The "All About Paper" photography group presents an exhibit of black-and-white photographs in the downstairs Weston Gallery during the month of August, 2017.  The group will be on hand to answer questions and talk to prospective members at a reception on Tuesday, August 8th at 6:30 PM.  All are welcome to attend!

In January 2012 Catherine Pagano began the All About Paper's Photo Enthusiasts Group for the purpose of bringing like-minded, amateur photographers together. We challenge ourselves to learn more about what our cameras can do for us, in a non-competitive environment. There are no experts in our group; most of us have basic "point and click" cameras. All of us enjoy challenging ourselves to take pictures out of our comfort zones.

Each month Catherine gives a specific challenge to the members. Sometimes the challenge is to utilize a specific technique or function on their cameras; other times the challenge is for a specific subject matter, etc. Then each member is asked to edit their own work and bring their best 3 shots for that month's challenge to the monthly meeting. We share these pictures with all the tips, tricks and techniques about how we obtained these shots. We talk about problems and outside challenges that presented themselves during our picture taking. We help each other find functions on our cameras that we did not know how to effectively use before. It's an environment of sharing and learning.

There is no special requirement to join our group except to have a camera and the enthusiasm to experiment with photography, learn more about your camera and challenge yourself to take better and more interesting pictures beyond your comfort zone.

There is no fee to join. You do not need to attend meetings. You can follow along with each month's challenge by logging onto www.allaboutpaperllc.blogspot.com.

Be as active and involved as you want to be. Only you can motivate yourself to just get out there and take those pictures!

We are pleased to present this month an exhibit of black and white photographs of New England barns by Dover artist Carol Van Loon.  She will be here on Monday evening, June 19th at 6:30 PM to talk about her work and meet with those who would like to learn more about her craft.  All are welcome, with light refreshments provided.

Carol started photographing on a farm in western New York state while in high school. She received a degree in photography from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. A project manager for a retail design company in Portsmouth she also manages the photography galleries at Camera Commons in Dover.

Moving to the seacoast in 1988 from Colorado she is very involved with the arts scene in the area. She is a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, New Hampshire Art Association and New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists. She is a past president of the New Hampshire Art Association and Exeter Fine Arts boards.

Some notes on her current exhibit:

"My family farm is gone. As a child I learned how to see there: wheat swaying in the breeze, the many textures of the vegetable garden, a cow’s long eye lashes, aged wood fences, trees and lots of rocks.

I stopped photographing after the death of my mother and a dear friend, months apart. Deep in grief and ungrounded, I feared I wouldn’t create any new images for a long time. Then, unplanned, I took a journey back to my roots, the landscape of my youth. I began photographing barns.

It all started with a snowy barn I seen so many times before but never photographed. I stopped and made an image. Many more images of barns were to follow as I wandered through the farmlands of western New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Driving along back roads and breathing in the familiar smells of my childhood I began to remember my stories, stories I rarely told. It slowly  came to me that as much as I had strayed from my beginnings, the sensibilities that were formed there could lead me to the next chapter of my life.

I present these images as a homage to the gifts my parents gave me, the farm I grew up on and the vanishing landscape of my childhood."

Wondering why your photos don't turn out exactly as you planned?  Want to be a better "family photographer"?  Looking to explore the capablilties of your 'phone camera or shiny new DSLR?  Look no further.  Local photographer Matt Parker will present a 2 hour workshop titled Making Photos Work 101 on Tuesday, May 30th from 6 - 8 PM in the downstairs Lane Room.  The workshop is free of charge, and those who attend will learn about:

• Types of Photography
• Camera Basics
• Light
• Artistic fundamentlas
• Computer / Software
• Accessories
• Preparation
• Event Photography

Matt Parker Is a part-time freelance sports and event photographer from the Seacoast area. When not working as an Applications Engineer at QA Technology in Hampton he is covering events for Friends and Family along with Seacoast Media Groups local papers and web site seacoastonline. Examples of his work can be found at www.mattparkerphotos.com.

Matt and his wife Lisa have 4 children and reside in Hampton, NH.

Matt was exposed to photography thru his Mother who was a freelance reporter for the Goffstown News in the 70’s and his Father and Grandfather(s) who had a camera in-hand for every occasion. Going to High School in the late 70's-early 80's sparked a renewed interest in photography from a Graphic Arts class that included basic camera instruction and film developing.

His current photography phase started when cameras went digital and his children became involved in local sporting events.

On Saturday, April 15 from 1 pm to 4 pm, artist Marina Forbes will present her workshop Faberge Eggs: From Fine Art to Fine Craft in the downstairs Lane Room.  This unique program combines a beautifully illustrated presentation on the life and remarkable work of Russian master jeweled egg artist, Peter Carl Faberge, with a hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to render a variety of delightful images on wooden eggs. This workshop is open to adults, teens, and families with children 6 and up. Participants will be inspired by a spectacular photo-tour of the Faberge collections at the Faberge Museum at the Shuvalov Palace in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin Armory Museum in Moscow. The program is free to attend and there is a materials fee of $5. per egg for anyone participating in the hands-on component of the program. This fee covers the cost of the wooden egg and stand as well as the paints and brushes for the workshop.
 
Presenter Marina Forbes is a lecturer, historian and award-winning artist, Master Iconographer (2013, 2014 and 2015 awards for Artistic Excellence granted by The National Endowment for the Arts and The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts) who has lectured extensively on Russian traditional arts, history and the rich tapestry of Russian culture. She is a speaker on Russian Arts, History, and Culture with the NH Humanities Council. Each year, Marina leads cultural tours to Russia where she regularly updates her scholarship.

Attendance will be limited to 30 participants, so please pre-register at the Lane Memorial Library Children's Room or call (603) 926-3368 and ask for the Children's Desk