Professional photographers' Biennial opens this evening

Eleven photographers, some of whom have never exhibited before, are participating in the Bermuda Professional Photographers Association Biennial (BPPA) which opens this evening in the main gallery and studios A and B of the Bermuda Society of Arts.

It is the fourth exhibition and third Biennial mounted by the organistion, the first of which the late renowned Bermudian and Life magazine photographer Richard Saunders helped to set up, initially as a vehicle to assist local professional photographers fin finding employment in the Bermuda market.

"A wide variety of work is being shown – everything from photo journalism to 'I swear to God that is a canvas'," BPPA executive member and show curator, Graeme Outerbridge, says. "It is not a juried show, and the work is for sale."

Originally, it was hoped to alternate the Biennial with an International Press Photography Exhibition featuring the work of award-winning professionals, but the latter proved impossible due to a lack of adequate gallery space anywhere on the Island.

Undaunted, Mr. Outerbridge says the BPPA will be looking into featuring the international exhibition sometime in the future, "in much in the same way as the Bermuda National Gallery has brought in the Bill Brandt exhibition for Bermudians to enjoy".

Meanwhile, participating photographers in the BPPA Biennial are: Chris Burville, Mark Emmerson, Scott Hill, Gavin Howarth, Graeme Outerbridge, Stephen Raynor, Ian Macdonald-Smith, David Skinner, Roland Skinner, Ann Spurling and Scott Tucker. Of these, Mr. Burville, Mr. Hill and Mr. Howarth are first-time entrants.

The exhibition will continue through December 3. For further information see the Bermuda Calender. This evening's opening reception is from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

He's a winner!

'Anticipation' proved as good as participation for keen amateur photographer Gareth Lewis, whose images best conveyed the concept of photojournalism, and having them published in a newspaper, in the Bermuda Society of Arts'(BSoA) juried exhibition, which opens to the public in the Edinburgh Gallery this evening.

Entitled 'Anticipation', the images were taken while Mr. Lewis was seated in St. John's Church, Pembroke awaiting the marriage ceremony of his friends Kirk and Sophia. The photographs were taken with a Nikon D80 digital camera with an AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm 3.5 at 70mm lens.

When not teaching, running, or taking part in amateur dramatics, the surprised and delighted winner invariably can be seen around the Island, camera in hand.

Arriving here in 1998, Mr. Lewis' interest in photography was first sparked when he participated in a Community Education photography class run by professional photographer Lloyd Webbe, which he then followed up with a two-year diploma in digital imaging and photography.

Previous award for Mr. Lewis' entries in local competitions include chapter awards for both 'Moods of Bermuda' books, and the Kaleidoscope Art Foundation's recent 'A Day in the Life of Bermuda' contest.

The amateur photographer is currently involved in a year-long project, 'Bermuda 365+1', in which he is endeavouring "to capture the life and soul of this wonderful Island by taking a photograph for every day of the year". The results will be exhibited at the BSoA in May, 2009.

BSM faculty in free lunchtime classical concert

Earmark November 14 for an inspiring lunchtime classical concert being given by faculty of the Bermuda School of Music at Wesley Methodist Church on Church Street. The programme will feature music for organ, violin, guitar and piano. Participating musicians and their chosen composers are: guitarist Louise Southwood (Albeniz), pianist Li You (Beethoven), violinist Jennifer Sheridan and pianist Oliver Grant (Franck's Sonata for Violin and Piano).

Playing the music of Mendelssohn, Max Reger and John Cook on the recently-restored Cassavant organ will be Lloyd Matthew and Ryan Ellis.

The concert will begin at 12 noon, and admission is free, although donations are welcome.