MONROE - "The Pinhole Thing" is a collection of photographs by Madison photographer Cameron Gillie, as taken with a pinhole camera. The photographs will be on exhibit from Friday through Oct. 23 at the Monroe Arts Center Frehner Gallery, 1315 11th St.
Regarding the use of a pinhole camera, Gillie said, "I have gone back to the basics."
His pinhole cameras are nothing more than a light-tight box with a tiny hole that projects an image on film. There is no lens and no viewfinder.
A pinhole camera boils photography down to its simplest components: light and composition, a huge contrast to today's digital photography.
A former photojournalist, Gillie worked with digital photography since its very beginning. In contrast, his pinhole cameras are the oldest form of photography.
"The limitations and simplicity of the pinhole camera make photography new again for me, and this simplicity has taught me a lot about photography and the way I see the world," Gillie said.
Gillie's passion in photography has always been photographing the wonders of the natural world that we all are so closely intertwined with, but in day-to-day life between work and home, rarely stop to appreciate. In his childhood days, before careers, bills and mortgages, Gillie was always drawn to "the woods" behind his house on the farm exploring the Two Rivers in northern Minnesota. The first roll of film he shot was with an antique Kodak Brownie walking the frozen snowy riverbed that ran through his backyard.
From that start, his career pursuits took him to the Colorado Institute of Art to earn a degree in photography and to his first newspaper job at the Greeley Tribune. From there he moved to Naples, Florida to work at the Naples Daily News where the Everglades sparked his inspiration to explore again. His first big project at the Naples Daily News was to canoe the "Wilderness Waterway" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Everglades National Park. That 100-mile, eight-day wilderness trip started what would become an infatuation for Gillie with that remarkable place.
Gillie has photographed countless subjects on four continents, everything from everyday life, professional sports, riots and weddings.
"I feel I am coming full circle to that day my dad loaded a roll of film in his old Brownie, and I trudged through the snow photographing the river behind our house." Gillie said. "I'm back photographing the quiet places that renew the soul."
Gille will also serve as the judge for MAC's 26th Annual Photography Contest. This annual competition features the work of both adult and junior nonprofessional photographers. Best of Show, first runner-up and second runner-up cash and ribbon awards will be given to photographers in both the adult and junior classifications. This exhibit will be on display in MAC's Wesley Hall Friday through Oct. 23.
Opening receptions for both exhibits are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in Frehner Gallery. A brief gallery talk by Gillie begins at 5:30 p.m. Winners in the 26th Annual Photography Contest will be announced and awards given out at 6 p.m. The free event is open to the public.
Frehner Gallery exhibits are made possible by MAC corporate underwriter Colony Brands Inc., and Season media underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC and Big Radio, with additional support from Michael and Shelley Muranyi, Paul and Sue Barrett, Kevin and Chris Callahan, and Lee and Chris Knuteson.
Regarding the use of a pinhole camera, Gillie said, "I have gone back to the basics."
His pinhole cameras are nothing more than a light-tight box with a tiny hole that projects an image on film. There is no lens and no viewfinder.
A pinhole camera boils photography down to its simplest components: light and composition, a huge contrast to today's digital photography.
A former photojournalist, Gillie worked with digital photography since its very beginning. In contrast, his pinhole cameras are the oldest form of photography.
"The limitations and simplicity of the pinhole camera make photography new again for me, and this simplicity has taught me a lot about photography and the way I see the world," Gillie said.
Gillie's passion in photography has always been photographing the wonders of the natural world that we all are so closely intertwined with, but in day-to-day life between work and home, rarely stop to appreciate. In his childhood days, before careers, bills and mortgages, Gillie was always drawn to "the woods" behind his house on the farm exploring the Two Rivers in northern Minnesota. The first roll of film he shot was with an antique Kodak Brownie walking the frozen snowy riverbed that ran through his backyard.
From that start, his career pursuits took him to the Colorado Institute of Art to earn a degree in photography and to his first newspaper job at the Greeley Tribune. From there he moved to Naples, Florida to work at the Naples Daily News where the Everglades sparked his inspiration to explore again. His first big project at the Naples Daily News was to canoe the "Wilderness Waterway" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Everglades National Park. That 100-mile, eight-day wilderness trip started what would become an infatuation for Gillie with that remarkable place.
Gillie has photographed countless subjects on four continents, everything from everyday life, professional sports, riots and weddings.
"I feel I am coming full circle to that day my dad loaded a roll of film in his old Brownie, and I trudged through the snow photographing the river behind our house." Gillie said. "I'm back photographing the quiet places that renew the soul."
Gille will also serve as the judge for MAC's 26th Annual Photography Contest. This annual competition features the work of both adult and junior nonprofessional photographers. Best of Show, first runner-up and second runner-up cash and ribbon awards will be given to photographers in both the adult and junior classifications. This exhibit will be on display in MAC's Wesley Hall Friday through Oct. 23.
Opening receptions for both exhibits are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in Frehner Gallery. A brief gallery talk by Gillie begins at 5:30 p.m. Winners in the 26th Annual Photography Contest will be announced and awards given out at 6 p.m. The free event is open to the public.
Frehner Gallery exhibits are made possible by MAC corporate underwriter Colony Brands Inc., and Season media underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC and Big Radio, with additional support from Michael and Shelley Muranyi, Paul and Sue Barrett, Kevin and Chris Callahan, and Lee and Chris Knuteson.