“I was literally and
figuratively blown away during my recent visit to Death Valley
National Park,” says Tom Dwyer, a Gallery 54 photography artist. “I
traveled to the famous park in Southern California, and just north
and west of Las Vegas, NV for a photography class being conducted by
noted photography artist Guy Tal. I had little real interest in the
park itself,” Dwyer notes, “until the 115 mile drive from Las
Vegas to Stovepipe Wells Village in the park changed all that.”
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| Mosaic Canyon |
He
was blown away by the “park's grandeur, vastness, and
peacefulness,” he says adding, “ I quickly felt challenged to try
and capture as much of the 5,000 square mile park's character as I
could in my brief visit.” Thus the name for Dwyer's show opening
May 5 at Gallery 54, Peaceful
Valley – one man's visit to Death Valley National Park.
Dwyer's
photography has been part Gallery 54 for almost five years. “It's a
misnomer,” he says, “to suggest that I've been self taught,
despite the fact that I don't have any formal education in
photography. But, in reality we are all taught by those who have gone
before us as well as others who are running the same race we are.”
He says he's been fortunate to be able to learn from classes and
workshops conducted by top nature photographers including luminaries
like Guy Tal, George Lepp, and Margo Pinkerton.
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| Mesquite Sand Dunes |
“I
think we also have to recognize the impact of photographs we see in
magazines, in galleries like Gallery 54, at art shows and in the work
of fellow photographers on our own efforts,” he says.
Besides
his photography, Dwyer is known for the photography workshops he
leads, primarily in the Fingerlakes and Adirondack regions of New
York. “We can't forget that as workshop leaders, we also benefit
from each workshop we conduct because of our exposure to the work of
students and the opportunity the workshops present for us to help
others stretch in their photography . . . which often leads to
learning opportunities for us as well,” he notes.
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| Ubehebe Crater |
Dwyer's
photography has been featured in venues as diverse as the Image City
Photography Gallery in Rochester, NY; the Adirondack Museum in Blue
Mountain Lake, NY; and galleries and stores through-out upstate New
York.
The
Death Valley images that Dwyer will exhibit will all be available for
purchase as custom giclee´ prints as well as for custom framing.
Gallery
54 will open Peaceful
Valley – one man's visit to Death Valley National Park from
5 to 8 pm on Friday, May 5. The special show will run through the end
of May.
Toro
RunWinery from Ovid, NY is scheduled to conduct wine tastings during
the show opening and light refreshments will be served. Gallery 54 is
an upscale venue for Central New York artists that showcases and
sells unique, inspired, and timeless art in a diversity of mediums.
