PRESENCE

Photography Exhibit

 "Presence," is a website presentation of my recent solo exhibit of selected Black & White photographs  spanning the 1970s to the present at the Scarsdale Library.

Photography provides a means of capturing the grace of the natural physical world and presenting my interpretation in tangible form to the viewer.  The photograph is a window inviting the viewer "to step into" and experience the image.  

I named the exhibit "Presence" with regard to the two somewhat divergent meanings of the word and their relevance to the images presented.

First: A physical “presence”:
- that of the subject and photographer and also, that of the viewer. 

Second and of equal importance: "Presence" as something not seen
- i.e. a perception or feeling of something non-physical.

For me, making a photograph often takes place on more than one level.  Subjects, whether animate or inanimate, landscapes or detailed close-ups, may inherently be beautiful or otherwise compelling to the observer.   However, a subject (in context of its environment) may convey more than a purely physical presence.  That "other presence" might be described, for example, as a mood or spirit or possibly something symbolic - specifically, something that stirs emotion.. 

The depth of my response to the subject and recognition of a layered "presence" influences how I visualize and photograph the scene before me. To illustrate: When photographing a water tower and abandoned building on an overcast/rainy day, I sensed a strong feeling of loneliness and darkness.  That “presence” dominated my perception or my “visualization” of the overall scene.

My visualization at the time of making the photograph determines how I will print the image for display.  The photograph I present to the viewer reflects my interpretation and feeling about the subject. The water tower photograph emphasizes the dark sky and stark image of the tower. Another individual would very likely photograph and interpret the scene differently. .

In selecting photographs for my exhibit, I searched thru images to find those which, at the time I made the photograph, evoked a meaningful emotional response.

The process of making these photographs and grouping them for the exhibit brought great satisfaction.  
I hope you, the viewer, will find some images that call to you.  Enjoy the photographs not only for the subject, but also for whatever feeling they may impart or bring forth for you.

Dennis Dilmaghani

PRESENCE Exhibit - A scrolling display of images with information

PRESENCE Gallery - A timed slideshow of PRESENCE (images only)