In A Different Light
Rich Bergeman, Phil Coleman, Sandi O’Brien, Jack Larson, Paul Barden

February 23 – March 23, 2018
Opening reception: Friday, February 23, 6-8 pm
Artists’ Panel Discussion: Thursday, March 8, 6-7:30 pm

Maude Kerns Art Center
1910 E. 15th Ave.
Eugene, Ore. 97403
(541) 345-1571
www.mkartcenter.org
Hours: Tues-Fri, 10 am – 5:30 pm; Sat, 12 – 4 pm

Five Willamette Valley photographers will show recent infrared images in and exhibit titled “In a Different Light.” The exhibit takes its name from the fact that infrared photography sees the world in a way that is not visible to the naked eye. Infrared light lies just above the visible spectrum, between 700 and 900 nanometers (nm) in wave length, whereas the human eye is sensitive from about 400nm (blue) to about 700nm (red). But even though the higher infrared range doesn’t register with our eyes, it can be recorded with special black-and-white films and with converted digital imaging sensors. Examples of both techniques are represented in the show.

“The world of infrared is quite different from what we’re used to seeing,” said Rich Bergeman, who brought the photographers together for the exhibit. “It can create surreal, dream-like images, while in other cases it produces a more subtle shift in tones.”

In the natural landscape, most organic objects, especially plants, reflect more infrared light than do inorganic things like water, rocks and the sky. In black-and-white IR photography, this usually results in dramatic skies and snowy-looking landscapes. In color infra-red photographs, blues often dominate, and the effects are even more pronounced where ever sunlight strikes.
Each of the photographers in the show has decades of experience with various forms of photography. Some began exploring infrared in the past decade after converting digital cameras to record IR light, while others have been using black-and-white infrared film for many years.

The photographers will talk about their work at a panel discussion on Thursday March 8 from 6-7:30 pm in the arts center.