Photography Gallery ♦ 722 University Avenue ♦ Rochester, NY 14607 ♦ 585.271.2540 In the heart of ARTWalk in the Neighborhood of the Arts |