All images copyright by the individual photographers

It has been said that what we see, is only what our past experiences tell us should been seen, or what our desires want to see.  Rarely are we able to free our minds, or thoughts and emotions, and just see for the simple pleasure of seeing. Confucius wisely said, “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”. In this truly excellent exhibition, we see “Through Women’s Eyes”, a sense of wonder, and the gift of seeing clearly and vividly. Reading things into a photograph is the prerogative of both the artist and the viewer. I hope that every visitor and viewer will sincerely use their hearts and minds to see the world anew and discover that sense of wonder. Peter Marr

	La Maison aux Volets Bleus – Provence by Chris Kogut One might inquire why I selected this particular image from Chris’s superb series of prints for one of my “Picks”. I certainly admire all of them, but the forecourt of “La Maison” has a brilliance, warmth and excitement that is so refreshing and exhilarating, and as Napoleon Bonaparte so famously said “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Everything about this stunning print, detailed so lovingly by the gorgeous soft lighting, makes one want to explore intimately every nook and cranny. This is the most delightful garden patio that I have ever seen. The sheer range and scope of the plants and flowers is just awesome, all against an eye-catching background, highlighted by the bright blue window shutters. This is such an enchanting scene, and most of us would dearly like to explore the house, particularly the rooms beyond the three doorways.  We could conjecture that as beautiful as these surroundings are, maybe the owners of “La Maison” spend the majority of their time right here in the patio.  It is rare that I comment on the picture frame of any print that I write about, but this is a much deserved exception.  Here, the frame choice was really special, exquisitely mirroring the scene and leading you eagerly into a forecourt “par excellence”, beautifully captured by the artist.
	Weaving a Web of Dreams by Kate Lipsky The beautiful and moving portrait of a young lady, eyes closed, holding seemingly a fan of a bird’s wings, is an excellent image in its own right. Superimpose a dew-bejeweled spider’s web over her, and the image takes on an entirely different mood and feeling. Here, we convey an atmosphere by intensifying the elements that compose it, hopefully, to arouse an emotional response in the viewer. The soft lighting and a restricted color palette of warm brown and flesh tones, wonderfully complement the whole scene with a dream-like quality, so in keeping with the conscious and sub-conscious thoughts weaving like a web through her mind. Dreams are an enigma, and mysterious to most of us, so the symbolism of the intricate spider’s web, mirroring many of the complex electrical signals we generate whilst asleep, is beautifully done. The mystery of the bird’s wings imply the graceful, floating nature of our thoughts as they rise upwards into space, using some cerebral mechanism not fully understood. Some thoughts return, some disappear, often forever, and here, some thoughts are blown away, as we wait for the sun to encompass the spider’s web, and quickly disperse all the magical thoughts trapped inside. Much like Sarah Moon, who never photographs reality, we are enraptured by this dreamy, romantic, impressionistic image, superbly printed and presented on canvas. This is an enchanting photograph, one for all of us to enjoy, and maybe fantasize on our own dream sequences.
	Prismatic Sea by Lois Trieb It was a very difficult decision for me to choose between this print and Lois’s picture of the “Flowering Crab” to comment further on.  In the latter, a truly excellent nature close-up, we have a superb flower, very reminiscent of a crab’s claw, wonderful color and a great neutral background, beautifully seen and photographed. I finally chose “Prismatic Sea” as one of my “Picks”, because I always marvel at nature’s abstraction, and this lovely, powerful, colorful, scenic abstract really epitomizes this type of image. There could also be an element of truth in the fact that I was somewhat influenced in my choice by the symbolism with the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As Imogen Cunningham so famously (and a little caustically) said, “If you don’t like it, that’s your problem, not mine, because I love it”.   This print has an expansive range of both warm saturated hues, together with delicate layers of softer pastel colors.  Running through this serene abstract scene is a series of meandering intrusions, which often end up not completing their voyage or destination, and end up in a rich oasis of color, with dreams unfulfilled.  Happily, the colors are warm, inviting and friendly, as are their peaceful resting places. How tragic then that we should dare to compare this magnificent abstract, one of nature’s best, with the striking vista of a cold sea, interspersed with ever-encroaching, and ever enlarging oil slicks. These ominous fingers threaten nature’s very existence, leaving scars on the shoreline and marshes for year to come. Hopefully these oil slicks will stop and go no further, as the natural intrusions in this lovely abstract scenic have.  A very impressive and memorable landscape.
	Beauty Parlour by Nan Guzauski Abandonment is almost always tragic and heartbreaking, but through Nan’s memorable, poignant and haunting photographs, we are given the opportunity to look beyond dereliction. We need to use our imagination and listen to the unspoken narratives of the subjects, to learn more about the lives of the people who once lived in these buildings. Ironically, in today’s world, “Beauty Parlour” could stand alone as an iconic portrait of perhaps two aliens from a distant planet, with bizarre bodies and inelegant necklaces of twisted electrical cords. A frightening thought, maybe, but realistically of course, we know that the hairdryers were, in their time, one of the few available luxuries. Whatever the conditions and tragic circumstances, there must have been sheer elation and excitement with a visit to this room, where not only could one’s hair be revitalized, but perhaps hope for a life-changing moment could happen on emerging from under these bizarre-looking machines. Nan’s superb image inspires belief and excitement, which we trust many people had when they came out of the beauty parlour. Even though that hope may never have been realized, each new visit still offered promise and anticipation. The more that one looks at this stellar image, the more you want to see a modern beauty salon, with clients, hair up in curlers, under the canopy of drying machines. These clients also are longing for the excitement of perhaps a positive change in their lives after their salon visit. Although we are deeply saddened by people who had to endure inadequate care, in facilities we can easily picture, thanks to Nan’s impressive prints, let us hope that needful people are now cared for in more humane facilities, with the love and attention they surely deserve.
	Aging by Patti Russotti All of Patti’s breathtaking images on canvas are uniquely hung in a fashion hauntingly reminiscent of Chinese paintings and scrolls. The essential quality of her photographs is the emotional impact that they carry, which is definitely a measure of the author’s success in translating into photographic terms, her own emotional response to the subjects. In “Aging”, one could discuss at great length how the powerful vertical format, the sensuous curves of the seed-pod, the sumptuous brown tones of the subject matter, and the featureless black background, all contribute to a dynamic, thrilling print. What may not be so obvious, is how expressively and lovingly nature shapes and forms its many treasures, typified by this seed pod. The two glistening forms in the center of this triptych remind one of the fossilized creatures, ardently captured over time. Strikingly, the excitement of peeling back the pod to reveal unknown treasures inside, is very reminiscent of the anticipation that archeologists must feel as they uncover and open ancient Egyptian tombs, to reveal the mummified remains inside. The time span is obviously very different, but I do see, maybe eerily, a very definite connection. In this beautiful print, one might conjecture about the small artifact at the top left-hand side. Detached yes, and it is probably part of the tip of the pod, perhaps deliberately set aside for the viewer to ponder over. Maybe it is a fossilized hummingbird, for certainly one can make out the eye and the long slender bill? Certainly, the longer that one looks at how intricate and revealing nature is, the more that we should thank the author for capturing this majestic image, and presenting it to us so beautifully.
	Two Dolls by Wendy Sacks The five prints that Wendy has in this exhibition are in themselves portraits of quiet emotion and serene eloquence, masterpieces that any artist or painter would have loved to have done. Astonishingly, I learned before writing this review, that the young girls were photographed whilst they were underwater. The remarkable fact that the photographs were captured in this way, adds a whole new dimension to these lovely images. Certainly, the author had to balance not only photographic technique, but other obvious elements such as patience, choreography and the courage and willingness of the young ladies, just to name a few obstacles. What should be transparent to the viewer, is that the end results are truly striking and sublime. In “Two Dolls”, the soft lighting creates in the young girl a magical, quiet, euphoria, yet all the intricate details in her lacy dress and in her flowing hair are beautifully maintained. There is an ethereal, intimate connection between the girl and her lovingly- held doll, as though they are connected and one with each other. Emotionally and happily, the doll is both visually and importantly, just like the girl was like when she was a little child. Obviously they both grew in years, but only the girl grew in size and maturity. Yet the two still have a powerful bond, and to each, maybe they are still alike and the same size as they were in childhood. This is an outstanding photograph, for all to treasure, particularly for the young girl. A sublime moment in time, artistically and lovingly captured for posterity.