Forward to Land and Sea
Forward to 2017-2018 Highlights
New Beginnings Exhibition
December 20th- January 11, 2019- R.I. Center for Photographic Studies
Lindsay Elgin, juror
In looking at the submitted photographs for this exhibit, I was delighted to see the wide range of imagery that folks are pursuing. These photographers are experimenting with different subjects as well as different approached to their subjects and to image making in general, an artistic curiosity that is always a true delight to see. I would like to congratulate all the photographers who submitted work on taking the important steps of making work and putting it out into the world.
1st Place- Spiral Eye- Marc Jaffe
Spiral Eye drew me in with its simplicity and its near-perfection. The toned-down color palette - black,yellow, and slight greenish-blue - allows the viewer to enjoy the back and-forth between darkness and light. It’s this push and pull between the tones that draw the viewer in - as much as the steadfast, dominant eye - and provide a sense of movement as one tries to ascertain depth and position. The fact that the image is not perfectly symmetrical is essential to the image’s success - it avoids the stagnant compositions one might find and becomes kinetic in its arrangement of space.
2nd place- Come sit a spell- Kathleen Caswell
Come Sit a Spell is a carefully controlled meditation on tonality and line. The quietude of the image and its immediate simplicity belie the levels of craftsmanship at work in this image. Black and white images have to rely solely on their tonality and composition to provide all the visual interest and the visual richness for the image. Come Sit a Spell has both, and in spades: every tone in this image has a role to play, and we have such lovely separation of the tones from the brightest (but not too bright) highlight to the darkest (but not too dark shadow). The contrasts between tones nicely echo the interplay of the geometrical lines on the walls and the floor, as well as the bright squares from the light thrown in through the window.
3rd place- Qunsett Point RR- Ben Buglio
It’s the slightly off-kilter composition in Qunsett Point RR that drew me to the image immediately. There’s a wonderful rhythm to this image,: it begins with the series of small black holes recurring at regular patterns, and then is undercut by the tension created in the seemingly irregular pattern of the screws. This allows an image of a relatively flat object to have a sense of animation, of depth. Finally, the half-moon smear of yellow and the streak of pink offset what would otherwise be an almost fully monochromatic image, animating the left-hand side of the image and resolving the other compositional tension.
Honorable mention- Rocks and Clouds- Beth O'Connor
Rocks and Clouds is a fascinating take on traditional, black and white landscape photography. The use of the vertical frame immediately upends the viewer slightly, and forces a more deliberate viewing of the scene. The organic lines that curve and snake through the image along the rock walls, the horizon, and the cloud edges create a visual cadence that is slightly unexpected, slightly unnerving. This mild yet effective tension works beautifully with the high-contrast textures to knit the seemingly disparate elements of this image together in a strong, well-crafted composition.
Resting- David Pinkham
I found Resting to be a curious title for this image; it certainly points to the boat in a state of rest (if not slumber), as well as the sense of stillness in the outside world. However, the cool-toned, muted quietude of the outside is in direct contrast to the warm, almost radiant bustle we can view through the window. It’s a lovely contrast between the two; in terms of both the complementary colors that vibrate off each other to the long, sweeping horizontals that wrap around the small, segmented vignettes of the window.
The Fashion Ladies- Paul Murray
The Fashion Ladies is an image that I kept returning to - it’s a fascinating image, and quite the visual and intellectual exercise to parse the many details scattered around our two subjects. Disjointed space and a sense of visual confusion create a frenetic backdrop for the relative calm, almost stoic facial expressions of the two women. It’s a nice tension in this environmental portrait.
NYC- Carol Chabot
Barn- Peter Cinner
Morning Plans- Barbara Crane
Red Chair- Michael Dwares
Night Lights- Don Heymann
Sandnapses- Leslie Hollis
The Rules- Kerry Hood
Nepenthe- Eric Hovermale
Repose- Bonnie Jaffe
Clouds from Heaven- Frank Leith
Invasion of the Dragonfly- George Lowell
Ghosted- Paul Mello
Radial Abstract- Paul Murray
Solo Surfer- Susan Ohama
Fire and Fury- Don Palen
Nocturn- Howard Rotblat-Walker
Hats $10- Howard Schlesinger
Manhattan Bridge- Helene Scola
Stop- Proceed with Caution- Jane Viti
Hand Rail- Cindy H. Wilson
Vortex- Cindy H. Wilson
Unsure Footing- Susan Ohama
Emu Fantasy- Beth O'Connor
Sunrise in Slovenia- Frank Leith
That Look- Bonnie Jaffe
The Phoenix- Eric Hovermale
Zagros- Don Heymann
Vineyard Boat- Peter Cinner
Skeleton- Carol Chabot
Walk with Me to the Very End- Kathleen Caswell
Dutra Farm- Ben Buglio
Land and Sea- Fall 2018
Twenty-five Guild members submitted forty-two images for consideration for the gallery exhibit. With only twenty four places in the room at the Edward King House there is not space for them all.
Thank you to every member who participated in this exhibit.
Frank Leith, curator of the exhibit, selected the images as indicated below for the gallery and we are pleased to share them all online.
Comments from Frank-Thank you for submitting images. It is your participation that makes these exhibits successful.
Please be aware that the comments are my personal thoughts and that someone else would probably have different ideas. The images are yours; my comments may be accepted, modified, or completely rejected by you. I hope the comments are helpful; please don't take offense at any of my "suggestions".
These images were selected for exhibition in the Edward King House gallery.
The name of the photographer is listed next to each image.
Bill Shea
First Place: Very nice. The ghostly images of the sailboats fading away has a sense of mystery.
Sylvia Hampton
Second Place: Nice composition with leading lines of the road and curve drawing the eye to the ruined house in the distance.
Daniel Forster
Third Place : Beautiful fiery sunset. The offset dock leads your eye nicely into the sky and the anchored boats.
Rich Hudson
Honorable Mention: Nice pastel with an almost water color feel to it. Good composition with the tree and barn balancing each other.
Bill Shea
Carol Chabot
Carol Chabot
Molly Robinson
Peter Cinner
Jack Renner
Ben Buglio
Sue Ohama
Daniel Forster
Don Heymann
Don Heymann
Jim Gedney
Jane Viti
Jane Viti
Sylvia Hampton
Leslie Hollis
Carole P. Kenny, Autumn Aspens in Colorado
Carole P. Kenny, A bit of Maine
Barbara Renner
Barbara Renner
We are pleased to share these images as part of our online exhibit. They are not exhibited in the gallery.
Jim Gedney
Andy Lowen
Andy Lowen
David Pinkham
Peter Cinner
Molly Robinson
Howard Rotblat-Walker
George Lowell
George Lowell
Debbie Filkins
Debbie Filkins
Hilja Bergey
Hilja Bergey
Kathleen Caswell
Kathleen Caswell
These images were submitted after the deadline for inclusion in the gallery.
Cindy H. Wilson
Jody Brown
Jody Brown
Welcome to highlights of the 2017-2018 season of online images from Guild members.
Displayed are those images selected as outstanding by each judge.
Highlights of the Spring 2018 exhibit
Comments by Paul Murray
1st place image by John Jordan
2nd place by Kathy Caswell
3rd place image by John Jordan
Fall 2017 comments by Jack Renner
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image by Steve Bienenfeld
FIRST PLACE. Tells a great story! The proprietor obviously bored out of his mind, and the photo not only captures where he is working but his reaction as well!
image by Carol Chabot
SECOND PLACE. Very nice with leading lines from canoes. Some slight highlight burnout, but not a deal breaker.
image by Carol Chabot
THIRD PLACE. Nice black and white. Tells a story, but would have been better to crop in closer on the person. Too much “other” stuff in the image.
To view the entire Fall exhibit, select this link.
Winter 2018 comments by Frank Leith
image by Sandi King
First Place- Lovely photo that the more I look at it the more I like it. Excellent colors and tones. Very simple and elegant.
image by Richard Perry, Avon Window
Second Place -Very nice abstract with strong lines and shadows. The square opening nicely balances the lines from the upper left.
image by Richard Perry, Linens
Third Place- Very nice photo that makes you stop and speculate. Straightening the pillar on the left would help as the tilt is distracting. I think there is some detail in the large window that might be brought out to reduce the grey blob effect.
image by Patty Weiss
Honorable Mention- The eyes have it. Great placement of subject and background. Straightening the image would help as the non-vertical line is distracting.
To view all the images from the Winter exhibit, select this link.