CATSKILL MOUNTAIN REGION GUIDE PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO

Focus on Photography

Windham Arts Alliance Show at the Main Street Community Center

5494 State Route 23, Windham NY 12496 (518) 734-4168

May 5, 2023 to July 28

Opening Reception and Music by the Songbirds May 6, 2023, 4pm to 6pm Francis Driscoll Hands-On Workshop May 20, 9 am to 3pm

Windham Arts Alliance is very excited about the new show, “Focus on Photography,” that will be at the Main Street Community Center from May 5 through July 28. This show has been planned to give an opportunity for artists who focus on photography to display their works. The variety of approaches and interpretations and techniques makes this a truly eclectic show.

The word FOCUS brings many ideas to mind. We can find an image that rivets our attention to a certain subject or idea. Photography provides the opportunity for the viewer to see what attracted the photographer’s attention and made a subject important enough to study or look at in depth. In the hands of an experienced photographer the mood and even a fleeting experience can be captured and made immortal. Contributing photographer Beth Schneck says, “As time passes, photographs remain, glimpses into a time and place imprinted by memory. The memories they elicit are felt deeply, and conjure a story for the viewer.”

An opening reception on Saturday, May 6 at 4:00 pm will truly celebrate the arts, with music by the Songbirds. An offshoot of the Greene Room Players Community Theater, the Songbirds is a group of nine talented singers under the direction of Linda Nicholls, founder and director of Greene Room Players. For over 10 years these talented ladies have performed for private events, benefits, our Mountaintop community and surrounding areas to standing room only audiences. Their repertoire includes a variety of music that includes Broadway tunes, folk music, Doo Wop, standards, holiday, patriotic, and much more. The “Birds” are Glenda Lauten, Kelly Transue, Louise Le Brun, Cara Dantzig, Jody Nicholls, Wini Baldwin, Myra Garcia, Chris Pierce and Susan Kleinfelder. The talented Jenni Cawein, concert pianist, accompanies the Birds for select performances. Harmonies are beautiful! Voices exceptional! Lots of fun for them and their audiences! Come and hear some of your favorite tunes sung by your favorite singers!

WAA hopes you join us and maybe find the photograph that makes you feel, in the words of Beth Schneck, “a ground-trembling experience, one that imprints the image into your mind for years into the future, so in this way you know the power of a photograph. Great photographs, like the soul, need not be explained.”

The Windham Arts Alliance would like to thank the Main Street Community Center for generously sharing their beautiful space with WAA and the Community. This show is open to all photographers—new, emerging and professional.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered in Greene County by CREATE Council on the Arts.

"Frosted Willows," by Beth Schneck

Beth Schneck says, “Photography is all pervasive in 2023, almost everyone carries a camera in their pocket. This is something only the pros, or those enamored with photography, did before smartphones…. Though as we know, everyone can capture a stunning photograph from time to time. But to do it consistently, always ready in the moment, as well as the ability to visualize images in advance and know how to create them, are some of the many advantages of a photographer with years of experience. I love the entire process of photography—interacting with many interesting people, visualizing and sensing images, feeling the beauty of light falling on an object, and seeing and sharing the results. The camera is not just a tool to capture light, it is an extension of my mind’s eye, and allows me to view the world from a distinct perspective.”

"On the Horizon," by Nancy De Flon

We have asked the artists to explain what made them select their subject matter. Another meaning for focus is, “to concentrate attention or effort. And giving proper sharpness due to good focusing.” Nancy De Flon takes this idea and creates her picture “On the Horizon.” She tells us that she chose this picture for the spring show “because of its bright colors and its simplicity—and because it depicts one of my favorite places…. The bright complementary colors seem to justify the horizon’s location at the center of the picture, and I chose a filter that would tame the unruly winter grass while still leaving the trees and structures sharp and recognizable.”

"Snow Study I," by Jeffrey Langford

Not all photographs emphasize a realistic interpretation of the world. Jeffrey Langford chose two photographs of the snow to enter in the show. His photographs Snow Study 1 and Snow Study 2 focus on how natural forms can create abstractions. He says, “They both illustrate some of the graceful abstract designs that untouched snow can make.”

"Scottish Loch," by Bill Deane

Bill Deane has taken a different approach and is changing his work by focusing on using software to edit his photos and create a painterly quality to his new works. He states, “I have been working with existing images and recent photos with consideration to modify them with software to become “Photo Art”. The Scottish Loch piece in particular gave me the opportunity to explore available colors that we don’t usually see with the naked eye. Textures also become quite different and interesting. I also find borders make an interesting effect to the image.”

"Horses on Kaaterskill Clove," by Elaine Warfield

Creativity is a large focus of photography and with the addition of digital editing photographers have access to new means of expression. Elaine Warfield tells us that she is entering a photograph called “Horses on Kaaterskill Clove.” Here she is working with “an artistic rendering using Photoshop to combine interesting elements from several photographs. The background image is a photograph taken from Twilight Park at the top of the mountain overlook Kaaterskill Clove in the early morning. The two horse images were taken at a Gypsy Vanner Farm in Virginia, also in the early morning. The images were combined to create a new artistic piece.”

"Spring Flower," by Francis X. Driscoll

Focus also means creating a clear image. It is the point at which rays of light converge or from which they seem to diverge. How does each photographer use this concept to create their work? Francis Driscoll says, “The main subject should be in acceptable focus and exposed well.” His close up of a spring flower illustrates this. By understanding the media, he is able to blur the background so the objects he is emphasizing stand out.

Fran is excited to share his knowledge with the community, providing a free workshop. Participants will meet Fran in the parking lot behind Briars and Brambles on May 20 at 9:00 am. They will have the opportunity to take their camera and join Fran on a photography excursion. This is a rare opportunity to pick Fran’s brain and learn how he takes his beautiful photographs. He will demonstrate how he chooses his subjects, and what to focus on to get artistic photos. You will begin to understand what is involved to see the world through your camera lens and to produce exciting photographs. Later, he will follow up at the Main Street Community Center with an introduction to basic editing techniques.

You can register for this all-day workshop at mainstreetcommunitycenter.org/registration. Seats are limited. There is a registration fee of $10 to hold your place.