Gallery Photographers
Image City Feature Articles
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Gallery Picks of the Show Rochester by 5
Dick Bennett with Walter Gaya in the East Gallery
Peter Marr is
unavailable to make his picks of the show, so Gallery Partners have made
selections from the work
All images copyright by the individual photographers
Bri by Fred SanFilipo Fred’s portraits are powerful and
breathtaking. The tight cropping and lack of background detail
draw close attention to the facial features and the expression.
My biggest problem with Fred’s portraits is… which one to pick!
In the end, Bri
edged “Phantom” by the narrowest of margins. The elements of
Bri are three monochromes, a striking effect. The grey in
the cell phone nicely separates it from a face so full of
character. The brown
face with the creases, the pores, and nearby fingers exude
power. The power builds with the close cropping and the
topographical study of a face which would appear far different
farther away when the details would be blended. It is up close
Personal. Penetrating. But the red sunglasses pushed this
picture to the top for me. I am first drawn to the color itself,
but then to the mystery of the reflection in the lenses.
This is an outstanding picture, well composed, and
cleverly printed.
Man with Prayer Beads Stoicism. Individualism. Independence. Our man
has it all in his face. And then his posture sets it off perfectly.
The picture is perfect in black and white; color would have
distracted from this look into his soul. The geometry of the
background is wonderful. It is a checkerboard of sorts. The goods in
the window and the writing on the wall give the image a sense of
place. All the pieces of this simple picture come together perfectly
to give us a feeling of a man living in a very different world.
Walter’s collection is a wonderful introduction to the people of
Turkey but this picture stands out.
Stick Yard by Steve Malloy Desormeaux Steve has put together a vibrant compilation of
night beach scenes that work really well as a set, but Stick
Yard stands out for me as an inspired image that could stand
alone. The obvious foreground, middle ground, and background give
depth to this picture. The delicate, but obvious, cloud formation in
the sky creates mystery and pushes us down into the scene. The
texture of the boardwalk and the leading lines of the railings in
the foreground direct us to the center of the image, which is where
the real story is here. The footprints in the sand and the repeated
vertical poles create a narrative in your mind other than this
beach’s intended purpose. This is a wonderful and complete image
that anchors a collection of incredible sweeping dark blue skies and
warm sands.
Trinity Night Light by Paul Yarnall This Paul Yarnall image captures the calm and
uncertainty that life often serves up to us. The light draws us into
the picture; it separates the security of home (houses on the right)
from the challenge of the open sea and adventure on the left.
In the foreground, smooth blue water; beyond, the choice of home or
the challenging unknown. The light without prejudice shines on both.
A wonderful metaphor for living. Brookings Beach by Kim Price Shakespeare wrote “To sleep, perchance to dream”.
If I could conjure up a dream while sleeping it would have a visual look
and feel as Kim Price’s Brookings Beach.
With the images muted colors and faintly lit sky, we do not know if the
image was taken at sunset or sunrise. The use of warm color is beautiful. The
hint of movement along the beach is striking.
If there were no title on this image, I would not know if I was looking
at a beach or the tops of mountains in the clouds.
An image that pushes your imagination, to me, is a very strong image,
indeed. Kim’s images are very striking.
I chose Brookings Beach because a simple subject can make a very
spectacular and meaningful image.
Kim Price has done this with this capture.
There is a very strong ephemeral feeling with this image.
As the bard would say: “Such
stuff as dreams are made on.” East Avenue Staircase by Jim Laragy This striking black and white image by Jim Laragy is all
about form, tonality, and drama. As a study in form, the main subject -- the
curved staircase -- covers the entire print; however, the ascending shadow to
light definition of the spiral staircase and the sheer absence of distractions
-- no light fixtures, no pictures... -- encourages the viewer's eye to "walk the
stairs" in much the same order that the woman peering down from the top must
have. The mapping of the shadow to light continuum onto the lower to higher
reaches of the spiral is simple, pure and very effective. The addition of a
dramatic, almost theatrical, figure at the top of the stairs helps to punctuate
the movement of the eye, producing a very pleasing experience.
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Image City Photography Gallery ♦ 722 University Avenue ♦ Rochester, NY 14607 ♦ 585.271.2540 In the heart of ARTWalk in the Neighborhood of the Arts |