Naturescapes
1570 Gallery at Valley Manor
1570 East Avenue
Feb 6, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Naturescapes, a display of photography by Peter Blackwood.

Peter Blackwood has combined his love of the outdoors with a lifetime of learning photography to become a skilled artisan portraying the natural world.  Born in Upstate New York to parents who photographed both professionally and casually, Peter learned darkroom skills at an early age and has worked extensively in both black and white and color photography.

Beginning in the late 1970’s he perfected his darkroom skills working exclusively with black and white images, attaining awards from the yearly Kodak KINSA contest as well as the New York State Fair.  Interest in creating images was renewed with the digital revolution, providing a desktop darkroom to work in.

With frequent forays via foot and kayak, the Finger Lakes and the Adirondack Mountains are depicted intimately and on a grand scale.  Visits to the Rainbow River in Florida and the American Southwest have added variety to the locales he’s photographed.  Landscapes, flora and fauna come to life in the images which capture those fleeting moments of beauty in nature.  Images range from broad landscapes to extreme close-ups.  As an active member of the Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of Science, Peter has also photographed the night sky and our Milky Way.

In the past 10 years Peter has presented eight annual solo exhibits at the Wood Library in Canandaigua, where he has also taught digital photography.  He has exhibited at several Finger Lakes wineries and a micro-brewery, Canandaigua National Bank, Strong Memorial Hospital, Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, Main Street Arts Gallery in Clifton Springs, My Sister’s Gallery at The Episcopal Church Home, and Image City Gallery where he recently won a ‘Partner’s Choice’ award. He currently exhibits at the Finger Lakes Gallery and Frame in Canandaigua.

Peter is a member of the Ontario County Arts Council rotating artists group, and recently won the ‘Best Photography’ ribbon at the juried ‘Springtime In Canandaigua and Canandaigua’s Christkindl Market Events.  Written about in the national photography magazine Shutterbug, Peter was acclaimed for his “strong composition’, and “care and passion for his craft”.

Images for this exhibit are captured using Canon digital cameras and lenses.  Prints are made using Epson pigment based ink for longevity and Ilford printing paper for beauty.