Reading between the lines requires the abilities of observation and insight. Both of these elements come into play with the photography exhibit Between the Lines, which was held at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library, for the month of October.
“When we take the time to look between the lines, we see the details we had missed, the mysteries that reveal themselves when colour, form, or texture becomes apparent,” states the promotional postcard for the event. The exhibit features the photography of Simon Carter and Karen Flanagan McCarthy, who share a common passion for nature. It is the second time the two friends have collaborated. Their first exhibit, The Middle Distance, was held in May at the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli.
Whether created in the Ottawa-Gatineau area or as far afield as England and Morocco, these 25 images from all seasons draw you in and make you want to look closer. Both photographers present landscapes as well as close-ups of natural images ranging from spider webs to icicles. While Carter excels at capturing subtle textures and forms, some of the more dramatic images belong to Flanagan McCarthy.
Carter is adept at capturing the gentle motion of grasses, plants, and water. I Have Seen the Wind depicts grass blowing in the breeze at the water’s edge, while Silk Float details the water’s patterns at Britannia Park. His perspective shifts with Between my Feet, a macro view of a solitary leaf trapped between two floorboards of the Wakefield Bridge, and Depth of Field, a view of the shoreline taken from a canoe. The strongest landscapes are Carter’s Long Shadows, which features blue shadows on snow at Mer Bleue (a local conservation area), and Flanagan McCarthy’s Tides and Time, showing us longitudinal rocks that stretch into the sea from the English coastline.
Flanagan McCarthy’s close-ups of wild and garden flowers include Party Dress, a purple bloom shot in Cape Breton, and Buddha’s Silent Sermon, a macro-photography view of a nascent pink bud. Some of her magical images are Anansi’s Necklace, a spider web with strongly delineated water drops, and the enchanting Hobbit’s Portal, shot on the Southwest Coastal Path in Devon, England. One of the strongest images is Dentelliére (The Lacemaker). The image appears to be delicate ferns covered with frost and frozen into curlicue shapes are actually just ice crystals on Flanagan McCarthy’s windowpane.
Both photographers captured some common objects such as textured tree bark and forest fungi. Carter and Flanagan McCarthy hope to continue their collaborative shows and it will be interesting to see what themes will emerge in future exhibitions.
“When we take the time to look between the lines, we see the details we had missed, the mysteries that reveal themselves when colour, form, or texture becomes apparent,” states the promotional postcard for the event. The exhibit features the photography of Simon Carter and Karen Flanagan McCarthy, who share a common passion for nature. It is the second time the two friends have collaborated. Their first exhibit, The Middle Distance, was held in May at the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli.
Whether created in the Ottawa-Gatineau area or as far afield as England and Morocco, these 25 images from all seasons draw you in and make you want to look closer. Both photographers present landscapes as well as close-ups of natural images ranging from spider webs to icicles. While Carter excels at capturing subtle textures and forms, some of the more dramatic images belong to Flanagan McCarthy.
Carter is adept at capturing the gentle motion of grasses, plants, and water. I Have Seen the Wind depicts grass blowing in the breeze at the water’s edge, while Silk Float details the water’s patterns at Britannia Park. His perspective shifts with Between my Feet, a macro view of a solitary leaf trapped between two floorboards of the Wakefield Bridge, and Depth of Field, a view of the shoreline taken from a canoe. The strongest landscapes are Carter’s Long Shadows, which features blue shadows on snow at Mer Bleue (a local conservation area), and Flanagan McCarthy’s Tides and Time, showing us longitudinal rocks that stretch into the sea from the English coastline.
Flanagan McCarthy’s close-ups of wild and garden flowers include Party Dress, a purple bloom shot in Cape Breton, and Buddha’s Silent Sermon, a macro-photography view of a nascent pink bud. Some of her magical images are Anansi’s Necklace, a spider web with strongly delineated water drops, and the enchanting Hobbit’s Portal, shot on the Southwest Coastal Path in Devon, England. One of the strongest images is Dentelliére (The Lacemaker). The image appears to be delicate ferns covered with frost and frozen into curlicue shapes are actually just ice crystals on Flanagan McCarthy’s windowpane.
Both photographers captured some common objects such as textured tree bark and forest fungi. Carter and Flanagan McCarthy hope to continue their collaborative shows and it will be interesting to see what themes will emerge in future exhibitions.
