The Elliot Gallery and the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation have existed less than a year, but already they have developed a reputation for innovative and exciting art exhibitions. Recently, the gallery organised what is possibly, its most unique show to date.

On Friday, October 5, the gallery hosted a one evening invitational photography show. The artists participating were, Antoine Hunt, Ann Spurling, Catherine Finsness, Charlie Anderson, Amanda Temple, James Cooper, Al Dounouk, Meredith Andrews, Sacha Blackburne, Jordon Harris and Owen Evans.

The event's main purpose was to get audience participation in selecting 14 photographs for the upcoming Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation calendar. Each visitor to the gallery was asked to vote for 14 favourite photographs, which, when all the votes are tabulated, will determine the pictures to go in the calendar.

Each photographer was asked to capture anything in Bermuda that caught their imagination during a single 24-hour period between October 2 and 5. The photographers were limited to five submissions, 12 x 10 inches in a horizontal axis. Some evidently forgot the latter requirement, for a few pictures had a vertical axis.

Since most of the photographers are professionals, the quality was high. But the week assigned for picture taking turned out to be rainy. I overheard one participant say that she had been taking pictures of puddles.

As I walked the exhibition, a number of general impressions impacted my mind. Although the themes were varied, the general colour range and overall tonalities had a sameness, undoubtedly reflecting the weather under which the photographers had to work.

There was one notable exception, however.

The photographs of Catherine Finsness stood out, particularly because of the bright colours she somehow managed to find during that very rainy, overcast week. In one instance, her photograph was made up of three primary colours — yellow, red and blue — with yellow dominating. The photo consists of legs and feet of someone ascending a very yellow climbing wall. Her pictures exude a sense of joy and fun.

Another eye-catching picture by Ms Finsness was a beach scene in rain, with a girl walking with a bright red umbrella. The underlying drabness provided a useful foil for the red.

I understand that Ms Finsness is the only non-professional in the group. She is still a student at the Bermuda High School, nevertheless, she has a good eye for composition and definitely for colour

Charlie Anderson's pictures also have a certain brightness, usually with one dominating colour, plus small touches of another. The one that many favoured was mostly green with touches of white. Anderson's work tends to the abstract, although

I thought I could identify the underlying subject. In one case, his picture was mostly red, but with a few areas of white or blue. I think he was working with a Bermuda flag, but really his work is a study in motion.

It seems he either moves the camera while taking the photo, or possibly it was the subject that was moving. No matter, it is still a depiction of movement, thus the abstractness. None of the pictures have titles, so it is difficult to direct you to any specific photo without giving a detailed description.

Other photos that caught my attention were Antoine Hunt's 'Turnstones', Amanda Temple's 'Reflections in a Puddle', Owen Evans'; Johnny Barnes', Ann Spurling's 'School Girl', and Al Dounouk's 'portrait of Caroline Troncossi painting'. (Note; what I have written that may appear as titles, are merely my brief descriptions to help me remember the appearance of each photo.)

Because the directors of the KAF wanted the audience to pick their favourites, the photos were exhibited without names, only numbers. I had to do some tall talking, to get them to let me have the names; they conceded only after I too, had selected my 14 favourites.

Although this exhibition was only a one-night affair, the 2008 calendar, will be available in the near future, so if you did not see the show, you can, at least see what the consensus was of those who attended this event.