Author: Chloe Sundberg
Currently, the Briarwood Gallery is focusing on the work of three lens-ladies (photographers) who take three different approaches to subject matter and how they see it.
Ann Greene often takes a more traditional track, recording a single nature inspired subject with complex details. She brings an art school background to her work and has exhibited throughout New England. She considers herself a naturalist and has a very special interest in birds – their lives, their food, their behavior, their exquisite plumage. Ann’s desire is to “capture things as they are.”
Susan Sedgwick’s interest in photography started when she got a film camera for a Christmas present. She took many courses at the Worcester Center for Crafts with photographer Peter Faulkner. She has transitioned to digital photography explaining, “It frees me to try new things.” For her subjects she often goes beyond natural subjects, looks on, in, or beyond basic images or scenes and records secondary images which may only exist briefly under certain light conditions. Susan also has a special interest in weathervanes and their variety.
Dorothy Magadieu (A Briarwood Resident) also started her journey in photography using a film-based camera and developing traditional silver prints in her darkroom. She too is now using digital equipment. Dorothy expands her nature-based subject matter and objects. Reflections, projections and transparencies can be seen in her work.
The three “Lens–Ladies” have collected an exhibit which demonstrates their creativity, competency and clever use of the photography medium.
From Ann’s iridescent hummingbird plumage to Susan’s animals magically appearing from the landscape to Dorothy’s large trees projected on windows, this is an interesting collection of what they saw, how they saw it, and then were able to capture it on film.
The exhibit will be on view in the Briarwood Galley through January 6, 2024.
