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News
of the current exhibit and events at Image City
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Image
City Photography Gallery
Newsletter #147 August 16, 2019
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Our Newsletter publishes during each of our
exhibits to pass along information and reviews of the exhibit,
selected images and news of participation opportunities at Image
City. 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 2019.
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Current Show Runs Through Sunday, September
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Our current exhibit at Image City Photography Gallery is
this year's Portfolio
Showcase 2019. Portfolios selected for the exhibit are by
Dick Beery, Saikat Chakraborty, Biagio Dell'Aiera, Katherine
Driscoll, Tom Kredo, Susan C. Larkin, Nikhil Nagane, and Avi
Pryntz-Nadworny. We have heard many compliments on the exhibit
and the artistic creations by the awarded photographers.
Congratulations to them all for their distinctive art and superb
photography. The selections of the winning portfolios were made by
two judges: Dan Larkin, Associate Professor in
Fine Art Photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, School
of Photographic Arts and Sciences and Nick Marshall Manager of
Exhibitions and Programs, George Eastman Museum. We very much
appreciate their efforts in making difficult decisions from so
many fine entries. Check out a following article to see examples
from each of the selected photographers' portfolios.
The two judges selected the portfolio by Dick Beery for
the Grand Prize. Each photographer received award certificates by the
sponsors of the exhibit: Kodak Alaris for silver halide
printing service, Lumiere Photo for printing and
framing services, and an award payment by Image City. The Grand Prize
Winner also recieved a color printer from Epson and a one year
subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. We very much
appreciate the involvement and support of the exhibit sponsors and
encourage you to support these exceptional businesses!
In the Neuberger Gallery we feature the culminating
exhibition of a 12-week photography and writing program, Eyes Front, at Flower
City Arts Center for six local female combat veterans. The Eyes Front
program, in partnership with the Rochester Vet Center, give these
women an opportunity for them to express, both visually and in
writing, their unique experiences and to share their stories with the
community. The title of this exhibit is First Light: Photographs by Women Combat Veterans.
Also exhibiting their work are Artists-in-Residence, Jim
Patton, Gary Thompson and Phyllis Thompson, and Gallery Partners,
Dick Bennett, Carl Crumley, Steve Levinson, Gil Maker, Don Menges,
Luann Pero, Betsy Phillips, John Solberg, and Sheridan Vincent.
With more than 25 photographers exhibiting their art,
you will certainly find an interesting variety of both subject and
style. We encourage you to visit, enjoy the art, and support the
artists by making a purchase of their fine photography. There is no
admission fee at Image City and the Gallery is accessible to
all.
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Portfolio Showcase 2018,
the Book
Copies are Available for Purchase at the Gallery and
Online!
An additional award for the eight photographers
selected for the Portfolio
Showcase 2019 is the superb book that was designed by
Gallery Partner, John Solberg. Each of the photographs in the
exhibited portfolios is reproduced in the book. Copies of the book
are available for purchase for $25 at Image City. Portfolio Showcase 2019
is a fine addition to any collection of photography books. The book
is also available for online purchase click here.
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The Selected Portfolios, Portfolio Showcase 2019
You can see the interesting diversity of subject and photographic
style here with a brief description of the selected portfolios by the
artists. You will want to visit to see the full portfolio and full
statement by the artists.
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Looking Directly Up
by Dick Beery "Picture composition is an area that has
additional rules: Rule of Thirds, never have the horizon in the
center of your photo, leading lines, C curves, S curves, tell a
story, and many more. One of the comments usually made at a photo
workshop is that it is always good to look behind you. You may have a
wonderful scene in front of you, but you may be missing one in a
different direction. Over the past 10 years or so, I have started to
Look Up. This can take many different forms like clouds, the Milky
Way, spiral stairs, ceilings and other upward scenes. My exhibit at
this Portfolio Showcase takes the Looking Up idea to the level I call
"looking directly up." I suppose you could call the theme
Chandeliers or Light Fixtures, but what is directly above you may
also be a something else, thus Looking Directly Up fits well. These
photos probably break all the rules of composition, but they create
the effect I wanted. There is a certain amount of danger present in
taking this type of photo. You cannot see who you might be walking
into and it is hard to keep your balance and keep the focal plane
perpendicular to the subject while centered directly under it. The
results in these photos are what I hoped for and I am very honored
that I was chosen to be part of this show. (No bones were broken in
the taking of these photographs!)"
More than a Rock
by Saikat Chakraborty
"I use the camera as a tool to express my love
for Nature. Though the natural world is overwhelmed by human
footprints, it is still possible to experience solitude and wildness
and discover our roots. The great outdoors of the United States has
given me a true taste of this wildness since I came here as a
graduate student five years ago. Although I have visited quite a few
iconic places in the United States, I believe that only when we
repeatedly return to a place, can look beneath the surface and start
discovering its true spirit. During my initial visits to some of
these places, I have captured the classic grand vistas which many
others have done far better before me. However, over time, I have
tried to create more personal images, reflecting my sensibilities and
my reactions to the diverse beauty of this place. Through my images,
I strive to go beyond the documentation of these experiences and
express my understanding of this connection that we all share with
Nature. I hope the fruits of my artistic vision will also bring joy
to viewers and encourage them to be outside".
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Service
by Biagio Del'Aiera "Biagio Dell'Aiera is a photographer
that has always been drawn to the people of the world and led by
their stories. He has been focusing his energy to understand the
workings of the service industry, shedding light on the overlooked
areas that go into daily experiences in and out of restaurants and
eateries. He was raised by an Italian immigrant father and a first
generation mother of Greek heritage, and that has influenced his
world view and the people and places he photographs. The Italian and
Greek food culture has been a part of his life, from sweeping the
floor at the family business at a young age to peeling boiled
potatoes as a 9 year old in his Greek family's diner. Exploring
continues, and admiration of the work ethic shapes the Biagio's
photography on a daily basis. Service Service is a look into the food
industry and the individuals who play a key role in creating great
experiences for all who come to enjoy their eateries. The chefs and
waitstaff are just the beginning. It takes a village to make a night
out happen. This is that village".
With Prospect and with
Frost (Life's a Beach) by Katherine
Driscoll "Melancholy can look a lot like romance
depending on your angle - obsessing looks like longing, the end looks
like the beginning, snow looks like sand. Like the Romantics before
us, a generalized feeling of loss has led to the lamenting of a set
of circumstances that are, however unjustly, no longer available.
Nostalgia has become a coping mechanism for this heartbreak, both
personal and cultural, looking backwards while inevitably moving
forward. With
Prospect and with Frost (Life's a Beach) is a love story
about the trials of transition, both psychic and geographic, and the
authenticity and hope one can find within alienation. Sequencing and
syntax allude to the wandering mind navigating love and loss, at
times lyrical and dream-like, at other times more grounded - rambling
between time-frames and circumstance, self and other, here and there,
reality and fantasy; "now a landscape, now a room"
(Benjamin)".
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Family Portrait
by Tom Kredo "My immediate family are the models for
our Family Portrait
a collection of images through an ordinary glass building block. The
inspiration started with a photo of my good friend, Dana, taken while
we were walking in Fairport NY. He posed for me on the other side of
a glass block facade at a park building. Computer manipulations of
the images are minimal. The distortions are as the camera viewed them
through the glass. Portraiture captures a person as interpreted by
the photographer. In this case, it is the glass block that provides
the dream-like mercurial interpretation. The glass is a portal to
"see through a glass darkly" as Corinthians 13:12, or to
see through Alice's Looking Glass at an unfamiliar and unexpected
face. The twisted contortions are at first repulsive, as if the
subject was involved in a tragic disfigurement. Pausing to consider
awhile, we see that those human characteristics of strength, beauty
and intelligence still radiate from the image in spite of our desire
to look away".
Remnants
and Seed Pods -- Stop Here!
by Susan C. Larkin "My close-ups are studies of shape,
texture, patterns, and light. When I'm attracted to a plant remnant
or seedpod, I want to study it. In the field I'll revisit the same
plant and sometimes take a bit home for further study. I hold it at
different angles, in different light, and at different times of day.
Somewhere there is a position or reflection that says, "Stop
here." Curves, reflected light, transmitted light, and
relationships between the parts come together. When I like an image,
and better yet, when I still like it after time has passed, I add it
my collection".
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Aerial Landscapes
by Nikhil Nagane "I am a photographer based in
Rochester, NY with roots in India. Landscape photography has been my
prime area of interest for several years. I enjoy nature and outdoor
activities, and landscape photography always goes well with those
activities. I have believed that spending time in nature is the only
way to truly find the inner self. "Between every two pines is a
doorway to a new world" is one of my favorite quotes by John
Muir. It has always given me inspiration to go back to the same
locations to find new compositions and new photo opportunities. I
compliment my landscape photography with aerial photography to
explore new perspectives in the landscape. I always try to capture
the mood and the emotions in my pictures that I felt while taking
them. Hopefully my pictures will convey those to some extent. There
is still plenty to learn for me and I intend to keep doing so. In
this portfolio I take a look at some usual landscapes from unusual
vantage points. All the images in this portfolio were captured with an
aerial camera (drone). The change in point of view gives a completely
new perspective to these landscapes. The portfolio focuses on the
relationship between land and water; and the way the water molds the
ordinary landscape. In the bird's eye view of these landscapes, the
fine details on the surface of the water and land meld together
leaving behind simple yet colorful shapes, curves and patterns.
Hence, the images have an almost abstract look to them. Hopefully,
the abstract nature of the images will challenge one's power of
imagination".
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Beyond the Circus Tent
by Avi Pryntz-Nadworny "Growing up in Rochester, NY, I
spent my youth bouncing between a fascination with animation and a
playful obsession with juggling and gymnastics. My interest in
animation eventually brought me to Academy of Art University in San
Francisco, where I studied Graphic Design and New Media before
deciding to join the circus school in Quebec City, Canada. A year
later, I landed a job with Cirque du Soleil and began working as an
acrobat and fire juggler. During my career as a circus acrobat,
friends and colleagues began approaching me for photo and video
shoots; soon what started as a few odd jobs turned into a passion. I
observed that circus performers can appear larger than life on stage,
as the presentation of circus makes it difficult for the viewer to
relate to the individual performers. As a response, I create dynamic
portraits that capture both the performer's physical ability and
their identity. Stripping away the circus tent, costumes, and
make-up, I allow the viewer to see the humans behind the
spectacle. All the physical feats in these photos are real,
although some may appear unbelievable. I feel it is important to
acknowledge the many hours of training and dedication the performers
have put into their craft; I am proud to help share their talents
with you through this exhibition".
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Partners' Pick of the Exhibit
Gallery Partners have picked their favorite photograph by the Guest
Photographers in the exhibit, our choice for "Partners'
Picks".
Ghost Station
by Nicholas Jospe
The title of this engrossing photograph
summarizes the haunted feeling Nicholas has provided by a clever use
of both the selection of the subject and the lighting. Much of
the detail in the original structure is still visible from the doors
to the windows, under the edge of the roof. Deterioration can be very
engaging to the viewer, and this aging is demonstrated by the house,
which was probably once a place of vibrant life. The remnants of the
building's previous life still exist. The chair at the front door
reminds us that people used to sit here and look out at the country
sided. We can still see the 2407 on the building, almost out of place
as who would be looking for this address today? Darkness is coming,
with the sun setting, further reinforcing the mood conveyed by this
photograph. Black and white is the ideal format for this photo,
adding to the mystery of this dark and moody building. This
demonstrates also the quality that can be achieved with creative use
of an iPhone while on a bicycle...slowing yourself from the high
speed of an automobile ride to a slower pace which encourages seeing
and looking at building which would otherwise be passed by.
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Image City Critique Group Meets September 4
The Critique Group will meet again on Wednesday, September 4th
beginning at 6:30 PM. We will continue to meet on the first
Wednesday of each month after that. The assignment for the September
meeting is to bring 2 or 3 of your best photographs that say "summer?"
If you have any questions or concerns please email Don Menges; dmenges521@gmail.com
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Even though it's still August, plans are in place for
our annual The Magic
of Light show in January 2020. We've moved the
registration period two weeks earlier to provide you more time for
printing and framing the selected photographs before you drop them
off at the Gallery. Entry forms will now be due in early November.
Look for registration and submission information in mid-September
when we rollout the Call for Submissions.
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Image City Photography Gallery, 722 University Avenue
September 1,
Last Day of
Portfolio Showcase 2019
September 3,
Opening day next exhibit Around
Rochester by Sheridan Vincent
September 4,
6:30 pm Image City Critique Group
September 6, 5 - 9 pm, Reception
for Around Rochester
by Sheridan Vincent
November 23,
Workshop with Don Kamarechka - Macro Water Droplet Workshop
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 the Neighborhood
of the Arts
where our
mission is to create a quality exhibition and learning
experience for photographers and the art-loving community.
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