ASHBY — Ashby-based photographer, Joseph Cantor, has had a camera in his hands since he “borrowed” his dad’s Canon AE back in the 1970s (a camera he still has some 45 years later).
After obtaining a degree in Technical Photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Cantor bega honing his technical skills and “photographic” eye – something that he will tell you is far more difficult, as he explains to his students.
Cantor teaches a photography class at the Ashby Free Public Library twice a month.
He is excited to share his work with the community through his exhibit titled “Impressions – An Ongoing Journey” on display now through the end of December at the Gallery of Art, located in the library at 812 Main St.
Cantor has spent the majority of his photographic years focused on capturing the natural world, specifically the interplay of light and shadow, and displaying the technical mastery he gained from his schooling and years behind the lens. Currently, he works as a photographic artist and as an event photographer, specializing in equine and pet photography, where he is the owner of Through the Lens Equine & Pet Photography.
Starting in 2020, Cantor began pursuing a passion project, to take his technical mastery of photographic exposure, composition, and lighting and venture out into a new way of not only seeing his subjects but also a new process of creating the final images. The results of this process, which is ongoing, are images that blur the lines between photograph and painting, between detail and softness, and between documentary and surreal visions.
Starting as an original photograph, and through various digital painting techniques, Canto gives each piece a painterly quality that retains some of the details and technical mastery of the original photograph, but also adds a softness and depth not typically seen in a photograph.
Printing onto gallery canvas adds a sense of depth and texture that mimics an impasto painting technique, Cantor said.
“I truly love working with the unpredictability, high energy and often challenging task of photographing animals and humans, in either natural or action settings,” said Cantor. “I love capturing those candid moments that happen when you simply let nature do its thing.”
For more information, visit the Ashby Free Public Library’s website at ashbylibrary.org or call 978-386-5377.