Attendees study the work of photographer Pollyanne McKillop of Brighton on Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – “Pathways to the Self,” an exhibit featuring the work of four photographers, runs through Feb. 27 at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave.
Through their work, photographers Joel Geffen of Dexter, Tim Haber of Livonia, Pollyanne McKillop of Brighton and Pamela Sayre of Dearborn share their creative journeys and reveal why they photograph what they do.
They participate in the Pathways group, which is dedicated to helping photographers reach their fullest potential through self-reflection, education, shared ideas and experiences, and portfolio exhibitions.
Photographer Tim Haber of Livonia poses with his work, “A Play in Time” (left), “On a Thursday” and “A Presence” Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Haber said Pathways is about exploring themselves and why they photograph the subjects they capture with their lens.
“Over the years, it’s a matter of just really digging deeper, deeper and deeper into your soul,” he said. “There is a lot to unravel to come up with why we’re photographing what we photograph.”
Haber said his current exhibit at the Woodyard Gallery, “Revelations,” consists of nature abstracts. He said the leaves, flowers and wind chimes become abstracts through the streaking caused by the motion when they were photographed.
“I experiment, mostly nature and abstracts,” he said. “I find it fun, I find it exhilarating, especially if I come up with some pictures that excite me internally.”
Haber said his career in graphic arts led to his work in photography.
“It’s really an exploration for me,” he said. “It’s something new I came across when I was sitting on the front porch and I saw the leaves swaying in the breeze, heard the birds chirping and saw the sun hitting the leaves, so I got my camera out and decided to take longer exposures to capture the movement, not just the static, of the leaves and the wind chimes.”
Photographer Pamela Sayre of Dearborn poses by her work “Summer Shimmer” (left) and “Looking Down” Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Sayre said her exhibit, “One Good Thing,” grew from her personal choice 33 years ago to look for at least one positive aspect in each day.
She began exhibiting through the Artists Society of Dearborn, and from there joined Pathways about eight years ago.
Sayres said that while patterns attract her, she is most drawn to color.
“A lot of the patterns have an historic dimension to them also,” she said. “I am an historian by training and I was a history professor at Henry Ford Community College for 25-and-a-half years, but I also like the patterns and the colors. It all speaks to me.”
Photographer Pollyanne McKillop (right) of Brighton speaks with attendees Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
McKillop said when she is taking photographs, it removes her temporarily from the pain she experiences in her life.
She learned photography from her father when she was 7, and it was something they shared together.
“I tend to take nature shots, and I tend to take them close up,” McKillop said. “I have a lot of pain, and I am in pain most days. I broke my back in two places when I was 20, and there are only a couple of things that will transcend the pain for me: One is water, as gravity is no longer a factor, photography for whatever reason in nature, and tap dancing. It doesn’t make any sense, right?”
Photographer Joel Geffen of Dexter poses by his work “Liquid Sunshine” Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
Geffen also started exploring photography in his youth, first using a camera when he was 12 years old.
“My father gave me an old Kodak Duaflex, which is an ancient film camera, with a big silver flash on the top that you screw in the side and you screw in the light bulb,” he said. “I used it like any kid would: I photographed my dog, I photographed the trees in the yard, things like that – just normal things in your life.”
Geffen said he does two different types of photography: abstractions, because he is attracted to small things, and he captures the light, pattern and texture, and he doesn’t want distractions on the edges of things.
He said he is also drawn to color, having grown up in southern Florida with its brilliant sunrises and sunsets, and is still attracted to those color palettes.
Geffen’s favorite photo on display, “Liquid Sunshine,” was taken from a hotel room window on the Gulf coast of Florida during a rainstorm, capturing the rivulets of rain on the window and the bright lights of another hotel across the parking lot.
The “Pathways” photographs will be on display through Feb. 27 during Henry Ford Centennial Library hours on the ground floor EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery.
Pianist William Bennett of Dexter plays Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.
The work of photographer Joel Geffen of Dexter shares a field of view with epicurean art Jan. 15 during the opening reception of the “Pathways to the Self” exhibit at the EmmaJean Woodyard Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn.