News of the current exhibit and events at Image City
For a webpage version of the newsletter Click Here
We publish our Newsletter during each of our exhibits to pass along information and reviews of the exhibit, selected images and news of participation opportunities at Image City. We thank you for your interest and we look forward to another great year of fine photographs and events. We hope to see you at each of the 13 shows we produce in 2016.
Peter's Picks 2014: a Retrospective
Current Show Runs Through Sunday, March 20
Tomorrow: First Friday Gallery Night, 5 - 9pm, March 4
 
Our current exhibit is Peter's Picks 2014: a Retrospective featuring the photographs of 41 artists. For the show, we invited the return of the selected photographs from our shows in 2014 that were either Peter's or Partners' Picks. For each selection we have the written commentary by Peter Marr or Gallery Partners describing why they were selected as a favorite from the shows in 2014. Peter Marr is a gifted photographer and judge of photography competitions who has a considerable gift in composing his commentary. Many are enjoying the added benefit of the commentary as they appreciate their favorites in the show. You will also find a wide range of subjects and styles by the 41 participating photographs. Steve Levinson, Gallery Partner, has a fine exhibit in our East Gallery called Moroccan Blue. Guest photographers John Gugino and Michael Lempert further enhance the overall exhibit
 
We are also pleased to have an exhibit in collaboration with our neighbor, Writers & Books. The photographs coincide with the reading of the book Queen of the Fall by Sonja Livingston, as part of the "If all Rochester Reads the Same Book" series.
 
Rounding out the exhibit is work by Gallery Partners and Artists-in-Residence, Dick Bennett, Carl Crumley, Steven Levinson, Gil Maker, Don Menges, Dan Neuberger, Jim Patton, David Perlman, Betsy Phillips, John Solberg, Gary Thompson, Phyllis Thompson and Sheridan Vincent.

Plan to attend First Friday Gallery Night on March 4  from 5 to 9 pm. This reception is a great opportunity to view the art, discuss it with the attending artists, and to invest in their photographsClick Here to see our webpage for show details and a preview of photographs in the exhibit.

Partners' Picks of the Exhibit

After the installation of the photographs in the current show we selected two of our favorites by featured and Guest Photographers and wrote commentary on what appealed to us in making the choices.

53 Studebaker by Michael Lempert -- The front seat view of a 1953 Studebaker by Michael Lempert resonates strongly with old timers and lovers of classical cars. The red steering wheel appears to pop forward from the receding more mundane yellow-tan of the upholstery producing a three dimensional perception for the viewer. By shooting from an angle Michael is able to create the impression of being in the front seat while leaving the details of the horn ring, gear indicator, gear handle, and control panel observable. He has placed the steering wheel in a perfect rule of thirds position enabling our eyes to migrate from left to right clearly exposing the control and indicator panel before finishing with keys in the ignition switch. The photograph produces a strong sensation of depth which enables viewers to imagine themselves sitting in the front seat and handling the controls. A warm nostalgic feeling is felt by those who remember the cars of the fifties. Michael's use of vivid colors further promotes the overall emotional feeling. For those who actually remember the introduction and short life of the controversial "Bullet Nose" model of the "Studebaker" of the fifties, feelings pro and con must abound.

Moroccan Blue #8 by Steve Levinson -- Steve Levinson has created a thoughtful, coherent and intriguing body of work documenting a recent trip that he and his wife took to Morocco. During a visit to the city of Fez, founded about 800 AD and is the site of the world's oldest university, their guide took them to a part of the old city. Rather than step back and take general 'snap shots' of the homes and businesses in the district, Steve selected a more intimate and minimalist method to take the viewer on his tour. This old section of Fez is an urban area that is striking in its primary colors of white, brown earth tones and Morocco Blue. It appears as if the area is uninhabited; no litter can be seen, no bicycles or other modes of travel are evident and no people or animals with an exception of a car, are in the passageways. And yet, the vibrant colors, the architecture, and the intricate designs bespeak a structured, ordered and vibrant society. Lines are sharp and distinct; there are very few curves or soft edges. Taken in mid-day, the dark shadows thrown by the sun's rays add to the orderly structure of the city. Walks are narrow, since this is one of the world's largest car-free urban areas.
   
Morocco Blue #8 summarizes Steve's exhibit. The walls surrounding the entrance appear massive, and though the door is closed there is a metal ring on the door inviting the visitor to knock and seek admittance. The human scale height of the blue on the lower part of the building blends well with the earthen wall and steps leading to the door. Since this is a desert area, very little, if any wood is in evidence. More evidence of the climate is seen in the pure white paint on the upper portions of the building to reflect the intensity of the sun. The terracotta tiles on the awning over the door are likely duplicated on the roof. The intricate design of the metal over the window and the accompanied painting on tiles next to it, along with a crest of arms by the door, is evidence an advanced and artistic culture. An apparent electric wire below the window, and what looks like a light at the top of the door jam is the hint of modernity in this otherwise ancient urban area.
     
Steve has assembled an excellent collection of photos that pique our interest in the culture and society that Steve visited and as with the door in Morocco Blue #8, we wonder about the inner workings of such an ordered, though artistic society.
New Course by Don Menges
Photoshop: Essentials for Photographers


This Photoshop class for beginners will teach you the fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop with easy to follow, practical examples. Offered by Don Menges
 
Saturday, April 2nd 9:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, April 3rd 1:00pm-4:00pm
Saturday, April 9th 9:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, April 10th 1:00pm-4:00pm
 
Irondequoit Public Library, 1290 Titus Ave. at the corner of Kings Highway - Irondequoit
 
The fee for this course is only $280! $100 non-refundable deposit is due by March 1st, 2016. The balance is due by the first day of class. There will be a maximum of 10 students.
 
Image City Photography Gallery   585.271.2540
722 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607
 
More information, including a detailed course outline, is available here;

New Course by Steve Levinson
Creating Great Photographs with Adobe Lightroom

After taking this lecture and workshop course, you will be have a  workflow that you can efficiently follow for every photograph you make:
  • importing images into your computer so that you can easily find them at a later time
  • selecting the best images using an organized process
  • creating a fine digital image and then
  • making a fine digital print or posting on the Internet 
Wednesday May 26 and Thursdays June 1, 8, 15, 2016
 
Location:  We will meet at the historic Pittsford Flour Mill, 15 Schoen Place, Pittsford.

Price:  The price for this course will be $165 and the class will be limited to a maximum of eight photographers. You can sign up and prepay for the course at Image City Photography Gallery. Check the Link for Details on Courses at Image City.

Gary Thompson's Photo Tips
Foregrounds during Sunrises and Sunsets

A high percentage of successful landscapes have three components: a foreground, a middle ground, and a background. Foreground is the most important element for communicating depth in photographs. During sunrises and sunsets interesting foregrounds are difficult to achieve because they are usually backlit and often dark when shooting directly into the sun. Like in last month's photo tip, a photographer shooting at approximately a right angle to the sun can use attractive side lighting to bring out the beauty of a sunrise or sunset.

My Lake Everest Sunrise photograph was actually captured about thirty minutes after the sunrise. At that moment in time it was the "play of light" on the foreground that most attracted me to shoot the photograph. I found that my best composition and best side lighting occurred when I set my camera at about 110 degrees from the rising sun. Although the reflections of the mountain in the lake and the clouds in the sky were attractive, it was the "play of light" on the grasses and reeds that I found most interesting emotionally.  Therefore, I emphasized  the foreground by making it about two/thirds of the overall scene.
  
Note that the far side of the lake acts as the middle ground, and the attractive clouds over the mountain provide the background. By emphasizing the play of light on the foreground and then also including the middle and back-grounds, a feeling of depth is communicated. The beauty of the "play of light" provides the emotional impact that separates it from more traditional sunrise images. The see a larger image and the full series of Gary's Photo Tips, check this link.
 
Visit by Video
Carl Crumley's Video and Virtual Tours of Image City
 
As a recipient of the newsletter, you either signed up with your email address during a visit to the Image City or at the time of an online visit. Our e-mail list continues to grow to more than 4200 subscribers. By the way, we do not share this list and use it to describe each of our exhibits by an announcement and newsletter. If you have not visited recently or signed up from a distance, you will enjoy the tour that Carl Crumley has produced. His first-rate productions show off the Gallery. In addition to a visitors tour, a second program focuses on the gallery as an opportunity for photographers to exhibit their art. Click on this link for the video tour and this link to learn about becoming a Guest Photographer at Image City, sit back and enjoy the visits. There is also an interesting virtual reality 360 degree view of the current exhibit on the show page for the show at this link.

Speaking of Exhibition Opportunities, our bookings for Guest Photographer exhibits in 2016 are filling up and we are also booking into 2017. If you are interested in exhibiting your photography, it would be good to not delay. Click here to get the details on the exhibition opportunities at Image City.
Calendar of Events
Image City Photography Gallery, 722 University Avenue

March 4, 5-9pm First Friday Gallery Night for Peter's Picks 2014: a Retrospective
March 20 Last day of Peter's Picks 2014: a Retrospective
March 22 Opening Day for Through the Student Lens 2016
March 25, 5 - 8:30pm  Reception Through the Student Lens 2016


Image City Photography Gallery Hours
Tuesday - Saturday Noon - 6pm
Sunday Noon - 4pm
 

There is no admission fee to visit Image City

in the Heart of ARTWALK in the Neighborhood of the Arts 
 where our mission is to create a quality exhibition and learning experience for photographers and the art-loving community.
Image City Photography Gallery | 722 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607 | 585.472.2540  info@ImageCityPhotographyGallery.com | www.ImageCityPhotographyGallery.com