April 09th, 2018

HOTOGRAPHIC PRECISION
 
Walking into the WAG this morning I’m not sure whether I’m in an art gallery or on a construction site.  A table is covered with tools and there are bits of green painter’s masking tape stuck on one wall, where a plumb bob hangs from a piece of cardboard. Clive Elson has his measuring tape out, while Tanya Elson takes down numbers and makes calculations. Meanwhile, Bruce Millen is overseeing, wearing a leather tool belt. It’s all in preparation for hanging the 27 photos—some black and white, some colour—that make up the annual juried exhibition of the Kingston Photographic Club.
 
This year’s theme is “Kingston in Focus”, so, naturally, visitors will see iconic shots of the city, albeit through lenses that look for uniqueness, as well as shots of lesser known but equally compelling views: on the waterfront, in the street, inside or outside buildings, sometimes peopled, more often not. Most of the photographs have standard mounts, but there are also a couple of canvas wraps and an acrylic mount, which traps light in the top Plexiglass layer to enhance the image. One photograph is printed on aluminum, which radiates light through the image from behind.
 
The Kingston Photographic Club has been around for 50 years. This year, it has about 85 adult members of all ages, but mostly “a lotta grey”, says Bruce Millen, who is in charge of the annual exhibition. The club meets twice a month from September to May, hosts 12 speakers, organizes outings, and launches three competitions a year. Like most other members, Bruce enjoys the interaction and feedback that the club provides. Visitors to this juried exhibition will be encouraged to vote for their favourite photo, and awards for the top three will be given out at a club meeting after the show. Winners will be announced in this blog.

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​As I’m leaving the gallery, a cadre of mostly masculine members of the club arrives to help out, while Clive’s meticulous preparations continue. “I’m a scientist,” he explains. Precision matters, and hanging will go that much more smoothly. The exhibition continues until April 28, with a reception on Sunday, April 8, from 1 to 4pm.

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