Oak Ridge Today

Manhattan Project photography exhibit all month at Children’s Museum

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park, in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, will be featuring a Parks in Focus photography exhibit during the month of December. The photography exhibit is located in the Imagination Gallery at the museum located at 461 West Outer Drive. (Submitted photo)

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park, in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, will be featuring a Parks in Focus photography exhibit during the month of December. The photography exhibit is located in the Imagination Gallery at the museum located at 461 West Outer Drive. (Submitted photo)

 

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park, in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, will be featuring a Parks in Focus photography exhibit during the month of December. The photography exhibit is located in the Imagination Gallery at the museum located at 461 West Outer Drive.

This exhibit features photographs taken by third and fourth grade girls from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge using the Parks in Focus program curriculum, a press release said. The Udall Foundation, based in Tucson, Arizona, created the Parks in Focus program to connect youth from under-served communities to nature through photography, environmental education, outdoor recreation, and creative expressions. This program has been providing outdoor experiences for youth who have limited exposure to nature to increase their appreciation for their environment, the release said.

Girls Inc. youth were introduced to this pilot photography program in September. [Read more…]

Camera Club to feature photo exhibition, competition on Jan. 13

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pat Postma Photo

Image by Pat Postma

 

Submitted

If you would like to learn more about photography, one of the most cost- and time-efficient ways to do so is to join a camera club and Oak Ridge has a good one!

The Camera Club of Oak Ridge has monthly meetings that alternate between presentations by some of the area most accomplished professional photographers and intra-club competitions with expert judging who teach photography during the process of evaluating the images. The public is welcome to attend an initial meeting for free, and a yearly membership cost is nominal. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Art of Crystal Polley highlighted in July at Oak Ridge Library

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Crystal Polley Artwork at Oak Ridge Public Library

 

The art display at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of July consists of photographs and paintings from artist Crystal Dawn Polley.

Polley has used cameras her whole life to remember friends and family. She grew up using Kodak, Minolta, and Fuji cameras.

Digital cameras have changed her format, but not her vision.

Polley is a graduate of Shawnee State University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specializing in photography. She was actively involved in the college art gallery and was art editor for Silhouette, the college arts magazine. [Read more…]

Nikon Small World opens at AMSE June 13

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

AMSE Nikon Small World Marine Worm

Third place: Alvaro Esteves Migotto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Centro de Biologia Marinha, Sao Paulo, Brazil. “Marine worm,” (Stereomicroscopy, darkfield, 20X) (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

Glimpse into a remarkable world that most have never seen. It is a window into the universe that can only be seen through the lens of a microscope, when Nikon Small World’s award winning photomicrographs exhibition opens June 13 at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

Combining the skills in microscopy and photography, a photomicrograph is able to capture an image of the world that the naked eye cannot see. A freelance photographer and artist with a passion for aquatic microorganisms, Wim van Egmond of The Netherlands, sought to blend art and science to capture the complexity and stunning detail of this fragile helical chain.

“I approach micrographs as if they are portraits. The same way you look at a person and try to capture their personality, I observe an organism and try to capture it as honestly and realistically as possible,” said Egmond of his winning image of a marine diatom, a colonial plankton organism. “At the same time, this image is about form, rhythm and composition. The positioning of the helix, the directions of the bristles, the subdued colors, and contrast all bring together a balance that is both dynamic and tranquil.” [Read more…]

Ed Westcott: Chief photographer in Oak Ridge during WWII, Muddy Boot winner today

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Ray Smith Presents Muddy Boot Award to Ed Westcott

Ray Smith, left, Y-12 National Security Complex historian, presents a Muddy Boot Award to Ed Westcott, chief photographer in the “Secret City” during the Manhattan Project in World War II. (Photo by East Tennessee Economic Council)

He was one of the first workers hired in Oak Ridge as part of the top-secret race to build the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

At only 20 years old, he became the chief photographer for what was then the Manhattan Engineer District, Clinton Engineer Works. He was the only person authorized to take pictures in the “Secret City” during the Manhattan Project, and he captured some classic moments, including the jubilation of Oak Ridge residents the day they learned World War II had ended.

Now 91, Ed Westcott was honored for his historic photography in a surprise ceremony this month. He was given the Muddy Boot Award by the East Tennessee Economic Council. The awards, which have been given out since 1973, pay tribute to people who have made East Tennessee a stronger region through their work and community activities.

“Ed’s photographs are so broadly used that they literally express our history and visually tell the unique story of Oak Ridge and its impact on East Tennessee, the Southeast, the nation, and even the world,” said Ray Smith, Y-12 National Security Complex historian. “So, he definitely qualifies for Muddy Boot consideration. Without Ed’s thousands of wonderful images, we would not be nearly as able to present our history.” [Read more…]

Camera Club seeking East Tennessee entries for photography show, competition

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted

East Tennessee’s most prestigious photography show and competition is underway for its 65th year. The Camera Club of Oak Ridge is inviting all East Tennessee photographers—both professional and amateur—to submit entries to their annual Salon.

Entries will be exhibited at the New Hope Center in Oak Ridge during November and December. A community reception and gallery walk will be held on Friday evening, Nov. 15.

Photographers may enter digital images, color prints, or black and white prints. There are three new categories this year. Categories are Architecture, Creative Vision, Creative Development, Inanimate Objects, Landscapes, People, Plants, Scenic, Urbanscapes, and Wildlife. [Read more…]