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A new exhibit titled “City and Shore” is now on display at the D’Arrigo Family Gallery at the Hafter Student Community Center on the Salus University Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus.
The two-person show features black and white photos taken in Philadelphia by John Benigno and color photos of Long Beach Island, New Jersey, taken by Eric Schaeffer.
“I love the contrast between these two master photographers’ work. Black and white vs. highly colorful, the human-made tangibility of architecture vs. the awe-inspiring changes throughout the day in the openness of the natural seascape,” said Elynne Rosenfeld, the gallery’s curator. “Benigno makes us pause and look carefully at the details of things we often take for granted when walking about the city. Schaeffer makes us pause and look carefully at the nuances of the deceptively still.”
Benigno is a fine art/documentary photographer. Place is an important theme in his work. His awareness of place comes from his early training in the Social Sciences, especially History and Anthropology.
“My purpose is not to make accurate architectural or historical photographs,” said Benigno. “What is important to me is how the textures of all the varying motifs blend together to create an urban landscape of infinite interest and beauty.”
His work has been collected by the Berman, Woodmere, Lancaster, and Noyes Museums, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin, and the State Museum of Pennsylvania. It has been published in "Camera Arts” and the "Antietam Review."
Schaeffer has always been interested in art and image-making. He was introduced to photography in high school and became a photographer for his school newspaper. In college, he was introduced to theater and became involved in set design. He put his photography on hold while going to work full-time in theater and raising his family. After retiring from theater some 30 years later, he has returned to photography, particularly using his cell phone camera.
“As the saying goes, ‘The best camera to use is the one you have with you.’ Since I always have my cell phone with me, it’s easy to pull out and shoot a scene that I happen upon,” said Schaeffer. “This improvisational aspect of cell phone photography is something that I enjoy exploring. Cell phone cameras may not be the best for all types of photography but within its range I find it produces wonderful photos.”
