Gallery Photographers
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Peter's Picks of the Month Master's Invitational March 25 - April 19, 2009
Peter Marr picked his favorite
photos of the show
All images copyright by the individual photographers
Untitled 108,
2007
Andy Davidhazy is both a pioneer and a master
craftsman in developing and refining scientific imaging techniques
in photography, and we are extremely privileged in this exhibition
to see and admire, excellent examples of his slit-scan portraiture,
Schlieren, and high speed electronic flash photography. What is most
important though, is that his work surpasses scientific
illustration, to give us beautiful and thought –provoking images.
I have chosen this particular photograph to discuss in a
little more detail, because it embodies time and motion in one
superb dynamic image. One can easily imagine sine waves dancing in
time around a brilliant red core, or perhaps, part of a DNA helix in
constant regular motion around a cervical cord, each strand doing
its own thing in perfect sync with each other.
The motion of each wave is perfectly in time and place with
its partner, yet is importantly separated by the two different
colors of each strand.
The choice of red for the cortex is profound, scientifically and
emotionally, and our eyes are transfixed by its vibrant color, shape
and markings, all the while being very aware of the constant regular
motion around it. We certainly marvel at the complexity of the way
the image was constructed, probably encompassing hundreds of hours
of research and experimentation, so that now we can enjoy it for its
artistic and imaginative design, its superb color, and for the
exciting concepts which it presents. This is a truly beautiful and
very satisfying image.
Lotus The superb artistry of Kitty Hubbard’s prints
further entrenches one in the knowledge that one can continue to
marvel at Nature’s abstraction, with the fact that Nature is for
reverence. She has the
uncanny ability to get inside nature, inside the very plant itself,
all with softness, delicacy and a superb sense of subtle color.
In her life cycle of the Lotus flower, a flower which appears
in legends originating from ancient Egypt, it is apparent why the
Lotus flower became a symbol
of creation and rebirth, and has symbolized spiritual
enlightenment. My
favorite image in the cycle is “Lotus” which is an outstanding print
that is filled with quiet emotion and serene eloquence, showing us
indeed that nature is pervaded with human life.
The beautiful arrangement of the flower bud and the early
emergence of the seed pod in a delicate bed of petals, is more than
just artistic, it is truly magical.
Against the black background, the gorgeous soft pastel colors
just leap out of the frame, with the petals seeming to dance to some
sublime musical theme.
They dance around the couple lying in a gentle embrace, intoxicated
by the soft bed of petals, bring to mind the famous quotation
“Sleep, perchance to dream”, a sleep in exquisite surroundings.
Nature in such an artistic setting is so sublimely human, and
we are very fortunate to be able to view such a delightful,
entrancing image, and see it linked to a life cycle with the other
Lotus flower prints. This is a sublime captivating image, a star in
a sea of other stars in Kitty Hubbard’s majestical presentation.
Rosemarie John’s superb portraits bring out the very essence and
personality of his subjects, and I was particularly impressed and captivated by
his environmental studies, exemplified for example with “Dan ”, “Eckart “Ecky
and “Rosemarie”. I have chosen the
latter to comment further on as my personal “pick” from all of John’s excellent
images. Our eyes and brain
psychologically seek out vertical and horizontal lines for their stability and
formal nature, and in the portrait of Rosemarie, these lines are powerfully
represented by the patio doors and iron railing.
Suddenly and spectacularly, our eyes immediately go to the dynamic
oblique lines, which give us visual tension and contrast. These powerful vectors
are the long line of the dress and the rope of pearls, both of which
dramatically lead to Rosemarie’s face with it poignant expression. Transfixed in
the exact center of the image, right where she wants to be, the center of
attention, strong, resolute, determined and entirely lovable.
This powerful portrait does add some elements of the wheelchair, together
with the delightful soft scenic background with the somewhat threatening sky,
all of which add to the environmental scene, yet we always come back to
Rosemarie. The brilliant red patterned dress and red hat tell us a lot about her
character, as of course does the long string of pearls so prominently displayed,
so much a part of her life, her interests and her well-being.
Her strong compelling hand beckons us to come close, to learn more about
her life and character. This is such a delightful and telling portrait,
wonderfully constructed and photographed.
It is a memorable image of what we know is a truly memorable lady, masterfully
captured by a great portrait photographer.
Truth The Photography students
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