Through the Lens

Cheryl DeVito

ENC1102

Gallery Opening

January 26, 2014

Through the Lens

When looking at a photo, it is a whole new opening to a different side of captured memories.  Portraits are made up of different subjects, lighting styles, colors and interests.  Looking at any photo can bring out many different feelings.  One may have feelings of nostalgia, remembering and reliving youth and days gone by while others may have a feeling right at that very moment of wanting to never forget what has been captured on film.  Photographer Trent Parke said, “I am forever chasing light.  Light turns the ordinary into magical.”

            The Gallery opening of Photography Competition Exhibit is being held on January 21, and continues through February 4, 2014, at the Kent campus of Florida State Community College of Jacksonville.  Here photos of different subjects, lighting styles, color and interests are on display and open for viewing.  The photos were judged and chosen for best overall.

             In this small room, the lights were dimmed low and classical music was playing to set the mood.  Photos were placed on the walls at eye level for easy viewing.  There was a small but pleasant crowd meandering about visiting and taking advantage of light refreshments while observing the photos that were up for display. 

 A black and white photo of a monarch butterfly, titled “Still” captured by Susan Mazur, was among the first of 40 photos displayed at this exhibit of photography.  The monarch butterfly in the photograph portrays a slender body with clubbed black antennas, and broad conspicuously marked wings.  With the white background behind the butterfly, your eye could not help but see every detail of this lovely creature.  The close up of the contour of the wings shows patterns of spots and the clearness of the antennas on the head.  Like looking through a magnifying glass, you are almost able to reach out and touch it.   As it sits on its side, quiet and calm, evidence of lifelessness brings upon a feeling of sadness yet the beauty of the butterfly draws the eye back for a peek.

            Walking towards the next black and white photo, a picture of a lonely swan in a small stream of water, titled “Binary Vision” taken by Lynn Pham.  The black swan in the photo is swimming soft and slowly by some rocks, as you can see by the calm ripples in the water.  The long slender neck of the swan craning out of its body shows this animal’s unusual beauty and poise.  Feelings of tranquility can easily overtake the viewer.   Shadows appear to be descending on the water and the swan, depicting the start of dusk.  As the sun sets in the background, the black silhouette of the swan’s graceful structure mirrors itself in the clear water. Peacefulness instills as night approaches. The swan’s motion of gradually moving, suggests that perhaps it wants to retire alone for the night. 

 The photo titled, “Morning Mystery”, by Stephen Hunter, won second place in the gallery opening.   A black and white photo of a tall monstrous cluster of trees.  Long and relatively narrow trees, reaching to the sky as far as the eye could see, move your vision upward.  Looking upward at this photo of soaring trees brings upon the feeling of smallness.  The cloudiness through the light gives a hint of sunlight in the midst of each tree.  Shadows bounce back and forth off of the surroundings.   Looking at this photo was serene and magical, as if one could see straight into another world.   Excitement and wonder fills the air as the morning journey continues on.  

                        Each and every photo mentioned captured memories of how beautiful nature portraits can be and how these memories have an impact on our lives.  We tend to forget with our busy way of life how our surroundings can help remind us of the wonderful world in which we live in.  Some memories are welcomed and some are not.  Some memories are remembered and some forgotten.  The different lighting styles, subjects, colors and interests can play an important part in portraying the meaning of each photo at hand.  Each and every person has a different perception of what the photographer is portraying, whether it may be a feeling of contentment or feelings of despair and loneliness.  I think each photo was chosen specifically by the photographer to portray an interest and a challenge of what the photographer is capable of doing and that each portrait relays a wonderful story.  Adventures that can bring out feelings close to the heart of the photographer and to the viewer.