Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Photography is subject of Belen Art League show

Brent Ruffner News-Bulletin Staff Writer; bruffner@news-bulletin.com

Belen Passion flows through the Belen Art League on a regular basis.

That passion will extend to photography this week when the league hosts its first photography show.

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The league, which normally features area painters, will host a photography show starting on Saturday, July 18. The show's reception will run from 12 to 3 p.m. and feature 13 Valencia County photographers. Photography will be on display at the gallery, located at 509 Becker Ave., through Aug. 1.

"(The photographers) are important to us," said Cece Aragon, who helped organize the show. "They have a lot of good work. We want people to know they are here."

Aragon said the show would be featuring photographs of a mix of landscape and individual portraits. Both digital and film photography will be on displaY, and admission is free.

The show will include work from both amateurs and professionals, and visitors can purchase photos that are up to 20 by 20 inches in size, at prices ranging anywhere from $35 to $350.

"We have artists that use oils and pastels," Aragon said. "But we wanted to have a free-standing show for our photographers."

Photographers in the show include Wayne Abraham, Cece Aragon, Janet and Jim Bray, Patti Bucklew, Carol Fisher, Geni Hatch, Linda Jasmin, Mary Knipp, James Andrew Lee, Jack Liberman, Sally Niller and Rosalind Ogawa.

Aragon said she hopes that residents will come out to see the quality of work from the local photographers. She said their work represents something painters might already do.

"Most painters photograph things before they paint," Aragon said. "All of these (photos) are so good, a painter could never capture these."

Liberman agrees.

Liberman, who has been a professional photographer for about five years, said he hopes the show will draw a substantial crowd to the gallery.

"These people are true artists," Liberman said. "They have talent and are presenting their work. But no one knows about it."

Jasmin said she began to take photos after she did work as a painter. She said photography made her look at everyday things in a different way.

"It's passion," Jasmin said. "When you see something that is remarkable, you want to record it. Sometimes they are things that people drive by everyday. They just don't stop and look."

Jasmin said those remarkable things might not come as easily as you would think. A certain shot could change from moment to moment.

"A sunset could turn dark, clouds could move," he said. "I carry a camera with me, and you spot things that you wouldn't think about. You never know what can turn up."

Abraham remembers when such an unforgettable image came up. He was in the mountains, north of Santa Fe, when he saw a perfect opportunity to take an unforgettable shot.

"An aspen was in the middle of all the evergreen trees," Abraham said. "It was glowing. It was incredible."

That light doesn't stop with the natural elements.

Some of the show's photographers' eyes glimmer when they speak about their craft.

Jasmin said she wants to share that passion with others in hopes that they will take a similar interest in the art that initially got her hooked.

"Art can change your life," Jasmin said. "It helps you see something differently. It's a different perspective, something you have never seen before. Hopefully, people can get some of the same joy that we get from capturing the images."

Jasmin said capturing those images could be addicting.

"When you are passionate about something, you have to do it or else you are miserable," Jasmin said. "We can't not do this."

Ogawa said she hopes the event encourages others to excel in photography. She said everyone could learn to take better pictures in the digital age. She has learned to take pictures from different viewpoints, such as close-ups and various themes.

"These days, everyone has a camera," Ogawa said. "But they don't know how to take pictures. It could be a learning experience for them."

Aragon said the event would feature photos that rank with that of Santa Fe artists and painters.

"We would love to have a huge place where we could display anything and everything," Aragon said. "But we do the best we can."

Aragon said the event should bring residents in touch with the photographers and what they are trying to convey.

"We want to share this passion," Aragon said. "It's what brings us joy. It's inspiring."

The show will open with a reception July 18, from 12 to 3 p.m. The gallery will be open Wednesday, July 22 to July 25, from 12 to 4 p.m., and July 29 to July 31 from 12 to 4 p.m.

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