March 1, 2011 Stanly News & Press
Anyone who appreciates the picturesque Uwharrie landscape is in for a real treat in March 1-31, when The Stanly County Agri-Civic Center hosts an exhibition by Deb Russell, known locally for her breathtaking photographic imagery of Lake Tillery and the Pee Dee River Basin.
Hosted by the Stanly Arts Guild, in cooperation with Falling Rivers Gallery, the exhibit features two of Deb's metallic gallery wraps on loan from HD Photo Lab. Their glossy finish and metallic appearance result in striking three-dimensional imagery. Photographers often describe the effect as "chrome on paper."
Deb grew up just a few miles away from the lake in Mount Gilead and considers the area her "home turf." She has seen her beloved Lake Tillery change over the years. It's no longer the quiet, sparsely developed river of her youth, when most houses along its shores were simple weekend river cabins. Gone are the days when weekday boating could mean a long paddle to the shore if you ran out of gas.
Through her imagery, Deb hopes to convey – and, perhaps, to recapture – the quiet harmony and mystery of Lake Tillery, to remind busy Sunday afternoon boaters of the majesty of "our river."
"For those with a life-long appreciation of this stretch of the Pee Dee River, I want to confirm that your river is still beautiful," she says. "For everyone, I hope there can be a renewed or continued desire to preserve that which is close to us, so precious and delicate, and so critical to our way of life."
Deb has worked at Bullock Professional, a pro lab in Albemarle, for the last 12 years. In that time she has complemented her artistic instincts with refined editing and post-processing skills that help her turn ordinary photographs into art.
"The masters canvas product is great for my landscapes because the Kodak metallic paper is 'right out there,' behind no framing glass, allowing the room light to play with all the vibrant color, contrast and depth in the paper," she says. "In one of my graphic bridge shots, the morning sun hitting the glistening water is so much more enhanced by the reflective properties of the metallic paper. It brings additional life and pop to the sunlight as the viewer moves to examine at different angles. I know I smiled when I first saw that one in the lab."
All photographs in the exhibit are available for sale by contacting Anita Ammerman of the Stanly Arts Guild (704) 982-0924, or by contacting Deb Russell through Deb Russell Photographic.com. More of Deb’s art, including her book, are on display at Falling Rivers Gallery, a cooperative of local artists, in downtown Albemarle.
