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The Magic of Light 2023 January 2 - January 22, 2023
Juried Show
Awards
All photographs copyright by the individual photographers
Dichotomy Series #4 by David Ridley, $175, 18x25-in David presents us with a very intriguing black and
white abstract photograph. Abstract compositions focus on basic elements
of an image, rather than realistic representations of. scenery. It might
isolate a fragment of a scene to remove its inherent context from the
viewer. It may be purposely staged to create a seemingly unreal
appearance, or it may involve the use of color, light, shadow, texture,
shape and/or form to convey a feeling, sensation, or impression. In
David’s image, texture and shape are the predominant elements, from the
swirls at the top, to the clear lines and the smoother vertical swatches
on the middle right, to the vertical strips in the left hand third of
the photo. The rectangular form of the photo is replicated repeatedly
and is used to keep one’s eye moving throughout and separating its
various parts. Each of the different sections within each rectangle also
has a different texture and tonality.
It’s interesting to consider what colors are behind
the black and white processing. However, the color may have overpowered
the rest of the image rendering elements such as texture or form to
recede into the background. David’s decision to process in black and
white allows us to view the full space that works together as a whole.
We see a clear separation of two parts of the photo by the rectangular
vertical space to the left of center. And then, again, there is at least
one rectangle delineated, perhaps by paint in each space. So, what are we looking at? . . . a buttress of a
bridge? . . . the side of an old building? . . . the floor of a car
repair shop? . . . or maybe an ariel view of a road or parking lot?
Curiously, synonyms for dichotomy include not only opposition, but
mystery or riddle as well. What clues has David left us with to figure
out this mystery? Congratulations to David. His “Dichotomy Series #4”
is deserving of a $150 gift certificate from our sponsor Lumiere Photo.
By Dick Bennett
Awarded by
Archival Methods -- $150
Gift Certificate
In Megan Crandlemire’s image, Flower Power, the viewer is taken
back to the 60’s when the term flower power was all around as a
promotion of peace and love in the hope of changing the world. In this
image the huge transparent yellow flower is all around as one peers
through the petals to see the strength of the building within it. We
admire Megan’s artistic vision, using layers to create a tremendous
visual impact, together with a mystery factor that is intriguing, even
to the casual observer. We are aware of the bottom layer, a building we
can see through the flower. As one studies the image more closely, it
appears to be an apartment building, yet we don’t know what is in most
of the rooms of the apartment because the interior is hidden through the
use of window shades or reflections on the window glass. Might the
building symbolize the strength that might exist in war-torn countries
when certain buildings remain in the aftermath of an attack?
Behind the yellow flower, there is a mosaic texture that blends in well
with the bricks and stone of the building and creates a strength behind
the flower power. Often mosaics are made from broken pieces. At first
glance those broken pieces don’t seem to be related to each other but
when placed together, they are transformed into a thing of beauty. In
this image the textured layer adds interest and beauty to the photo as a
whole.
Although one is immediately aware of the anomaly of the different
layers, the main focus is on the power of the bright yellow flower on
the top layer. As Vincent Van Gogh said, “How lovely yellow is! It
stands for the sun.” All over the world yellow is associated with the
sun and its life-giving warmth, yet yellow also stands for caution. The
color of the yellow flower coupled with the darker colors in the bottom
of the image is a strong combination. The contrast of the soft yellow
suggesting enthusiasm and enlightenment, is the opposite of darkness.
Perhaps the power of this flower is suggesting that we live each day
with the optimism and cheerfulness of a sunny day, while being cautious
along the way. Megan has created a truly delightful and
thought-provoking image, artistically presented for everyone to enjoy
and explore.
Congratulations to Megan, who wins a $150 gift certificate from Archival
Methods.
By Marie Costanza
Selected by Image City -- Awarded $150
Silver Wall by David Bleich, $425, 19x35-in
When
you look at this photograph don’t you feel a little disoriented?
It seems as if David captured a collapsing Jenga pile mid
fall? It doesn’t appear as if this could be a real building. This
photograph isolates part of the STATA Center, also known as the MIT
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab. Frank Gehry is
aptly known as the architect of dancing buildings and crunched
forms.
David has
singled out just a small part of the STATA Center so we can focus on
what appears to be an illusion. He framed this just so we have a
taste of reality on the right side of the frame and then the
Silver Wall being crunched up as if it were a ball of paper on
the left. You can actually feel the movement in this photograph.
It’s an abstraction where only the framed windows give us a place to
rest our mind a bit. The photo is composed so that there are three
sections receding to the back, both in form and light, giving the
image a sense of depth and dimensionality.
The Gallery
felt that Silver Wall was deserving of one of the $150 Image
City Awards for the Magic of Light 2023 exhibit.
By Don Menges | ||||||||||||
Image City Photography Gallery ♦ 722 University Avenue ♦ Rochester, NY 14607 ♦ 585.271.2540 In the heart of the Neighborhood of the Arts |