By Kathy L. Collins
Almost everyone has a smart phone with camera capability built in to the device. As such, anyone can take photographs anywhere these days. A lot of photographs that might not otherwise be taken due to the lack of a camera, are now being captured.
It is for this reason that the John Crawford Advisory Board at the SouthShore Regional Library in Ruskin decided to hold a Smart phone Photo Exhibition. Now through August 30, you can see some stunning and spectacular photographs taken by an array of local residents who are both professional and amateur photographers.
Laurie Burhop is the Art Coordinator for the John Crawford Studio at the SouthShore Regional Library. Burhop said, “This is the first time that we decided to hold this kind of show. We did not know what to expect.” Burhop added, “We decided to do this because everyone now uses their phone to take photographs. We have been pleasantly surprised by both the interest in such a show and the caliber of the photographs.”
The photographers whose work was elected for the show have different backgrounds and interests, all of which is reflected in their photographs. Trish Ellingsworth is a Pre-school Teacher who enjoys taking pictures of things she likes. Donovan Evans is an artist whose main tool is photography. Heather Hanks is a Photography Teacher at Bloomingdale High School. Suzanne Austin-Hill is retired and calls herself a “photo-opportunist” taking photographs of scenes that speak to her heart. Stan Lipski is a freelance photographer who has had his photographs published in several magazines. Catherine Pickard is a student at Bloomingdale High School. Jeanine Tatlock is a student at New College of Florida in Sarasota.
Burhop said, “It is interesting to see the approach of each of the photographers through their eyes.” Burhop added, “Some of the photographs are traditional while others took artistic liberty with editing their photographs and created some interesting photographs.”
The SouthShore Regional Library is located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin. For more information on the Smart phone Photo Exhibition or on any upcoming exhibitions, please contact the library at 273-3652.
