"Shadow owes its birth to light." John Gay, English poet
When one studies photography in an academic setting, there are two specific kinds of light one is taught to work with: The direction of light and the quality of light. Direct light is: front light, side light, and back light. This can be extended further to include lighting from the top, from beneath and even painting with light. Direct light is really about the interplay of light and shadow upon one’s subject. The quality of light, with differing degrees of filtering, can softly influence the entire subject or simply fill in shadows to control the contrast. These technical ways of making images can be practiced inside the studio or outdoors.
However, these lessons do not teach the feeling of light…the way in which light affects the photographer emotionally and thus moves the photographer to make a fine image. It is this creative use of connection between the technical and the sympathetic that will, in the end, give the subject its life, character, and context.
In this group exhibition, you will see the subtle use of light and shadow in Susan Hill’s images of the Salk Institute, the rich chiaroscuro in Jodie Hulden’s grids of a silversmith’s studio, and the strong contrast in Terry Allen’s Bumann Ranch interiors. Robert Barry’s slices of cityscapes and Grant Brittain’s shadowy figure become question marks. Keiko Yamasaki’s exploration of the night sky is revealed in her color images, and Brandy Sebastian’s folded paper objects in black and white fascinate. Continue your stroll through our gallery and there is much more to be seen by our Collective of Photographers. Find your favorite photograph and then ask your self why. It’s always good to look deeper.