Gallery Photographers
Image City Feature Articles
If you are unable to
visit our gallery and would like to purchase photographs from
this preview or others in the gallery, please contact the gallery
and call
585-271-2540. |
Peter's Picks of the Month November 4 - November 29 4,2009 On the Road Again
by Gary and Phyllis Thompson
Peter Marr picked his favorite
photos of the show
All images copyright by the individual photographers
In
Lone Tree It was a difficult choice between commenting
on Saguaro Zebra
with its powerful, dazzling, intricate pattern imagery, and
Lone Tree, for they
are both outstanding pictures. Perhaps I chose the latter
because it was a cold day outside, and the Gallery was not as
balmy as it usually is, so perchance I opted for an image that
exuded warmth. Seriously, I love both these prints equally, but
I am only permitted to comment on one, due to lack of space and
my fabled verbosity.
House of Fire
Together
and Rock-A-Bye Baby These two complementary prints are excellent
examples of photographic vision and expertise that result in images
that could grace with distinction any modern art gallery. It is
irrelevant to try and determine what the subject matter was, or even
how the pictures were made, for these are truly visual impact
statements, they are meant for the observer to visualize, absorb,
explore and of course enjoy. Personally, I was fascinated by the
endless flowing shapes with well-defined edges that give us form if
not function. Whether one can see delicate shapes and contours of
possibly a flower in Together, or sinusoidal waves at the beach in the other image like I do, is
not important. These two photographs are fascinating, different
images, to explore shape form and certainly motion, paying special
attention and admiration for the restricted range and quality of the
colors. The latter are quite different and intriguing from most of
the prints we usually see, although they do encompass a diminished
range of warm to cold hues. The colors tend to focus on the colder
side of the spectrum, giving the prints, especially Rock-A-Bye-Baby,
a sort of ghostly ambience, much in keeping with the mystery element
that threads throughout both images. The prints appear in constant
motion, one in a vertical plane, and the other along a horizontal
axis. These are exceptional, different images which I certainly
admire for their originality and profound, mysterious aura. One must
look at them intently, then let the mind wander in and out, and then
let perception, motion and mystery intertwine and hopefully
interact, so that one can get the full enjoyment out of these
striking surreal images.
Karen has two pictures in this exhibition, both of which are
truly excellent and worthy of comment. One of the classic views in Monument Valley
has been exquisitely captured, showing both the breathtaking majesty of the
powerful rock structures that beautifully frame the central, vertically striated
formation. The latter is bathed in lovely early morning light, imparting a
dramatic and uplifting color to the rocks, against a background of a pale blue
sky that complements the whole vista superbly. The early morning sun sweeps
across the landscape, delicately picking up every detail of the valley floor
that provides an impressive base to the two towering giants thrusting up into
the sky. The print is a sublime, striking image of a well-photographed part of
Valley, one that the photographer should be extremely proud of. In Desert
Texture we see an amazing panorama of an infinite variety of shapes, lines,
textures, and sumptuous subtle colors, all of which combine to give us a desert
landscape of inordinate strength and beauty. The overall diffuse lighting
admirably succeeds in delineating every detail, texture, and color variation.
The myriad of shapes and contours integrate in a fascinating manner, and
although we have no sense of scale, it does not matter whether we are looking at
a desert panorama or an intimate close-up of a small landscape detail, either
way, the scene is just extraordinary. Visually, one can journey along the
flowing fault lines, or endlessly climb over and around the uplifted mounds, all
the time taking in and enjoying the countless color changes, which are warm and
inviting and add strikingly to the textures and detailed formations. The desert
in nature has never looked so splendid and inviting.
Autumn Woods This is an impressive, powerful, vertical image,
awash with beautiful, soft, delicate colors, and filled with
incredible feeling and motion. One can easily imagine that you are
witnessing a raging forest fire, where the wind and the flames are
dancing in unison, effortlessly consuming the trees and vegetation,
as the inferno thrusts endlessly upwards. Nature often exhibits its
most spectacular splendor when danger threatens, and this image
could be an example of this. Of course, we know from the title that
we are not looking at such a scenario, but rather the superb,
artistic talents of the photographer, who has given us a wonderful
image. This print is not just great to look at, but one that can
excite all manner of interpretations in our visual cortex, and give
all manner of food for thought for our gray matter. I just love the
wide-ranging pastel color hues, together with the visual interplay
of these colors with the wispy, vertical strands that effortlessly
move as though they are swaying to some rhapsodic melody. Although
each element is sensual whilst in motion, there is a definite air of
calmness and blissful peace. One can be inspired by the visual
beauty and graceful movement, or one can even close their eyes and
still envisage this delightful image. This is just a gorgeous and
certainly thought-provoking print, beautifully seen and captured by
the author in a unique way. | |||||||||||
Image City Photography Gallery ♦ 722 University Avenue ♦ Rochester, NY 14607 ♦ 585.271.2540 In the heart of ARTWalk in the Neighborhood of the Arts |