By Lian Bunny
News Editor
The Image City Photography Gallery in Rochester, N.Y. has accepted three of Dr. Charles Walker’s photographs for display at the juried Magic of Light exhibit, which runs through Jan. 20.
According to Walker, a psychology professor, the gallery chose three of the four images he sent. The museum sold one of the photos within the first hour of the exhibit. Walker was able to meet the buyer.
A panel of five professional photographers and artists chose the selections.
Image City Photography Gallery exists to broaden the public’s awareness and interest in photography. It offers photographic artists the ability to rent exhibition space for their work.
Walker has been an amateur photographer since 1971. He primarily uses a Nikon D700; however, he said he also uses a smaller Olympus camera. Although he took a few classes from the Nikon School, an online photography school, Walker said his photography knowledge has been mostly self-taught.
Walker relates his hobby of photography to his profession, psychology.
“It relates in many, many ways, from sensation and perception to social relations to spirituality,” Walker said. “My top strength, according to the University of Pennsylvania’s signature strength inventory is ‘appreciation of beauty and excellence.’ If I were not a social scientist, I like to believe I’d probably be a National Geographic photographer. Steve McCurry is one of my heroes.”
Each of Walker’s chosen pictures features nature. One shows a path through the Allegheny forest during the fall, including red leaves and an early snowfall. Another captures a wild trillium under morning light. According to Walker, he was studying dark green, black and radiant white. The last picture shows ice on Quaker Lake, an abstract photo of blue water, white ice and bronze reflections.
“I try to capture elegance and beauty in ordinary things,” Walker said. “Someone who saw my exhibit at the Cuba Library said, ‘I didn’t know such beauty existed around me.’ I was pleased to hear this.”
Walker has visited Rochester and toured galleries and museums there. He said he particularly liked Image City, because the curator loves photography and it shows in the gallery.
Walker’s advice to fellow photographers is to “take risks, trust your intuition and instincts.”
