exhibiting members
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Bob West
Ansel Adams once said, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.”
Our interest in photography has really blossomed over the past few years. We spent time improving our skills through self-study, by way of magazines, books and on line tutorials. Here we were able to collaborate with many other photographers. We have also posted a myriad of our images on Flickr, where we have the benefit of constructive comments from our peers in the photography world.
It has been a wonderful experience to show our work in Chatham at ArtSpace, in Blenheim at Downie Photos and Lasting Memories, in Ridgetown's former Renaissance Art Gallery, and also at Mary Web center in Highgate. The new Howard Mutual Medical Center in Ridgetown is currently showcasing some of our works of the area. We have entered all of the "Desmond Juried Art Shows," where our works have received awards and almost all have been sold.
As a team we have recently expanded our repertoire to include model photography. With portraiture, we strive to create images that are more than just technically well done. We want each piece to impact the viewer emotionally. We find it very thrilling to create images that use all of the tools available, including lighting, costuming, set design, and post production. Since it is certainly every artists aspiration to make images stand out from the crowd and bring about original concepts, we too are always evolving our forum and style.
"NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY" is more than just a passion for Val and Bob West, We have forged a world renowned path in night photography, winning awards, accolades and praise from professional photographers around the globe.
Perhaps most intriguing of all is that it is possible to photograph using long exposures what is impossible for the human eye to see - cumulative time. Being out at night under a full moon with just the stars to light up a path and letting the camera capture that, is a way to express the way that time passes. The earth turning on its axis and the universe standing still, gives the illusion of the stars streaking across the sky as shown in many of our night scenes. If you're not outside looking around at night, then you're missing half of what the universe has to show you. We particularly like what happens with long exposures, for example, moving clouds produce unique areas of interesting density in the sky, stars produce white lines, rough water transforms into ice or mist.
Since we live pretty fast-paced lives, it is a luxury to be able to slow down and better appreciate some of the more subtle effects of nature that we can so easily miss or take for granted. We hope these photographs cause the viewer to linger while pondering what they are looking at.
"PUBLICATIONS"
Photo News Magazine autumn 2011, chosen as an example of Night Photography in an international magazine
Better Photography oct 2011 cover page international Magazine covering "Secrets of Long Exposure"
The soon to be released "Rondeau Forever" 2012 by William Stephen
"Rondeau Forever the adventure continues" 2010 by William Stephen
Twinline Magazine spring 2009 as the cover photo "Lake Erie connections Night Scene"
Photo Life Magazine 2009 Jan. 1st and 2nd PRIZE in the night photo feature "Showtime" by Epson
Steve Deger "Nightly Book of Positive Quotations" 2009 featuring 2 pictures of Rondeau
"Chatham Kent Through the Eye of the Camera" coffee table book 2004 chosen by the mayor of Chatham, photos chosen and used as the back cover as well as inside..
A submitter and listed with "Getty Images" and seller..
Val and Bob West Ridgetown
More works can be seen at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bob_west/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/_val_w/
