A flock of bird photos landed on the walls of Gallery on Main! "Birds I Have Watched" features a dozen avian prints, most in 11x14 frames. Some are portraits and others show birds in action, like hunting and caring for their young. While nature photography is one of my specialties, until now I have not shown many of my bird prints, so this is exciting for me! I have always enjoyed bird watching and relish the challenges involved in photographing them. The art requires that one be observant, quick, and responsive, skills useful for every kind of photography. Not only that, but birds are beautiful! Come see for yourself. On display until September 3, 2026.
]]>
Blackbird Singing, 11x14 framed print $125 - available at the RRWA Learning Center
Please join us for a reception at the Rahway River Watershed Association Learning Center, aka “the Blue House” on Saturday, June 6, from 6-8PM. The artwork will feature native flora and fauna from New Jersey. I have three pictures that are included in the exhibit. There’s also going to be a book signing about the Rahway River that evening. Hope you can make it!
]]>
I am so happy to have been accepted as a guest artist at the Woodbridge-supported artist co-op, Gallery on Main. During my 2 month visit there, I have been showing some of my "World of Wonder" collection of landscapes on metal. The first series showcases "Landscapes Near," and the current series shows "Landscapes Far." We are having a reception on Thursday, June 4 from 7-9 PM. If you are free, please stop by to see all of the works on displays by the dozen or so talented artists! THANKS!
"Landscapes Near" featured photographs from my Raritan Bay series. I chose images with a pastel-ish palette for the grouping.
"Landscapes Far" shows some richer colors, with works from New Zealand, Italy, Scotland, Canada, and the Western US.
NEW! All work in show may be viewed and purchased via this link!
]]>
Lots going on this winter! Please click here to read about the current shows, projects, and publications! Thanks and happy holidays, all!
]]>
This year's World of Wonder wall calendar continues the tradition of showcasing nature and landscape photos from my travels both near and far. Last March, I made it to California and was especially inspired by Death Valley and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The December photo was taken in the darkness of a lunar eclipse on the east side of the Sierras. It was incredible watching the starlight grow as the full moon dimmed. There is so much to enjoy in the natural world...Even in my busy state of New Jersey, magic and wonder are regularly found. I hope you enjoy all of these photos! Click here to see each image individually.
Order here: LULU BOOKSTORE This publisher regularly offers coupons of 10%-25% off, but they change the codes each week. It's worth doing a search. ADVENTURE10 works for 10% off till 12/26
THANK YOU!
ORDER HERE
"Down the Woods" is how my fellow Winfielders and I refer to the Rahway River Parkway surrounding most of our town. It is an undeveloped natural area along the river that defines the boundaries of our community. Not only is it home to many animals and plants, it is a buffer for us against the noise and unsightliness of the "other" parkway. To me, "down the woods" is a place to find beauty and peace, as well as a connection to my past. Like many people from town, I grew up as a child of these great outdoors. It is part of me, and I am part of it. I am so pleased to be able to share my love this area that is such an important part of "home." I hope you enjoy the 2026 edition of my photography calendar. I love being able to say that each of the scenes was photographed within a short walk from all of our front doors.
Thank you!
Jacki
TO ORDER: CLICK HERE to order from the bookstore at www.lulu.com where they are published.
I have run out of locally-available copies, but the calendars may be ordered directly from the publisher for $21 each, plus tax and shipping. There are usually discounts available - please do a search for coupons from Lulu.com
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! I hope you love the calendar as much as I enjoyed creating it! To see individual photos click here.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
]]>
Building a Reputation from the Ground Up
by Jacki Dickert
First and foremost, build your skills as artist. Many people gloss over this step because they have made a few nice pictures and think they are ready for prime time. If you truly dedicate yourself to your craft, you are only going to get better. Build up your body of work and be sure to evaluate it in print form. Get opinions from actual professionals; don’t just go by social media likes and followers. When your work is consistently strong, it’s time to put yourself out there. Here is what has worked for me over the years, and hopefully you will find some good ideas that you can also use.
A big key for me has been working locally.
For example: many local venues are looking to show art. Libraries and municipal building frequently have galleries. I am a feet-on-the-ground person, so I walk in and ask if I can show in those spaces. Bigger towns have cultural arts departments that host art events and sometimes give grants. Call or visit them; ask about opportunities. Of course there are private art galleries which are more competitive and charge commissions, and perhaps they seem more prestigious, but don’t overlook the public spaces. You will frequently get written up in the local newspaper and promoted on their websites and social media. It’s definitely worthwhile. Do get on the email lists of the private galleries and arts organization to learn of their calls for art and apply for their shows, but take advantage of the public opportunities. Be sure to keep track of your shows and any public presentations; add them them to your website and use them to build up an artist resume.
Another benefit is that the local libraries and nature centers where I exhibit often have “Friends Of” groups that have money to pay for programming or commissions. If you teach, you may get hired for a workshop or class series. Every exposure opportunity helps people to know you and your work. When you are first starting out, don’t be too particular. You will learn from every exhibit you do or class you teach, and over time you will present more professionally.
Another way I work locally is to make it a point to find out when the fund-raisers are so I can donate prints: the school PTO, fire department, various charity auctions are always looking for donations. They know they can count on me. While I might use higher-end metal prints for my own shows, simple framed prints are always appreciated for the charity events. I stock up on frames when they are on sale, and use them for the donations. Tape your business card to the back, and make extra cards to distribute at the events. It’s an easy way to start to get your name out there. Again, if you teach, you can donate a free lesson. People usually come back for more! You can also offer to lead a photo walk as a fundraiser to the group.
I do a lot of landscape photography, from all over, but my photos of the local areas are deeply appreciated by the people from my town and the people who used to live there. Facebook is full of town-specific groups, like “I grew up in X town” pages…People there connect with the images and respond. Seeing them triggers nostalgia, and they come to look forward to seeing the work…and sometimes putting in orders. The calendars I make for my local area are very popular and have become an important part of my holiday income. Not only are the locals potential customers, but they become proud of you and what you do and often go out of their way to support you.
Which brings me to another another key in building a reputation, which is building relationships.
We all know the value of networking, but where and how does this happen? Besides your general local town, there are various art groups and clubs that are great for making connections as well as learning techniques. I live in New Jersey and am active in the NJ Federation of Camera Clubs which has many clubs throughout the state. I have learned SO MUCH from my Camera Naturalist club! Other organizations like the NJ Art Association offer frequent exhibit opportunities. Artist groups and guilds such a the NJ Photography Forum offer print critiques and have exhibit opportunities. Places like The Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury, Ocean County Artists Guild, etc. offer classes, competitions, and shows. Join in and meet other artists, share information, work on skills…and eventually you might even start to give talks and workshops, or perhaps asked to be a judge.
These are just a few ideas to get your started on the road to building your reputation and becoming a well regarded professional. Have an online place for your work, of course, but don’t just expect to get “discovered” there. Start close to home and find places to show your work…Give of yourself and let others get to know you…Find the groups that let you take advantage of the power of community that can help you and the other creatives be successful.
I wish you all the best!
Jacki
]]>
The New Jersey Art Association is a wonderful organization that provides its artist members with monthly opportunities to exhibit work. I am participating in the following upcoming shows. Please stop by at one of the receptions or during the shows to check out all the inspiring art!
Morristown Performing Arts Center (MAYO upstairs gallery)
Theme: "A Colorful World"
Dates: December 1, 2025 – January 12, 2026
Reception: Thursday, Dec. 11th 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Theme: "Americana"
Dates: January 16th – February 28th 2026
Reception: Saturday January 24th 1 – 4 p.m., Snow date Sunday January 25th
]]>
“See My Voice” is the inaugural show of the Bay City Artists Guild. It will be showing at the Overlook Medical Center gallery in Summit, NJ from November 3, 2025 - February 1, 2026. Each of the member artists has a long section of the hallway gallery wall. I am exhibiting 18 metal prints, all color landscapes and nature photographs. A reception will be held November 20 from 6-8 PM. All are invited! Everything is for sale, cash and carry, with 20% being given to the Overlook Auxiliary.
Here is some information about our group, the show, and our members.
The mission of the Bay City Artists Guild is to provide a welcoming environment for creative artists whether visual or performing, professional master or amateur or student.
To collaborate and share expertise, skills, inspiration to advance knowledge and
explore opportunities to promote and nurture the arts in all its forms.
And enrich our communities by engaging the diverse populace within.
We are proud to participate in this exhibit to benefit the Overlook Hospital Auxiliary!
Judyann Affronti
Gaston Joseph Boukhaled
Joseph DeCandido
Jacki Dickert
Portraits of Hue
Shoshana Kertesz
Cabbar “CK” Komek
Joe LaMattina
Karen Martin
Dorrie Rifkin
Mayte Sosa
]]>
Check out this lovely exhibit at Temple Sholom in Scotch Plains, NJ, where they are reopening their lobby gallery space with a new group art show! I have 3 pieces in the display - The back skimmer birds seen above, a newly opened spring bud with leaves emerging, and a digital collage I made of a person rising from the ruins to make a new start. (See below.) Everyone's work is lovely and thought-provoking! Info on flyer below.
Astronomia, a curated group art show celebrating the night sky, opens Friday September 26 at The Gallery Space in Rahway, and runs until December 12. The exhibition features artwork by 6 artists, including Gianluca Bianchino, Jacki Dickert, Michelle Farro, Karen Fitzgerald, Heather Palecek, and Sophia Sobers. The artwork is being exhibited alongside images of nebulae and stars, shot by local astrophotographer Michael Presley.
I am displaying 7 metal print photographs, several of which have not yet been seen in print. The sky, moon, and stars are some of my favorite subjects! Hope you can stop by to see the show. This is part of the Rahway Festival of the Moon happening for the next month. Click to check out the awesome programming!
Stargazer, 16x24 metal print by Jacki Dickert
]]>
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
]]>
Three dozen photographs of land, water, and sky from my "World of Wonder" collection of metal prints are now on display now at the South Amboy Arts Alliance, until the end of August. It's a beautiful space, right next to the train station. Summer hours are somewhat limited, though, so please call to confirm available times or to make an appointment.
]]>
At Saturday night's Salem Roadhouse Cafe concert, I will be exhibiting photographs from my "World of Wonder" landscape and nature collection of metal prints. The concert features "The Wonder Trio" who play instrumental versions of Stevie Wonder's music. This is a great concert series with high caliber musicians! The entrance fee of $20 includes copious snacks as well as cold and hot beverages...and goes in part to charity. Please see poster below for complete info...and hope to see you Saturday night!
Check out this new all-abstract show featuring photographs of imaginative and colorful scenes and patterns found in rusty old metal! I have always loved studying patterns, colors, and textures in all things, but something about rust especially draws me in. I will be presenting 20+ photographs I took at scrapyards, in old industrial sites, on corroded seawalls, to name a few locations...and I invite you to view them with an open mind and let your imagination play with what you see! Reception will be May 18 from 2-4, Gallery at the Metuchen Library. Hope you can make it!
Some of the images can be found here: ABSTRACT COLLECTIONS
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
Rust: Alchemy and Imagination features abstract studies of discarded metal transformed by time and the elements. Working with subjects from scrapyards, in old industrial sites, and on corroded seawalls and rusty dumpsters, Dickert’s photographs explore the rich colors, textures, and patterns that form as iron and steel are left to rust. The images are often suggestive of landscapes, scenes, and even characters - in both subliminal and obvious ways. The pieces easily engage viewers and invite personal interpretation and response.
Artist Statement for Rust: Alchemy and Imagination
Rust has always attracted me. Is the draw from our ancient DNA? Our prehistoric ancestors used iron oxide for the first paint pigments. Perhaps the response comes from the iron in our blood, in a kind of resonance? Rust also has symbolic power, suggesting the passing of time, invoking ideas about transformation, perhaps even bringing about guilt for not putting things away properly. Wherever the origin, I return again and again to world of oxidation.
Beside my attraction to this subject, abstract photography like this keeps my skills sharp. We photographers both find and make compositions. The world is a continuous visual field, so it’s up to our imaginations to discover and project potential rectangles into it. We see things, imagine design and potential story there, then click our shutters to turn framings into our photographs. Light, color, tones, emotional content, are always considered, but in abstract photography, design is paramount. These studies inform my wider photographic art as I become more sensitive to the elements that make strong compositions.
To see more of my explorations in abstract photography, visit www.lightdance.org/abstract
Jacki Dickert
Spring 2025
Below: The artist with "The Alchemist" silk print
I am showing several photographs from my black and white infrared collection at this group show with 3 other local photographers. Included prints: Brooklyn Afternoon, Waiting for a Train, Teton Barn, and Clouds over Perth Amboy. Check out this article for more info about the exhibit. I hope you stop by!
Friends of a Metuchen Arts has invited me to participate in their inaugural exhibit in their new space! Inside the Outside features 4 photographers and our unique viewpoints of what we see in the great outdoors. Our show opens with a reception on Friday, April 25 from 6-9, continues the following day with an open studio and art market from 12-6, and will remain on display throughout May. My contributions to the group show all feature landscapes from our national parks and federal lands. We hope you can join us during the Art Weekend!
]]>
]]>
My photo of a great horned owl parent comforting its young won an "Award of Excellence" from the NJ Art Association in the current conservation-themed exhibit at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ. This is the highest level award after Best in Show. I made the photograph in the woods by my home. The evening before, I had discovered two owlets "branching" out from the home nest, not quite able to fly. I went back the next morning, with a river between us so as not to disturb them, and watched for quite a while. At one point, a great blue heron flew along the stream, minding its own business, and out of nowhere, the parent owl swooped in to make sure it stayed away from its babies. One of the owlets scooted over to the parent for comfort, as shown here. Shortly after, the other came by for some snuggling, too. It was such a treat to witness these beautiful beings!
These are the comments by the judge:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Care for What is Precious (Jacki Dickert)
Whoo whoo knew owls could be so affectionate and expressive...an amazing shot! One
feels a wonderful sense of loving comfort from the owls expression and connection.
Simple composition reflects a simple message...we care most about the simple things.
The branches encircling the pair enhance the message of protection. Nice warm tones &
textures pop against the smooth cool colored sky.
From my "About the Exhibit" writeup:
\
Verrazzano in the Fog, 8x24 metal print
]]>Light Leaks, a 16x24 metal print, is showing at the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council in their "Liminal Spaces" collection. I actually made the photograph right down the street from the gallery, at the marina, a few months ago. At first, the picture may seem mysterious, but upon closer inspection one can see the cracks in the seawall at the top where the light comes in and shines on the jostling water below, making the loosely flowing patterns. In the high contrast black-and-white, a very graphic design results.
ABOVE: Light Leaks, 16x24, matte metal, $385
Verrazzano in the Fog and Kiss of Light, both 8x24 panoramic metal prints, are on display and for sale at the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury, NJ for the month of December as part of our Annual Member Show. Stop by to see the work of many talented artists who are showing there this month!
ABOVE Verrazzano in the Fog, 8x24 matte metal print
ABOVE Kiss of Light, 8x24 matte metal
Psst...I have heard rumors of a couple other acceptances, and will update with more info when confirmed! I am preparing for a couple BIG solo shows in the spring...Stay tuned!
]]>
This year's World of Wonder calendar features landscape and nature photography from my travels near and far in the past year. Special features include: Winter in Yellowstone, a spring trip to the Badlands of Montana, the solar eclipse with a hawk flyby, scenes from the Jersey shore, and more. You can view the collection here: https://www.lightdance.org/wow2025 and place an order here: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jackidickert (Be sure to search for a coupon code! Try WELCOME15 for 15% off) Thanks! - Jacki
]]>Jacki
From the press release:
The Rahway Craft and Art Fair, a market for quality handmade crafts and original artworks, returns to the Rahway Recreation Center. This year's market will feature items by over 60 talented crafters, artisans, and fine artists. Discover unique gifts for those on your holiday shopping list (and maybe even something for yourself). Shop for one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art, pottery, quilts, jewelry, and much more. Free admission.
]]>
Once again, I’m thrilled to be exhibiting with the New Jersey Art Association. This current show runs for the month of October at the Palmer museum, which is housed in the Springfield library. All are welcome during library hours and especially to stop by the reception, October 20 from 6:30 to 8 PM.
]]>
Sunset in the Dolomites
16x24 Metal print on display with the NJ Art Association
Local artists and creators are invited to attend a meetup on Monday September 23 from 5-8PM, sponsored by the Arts Society of Keyport. There will be a few short talks, opportunities for networking, and even models! I will be saying a few words sharing how I have built a reputation by getting involved with local efforts and by building relationships. Hope you can attend! The gathering will be held at the beautiful 3BR Distillery at 7 Main Street in Keyport. Bring your own food, and enjoy their cocktails, mocktails, and artsy vibe. It should be a fun and inspiring evening!
]]>
If you stroll through downtown Union during the month of August, you may notice colorful banners and large spots on the sidewalks. The banners celebrate the Art Tour and the spots show you where to stop to enjoy the art pieces hanging in the store windows. I have a large photograph called "Spring Birch" hanging in Simply Gorgeous by Sally Salon, near the corner of Morris and Stuyvesant. Click here to check out my interview as one of the participating artists. Union Township has many wonderful businesses downtown, and doing the art tour is a great way to get to know the town!
Spring BirchDelaware Water Gap, NJ, USA
Spring Birch, 20x30, printed on canvas $375
Photo by Jacki Dickert
]]>
I am excited to share an exhibit with two creative photographers who delight in the natural world in the same way I do! Danielle and Lenny also have an eye for found design, so much of this collection celebrates water abstractions. See below for text of press release. Hope you can stop by to see the work....and please do join us for our reception on August 21, 6-8 PM.
****************************************************************
The Art of Water - Photographs by Danielle Austen, Jacki Dickert, and Lenny McDonald
Hanover Township Municipal Gallery, 1000 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981
August 2 - September 27, 2024
Three award-winning New Jersey photographers, Danielle Austen, Jacki Dickert, and Lenny McDonald, showcase their impressions of the essence of water in its diverse forms. This exhibit offers a glimpse into the beauty, fluidity, and versatility of this essential element, showcasing its immense potential for artistic inspiration. Water also serves as a reflector and refractor of light, a shapeshifting canvas offering limitless opportunities for colorful patterns and designs. Each photographer offers a unique viewpoint, resulting in a collection that creates an artful experience inviting viewers to deepen their appreciation of nature’s beauty.
About the Artists
Danielle Austen: Danielle perceives art as a universal presence waiting to be unveiled in various forms. Drawing from her background in photojournalism and the fine arts, she focuses her photography on capturing the intimate essence of our surroundings. She closely observes the dynamics within the elements of the landscape, particularly the interplay of movement in water and the interactions that shape the environment. Through investigating light, patterns, textures, tones, and the abstract imagery they create, she seeks to reveal the intricate tapestry of nature’s expression. For her complete bio, click here.
Contact: [email protected]
Links: www.danielleausten.com • @unfilteredeyes
Jacki Dickert: Fine art photographer Jacki Dickert is active in the NJ photography community as an exhibiting artist, teacher, speaker, and judge. Her images have been showcased at numerous galleries and have been published in calendars, on book and magazine covers, in textbooks, at the airport, and even on a billboard. Her images reflect an open and creative way of seeing, often incorporating exquisite lighting, flowing forms, and surprising details. For her complete bio, click here.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.lightdance.org
Lenny McDonald: Lenny is passionate about capturing and sharing nature's beauty. He is particularly interested in showcasing intricate details and vibrant colors, seeking to creatively reveal the hidden beauty of often overlooked subjects, such as the essential water. For his complete bio, click here.
Contact: [email protected]
Social Media: @lennysfineartphotos
]]>
Sunrise at Mesa ArchCanyonlands National Park, Utah, USAPlease select 5x15 print for correct aspect ratio or contact me for other sizes.
I am so thrilled to have won an Award of Excellence (including cash prize!) in the NJ Art Association show "Will You Look at That" currently on display at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. The photo of Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, here printed on 12x36 high definition aluminum, has been a long-time favorite, but this is the first big award it received. The photo was the result of many hours of work: first, I had to awake at 3:30 AM in Moab Utah, drive an hour to Canyondlands, hike to the arch, and then wait for the sunrise. Since it is impossible to get enough distance from the arch to show the whole formation, the image had to be made in multiple frames to be later stitched together. Also, since the lighting contrast was so great at sunrise, I had to do exposure bracketing to capture the entire dynamic range. Finally, home at my digital darkroom, it took several hours to make the HDR panorama...The file is huge but that is a good thing because I can print it BIG. So far, the largest print is 24x72 and looks great!
]]>![COR_TGS_2024_May_Flyer [PROOF 3-21 C]](https://www.lightdance.org/img/s/v-10/p4090883286-4.jpg)
Between Extremes
Five of my photographs will be featured among other works in the upcoming show "Between Extremes, an Exhibit of Black and White Artworks," sponsored by The Gallery Space of Rahway, They will be on display at 1306 Esterbrook Ave., Rahway, from May 5-31. While The Gallery Space is being renovated, the exhibits will be held at the address above, which is the Rahway Senior Center. Preview reception is May 4 from 12-4 during a town arts day, and the opening reception is Sunday May 5, 1-5. Gallery hours are M-F 1-4 PM. Hope you can stop by!
Desert Study
In Which I Walk into the Mystery of the Night
Industry
Peter in the Cosmos
Two Ways of Dealing with Being at the Edge
]]>
Join me for a morning photowalk around a very special area in Westfield, NJ. Brightwood Park is a small forested nature preserve with hiking trails and a pond. Spring will be in full swing, so I expect we will find many photo ops! Here are a few photos from a visit I made there yesterday morning. However, I highly recommend you take a look at naturalist photographer Chaun-Chu Chou's blog to get a fuller sense of this nature park. Brightwood also has a very rich and interesting human history, with some artifacts around the property. Come check it out for yourself during Brightwood Day, sponsored by the Friends of Brightwood Park and the Westfield Recreation Commission with the Green Team. They have a full slate of activities planned, in addition to this morning photowalk. Register here: Click here and choose Brightwood Day. $5 per person for the photowalk. Many of the activities are free! Hope to see you there.
]]>On Saturday, April 13, I led members of the Ridgewood Camera Club to several of my favorite photography locations along the Raritan Bayshore in NJ. I've been photographing there for many years and am surprised how few other photographers actually visit the region. Scenic opportunities abound, including sun & moon rises and sets, since there is an open view to both the east and west in many locations. It's usually great for birding as well. In addition, there are many interesting human-made artifacts and structures to photograph. We had a great day, despite gale force winds, especially as the clouds moved out and gave us the most exquisite golden light. I have put an album here of some of my photos from the day. In addition, there in another gallery of Raritan Bayshore photo from over the years here. If you or your club would like a tour, please get in contact and we can arrange something!
]]>
Press release here. Text below:
The Gallery-on-the-Boulevard will present a collection of photographs captured by fine art photographer Jacki Dickert titled “Scenic Union County”
Every year I make 2 photography calendars showcasing some of my recent favorite work. In addition to the "Down the Woods" calendar from my last post, which is of particular interest to my local friends and neighbors, I also make a more general work called the "World of Wonder" that hopefully anybody can enjoy. This year's publication contains both landscape and wildlife images from NJ, NY, and PA. You can see them all here...and if you'd like to order a copy or copies, the form is here. I expect to start shipping in early November. Thank you!
]]>
I am happy to announce that BOTH of my annual calendars are ready for pre-order. The first is called "Down the Woods," and it features landscape images from around my very own home town. In fact, all photos were taken within a 10 minute walk of my front door! I love my town and am thrilled to share these photographs. Click here to see the album and here to go directly to the order form. Shipping is expected to begin in early November. Thank you!
]]>
Pigeon couple sitting in the nest in the wallPigeon couple sitting in the nest. Pigeon nest made inside a hole in a brick wall
I have a piece in this show which runs from September 23 till December 17 at the Nails in the Wall Gallery in Metuchen. The shows there always have a great and varied collection of art - painting, sculpture, photography, and sometimes even live performance, poetry etc. Which work of mine is in the show? Any guesses? Hope you can stop by and find out!
]]>
I am looking forward to showing my work at the upcoming benefit gala for the Raritan Bay Medical Center. On display will be my high definition aluminum prints from both my World of Wonder series AND my Raritan Bay series - as well as work from other local artists who were juried in. Tickets to the Gala are available here. The art will be on display till end of October at the hospital, so if you can't make the main event, there will still be the chance to see and purchase art. A portion of all sales will support the medical's center Behavioral Health Unit - a great cause! Interestingly, many years ago I used to work for the mental health unit that eventually became associated with this entity! It feels full circle for me, and I am happy to support their important work.
]]>
This photo is special to me for several reasons. I made it last fall on a visit to my sister's home in Pennsylvania - and it's her house pictured under the stars here! The house itself was built by her son, a master carpenter among other things. And the man in the window is her other son, who happens to also be a photographer like me. I cherish my visits with these beloved family members and to their cozy home in the country with the dark skies. I am so happy to share it with The Sun Magazine accompanying a deep and thought-provoking called Quiet, Please - Gordon Hempton On The Search For Silence In A Noisy World. Click to read the article. Whole (non-cropped) photo below:
"Egret Ascending"
12x18 high definition metal print by Jacki Dickert
$250
]]>
My “Scenic and Wild Union County” exhibit has been getting a positive response during its run at the Trailside Nature and Science Center. The end date has been pushed back a few days, to June 4, so that we can enjoy a closing reception that day from 1-3 upstairs at the center. I hope you can stop by! Here are a few articles about the exhibit and corresponding class I am teaching on May 13:
1. Article in Rahway TAPinto about the exhibit and closing reception
2.Press release from Union County about my class
Please join me for an overview of nature photography techniques and ideas for where to photograph nature in Union County! Lecture will be held at the Trailside Nature and Science Center on Saturday, May 13th at 2 PM.Please register here - Click on Catalog/Trailside Workshops/Adult Workshops/ and then select the class. $10 for residents in county/$12 out of county.
]]>
Most of the time, we photographers try to avoid blurry pictures… carefully choosing shutter speeds to achieve sharpness…holding our bodies still while we release the shutter to preserve detail…So why would we want to intentionally move our cameras in the midst of making exposures?
Beside being a fun and freeing experience, Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) can also satisfy our basic creative urges. We are able to do something different than “straight” photography, in a way that can be even more personally expressive. In addition, much can be gained by experimenting with such a technique: a deeper understanding of how our cameras work, increased fluidity while shooting, and composition skills that become refined as we tune into and play with some of the basic elements that make up our images.
Springtime in the Swamp, ISO 100, f32, 1.3 sec
Obviously, when we practice intentional camera movement, we are creating something very different than detailed, documentary images. The results will naturally be more abstract and impressionist. Details are generally obscured, and what’s left after ICM is often an impressionistic wash of colors, with only the implication of basic shapes. However, the sense of movement that is inherently imbued in these images carries a sense of energy that can be very compelling.
Koi Pond, ISO 100, f25; 1 sec.
The basic technique for ICM involves choosing longer shutter speeds that will allow you to move the camera without overexposing your picture. Depending on the ambient light and focal length, somewhere between 1/8 of a second and 2 seconds is a good place to start experimenting. Since these long exposures will let in a great deal of light, you will have to compensate in one or more ways: lower your ISO, stop down your aperture (higher number f-stop), or add a polarizer or ND (neutral density) filter. I’ve even used sunglasses in a pinch, on my point and shoot camera! (You can also just wait until it gets darker out!)
Camera movements can vary, though it is generally effective to move in the direction of your main subject, and in the same plane. Vertical movements work well for tree trunks and plant stalks, horizontal sweeps are pleasing for beach scenes, and circular movements can be magical for flowers.
Sumac Stalks in Early Autumn, ISO 100, f32, 1 sec.
To preserve some of the graphic elements in the scene, movements are smaller than one might expect, several centimeters at most. Motions can be either in one direction, or back and forth once or several times, depending on the length of the shutter speed and the desired effect. Some ICM artists like to work on a tripod for consistency, while others prefer handheld for its fluidity.
When choosing your composition and framing, including some strong or definite shapes will anchor your image and keep it from becoming a complete abstraction. Abstractions can be wonderful, though…so it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Twilight at the Beach, ISO 100, f22, 2 sec.
Tree trunks are fairly easy to use as subjects when starting with ICM. With just a slight up and down motion, you can make the trunks seem like they were made with brushstrokes. Look for good separation between the trunks for cleaner lines and forms.
Aspens, ISO 50, f27, 1/3sec
Color and lighting play an important role. Having your main subject contrast from the background - by color, for example - will allow the forms to take center stage in your composition.
Yellow on Green, ISO 100, f5.6, 2 sec.
When considering lighting, be careful of bright spots that might blow out during the long exposures. Flat light is often easier to deal with…but depending on the capabilities of your sensor, contrasting lighting can be dynamic and attractive. I particularly like sidelight when making blurs of tree trunks, as it helps accentuate the shapes.
Sidelit Trees, Impressionist
These suggestions are really just starting points for experimenting with ICM. Don’t be afraid to experiment. There are many ways of working with camera motion - pan blurs, zoom blurs, camera toss techniques, to name a few. An expanded world of creative expression is open to us when we use our cameras like this to “paint” with light, form, and color.
Jacki Dickert
www.lightdance.org
originally published 3/16
]]>
To see current hours, visit Linden Public Library https://lindenpl.org/ or call 908-298-3830.
When Sun turns Frost to Mist10x13 print, matted and framed
"When Sun Turns Frost to Mist" will be on display as part of the current exhibit "Emerging" at Nails in the Wall Gallery at St. Luke's in Metuchen, NJ. It shows the magical moment when frost is transformed into water vapor, emerging as mist. I witnessed this on a winter trip to New Zealand, in the early morning, just as the sun struck the frosty leaf. I was in awe at the spectacle! My photograph will be seen for the first time in print at this exhibit.
I also have a very different work included in the show, which can be seen below. "May You Find Wings to Fly" was created using a digital collage method. First I created the background by dissolving the ink from an old National Geographic Magazine. I photographed the resulting "altered paper" and layered it with a photograph I took of a dancer. The resulting image as well as the techniques used represent "emerging" on various levels: new art emerging from the old, new directions for me as a photographer/artist, and the subject matter of the dancer leaping into the air and the energy that takes shows the emergence of a new state of being (and possibly a new self) from something that has gotten old and limiting. I hope you can see the show! Poster with info below.
May You Find Wings to Fly 10x13 print, matted and framed
]]>
Ready for some inspiration? Join me at the New Jersey Audubon Society in Bernardsville for a lecture as part of their wonderful education series. I’ll be speaking on ways to expand your photographic creativity. This talk requires registration, and seating is limited. Click here for more details. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nj-audubon-digital-photography-workshop-6-creative-photography-registration-541162370217
]]>
Following on the heels of “Scenic Union County,” my new expanded collection “Scenic and Wild Union County” just opened at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, NJ. It features 14 landscapes from the parks and natural areas in the county as well as 12 prints of some of the local wildlife. The series can be found in the upstairs gallery space of the beautiful, state of the art facility. In addition, I’m exhibiting one of my father’s 16 x 20 prints that he made over 50 years ago. Frank Dickert, Jr., was my first photography teacher and he absolutely showed me how to appreciate the local environment. I wanted to acknowledge that as part of my exhibit. Hope you can make the show!
]]>
Above: "Almost Touching" - 12x18 high definition metal print by Jacki Dickert - photographed in Linden, NJ
My collection of 10 high-definition metal prints from my home county, Union County, is now on display at the Commissioners Gallery in the County Administration Building in the courthouse complex in Elizabeth, NJ. Below is the quoted text from the Union County press release about the exhibit. I am thankful for this opportunity!
*********************************************************************************
"Stunning Photographs of Nature’s Artistry on Display at Commissioners’ Gallery, Dec. 12 – Jan. 27"
"The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to present “Scenic Union County,” a selections of works by the photographer Jacki Dickert. Ms. Dickert’s photographs will be on display from Monday, December 12 to Friday, January 27 at the Commissioners’ Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in midtown Elizabeth.
“Ms. Dickert provides us with a whole new way of seeing the beauty that surrounds us, and she renews our appreciation for the natural heritage that is ours to protect and preserve,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “As stewards of Union County’s public parks, we encourage everyone to stop by and enjoy this enriching exhibit.”
The Commissioners’ gallery is open during regular weekday business hours, and on Thursday evenings when public Commissioner meetings are in session. To view the schedule of meetings visit ucnj.org/commissioners/schedule.
Ms. Dickert’s photographs have been showcased in both solo and group shows at galleries throughout New Jersey, and her work has been published in magazines, book covers and numerous online blogs. She taught at Winfield Elementary School for 18 years before retiring in 2019 to devote herself to art and the arts community full time. She teaches photography classes to people of all ages, and is an active member of the Camera Naturalist Photo Club and speaker and judge throughout the NJ Federation of Camera Clubs and other arts organizations, including the annual Union County Teen Arts Festival.
She was recently honored with the First Place award in the Ansel Adams contest at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York, and her work has been selected for display at the new Terminal A at Newark-Liberty Airport.
In a volunteer capacity with environmental organizations, Ms. Dickert also offers her art and skills for conservation purposes and self-publishes the annual “World of Wonder” photography calendar.
To see more of Dickert’s work, visit her website at lightdance.org.
The Commissioners’ Gallery was created more than 20 years ago to help connect visual artists and arts organizations to the Union County community. Exhibits are coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.
For more information about the Scenic Union County exhibit, the Commissioners’ Gallery, grant programs and other activities, e-mail [email protected] or call 908-558-2550(NJ relay users dial 711), or visit online at ucnj.org/cultural."
]]>
Click here to see the selections included in this year's collection of my recent favorite photographs. If you'd like to order a copy, visit the listing on Lulu.com The calendar photos are 8.5x11. Retail is $22 and Lulu almost always has coupons. Try LKAB317CD or WELCOME15 or JOYFUL15. Thank you in advance if you decide to order!
]]>
Talk about "hyperlocal" - All of these photos were taken within a 10 minute walk from my front door! I am lucky to live in a town surrounded by parkland - the Rahway River Parkway to be precise, a natural greenway surrounding the river that makes a loop enclosing most my town. It's suburban here for sure, but as you can see, it's possible to find beauty and inspiration practically in my backyard. To see the images closer up, visit www.lightdance.org/downthewoods2023
If you'd like order a copy, I am using the print-on-demand site Lulu.com. They don't send me customer info, so let me thank you in advance if you do decide to place an order. THANK YOU!
Two versions are available, with and without local recycling dates. CLICK HERE TO ORDER Calendars are $22 each, but Lulu has frequent coupons if you search. Try WELCOME15 or JOYFUL15. If you are local and want to get in on my bulk order and save shipping, fill out form here https://forms.gle/o1ya9V1aSGtrpoxu7
Thanks, everyone, for your support!
]]>
20 North Bridge Street Somerville, New Jersey 08876-1262 Phone 908-332-7700
]]>
]]>
]]>
Guild of Creative Art 620 Broad Street | Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 | 732-741-1441 | [email protected]
Morning Conversation, 10x20 high definition aluminum print by Jacki Dickert $250
]]>Here is the backstory of the photo: With a river between us, I had been quietly watching this young owl with its sibling on a branch close to where the family had been nesting. Not yet able to fly, the owlets were in the process of slowly moving away, in a process actually called "branching." I did know realize the parent was nearby. All of a sudden a Great Blue Heron flew up the river, a little too close for mom's liking, and she swooped in seemingly out of nowhere, making sure the heron did not get to close to her precious offspring. She landed near them, and one at a time the owlets scooted close to her and receive some comforting contact and loving preening. It was a beautiful, moving thing to witness.
Owl Comfort
12x12 photo matted and framed
]]>
photo by David Brighouse
]]>
Three of my photographs are included into the current exhibit “Return to Love” at Metuchen Gallery Westerhoff. Celebrating love in all its forms, the show opens on Valentine’s Day and can be viewed virtually on the gallery’s website.
]]>
Six of my photographs have been selected to show at The Gallery Space in Rahway, NJ as part of its HomeGrown2 exhibit, on display from January 10 through February 4. Works include:
Glory of the Night, 20x30
Conversation between Trees, 12x24
Ice Abstract, 12x18
Fog Edge, Infrared, 16x24
Kiss of Light, 10x30
Moonlight Fire Spinner, 12x18
These are all high definition aluminum prints, prepared using dye sublimation. I hope you can stop by to see these as well as the other works by some amazing local artists. Our opening reception is Sunday, January 23 from 1-4PM. Poster below lists additional information.
]]>
Usually, I publish a "World of Wonder" general photography calendar each year, but this year I made *2* different projects. The first was a publication to go along with my local photography exhibit, and now I am pleased to have created another work, a calendar with a Moon theme! I hope you enjoy these 12 pics inspired by the moon. In keeping with the theme, I've even included the dates for the full moon and new moons of each month.
You can order it by clicking HERE. Be sure to look for a coupon from Lulu.com! *Sometimes* LAKAB317CD works for 10% off …but you might even find a better coupon. (It doesn't affect my take.) Thank you so much!
]]>
Calendar selections revealed! Click here to see them. Or see below for collage of calendar photos.
This is a companion publication to my current hyperlocal exhibit at the Winfield Community Center which is on display until the end of December. These photos show the beauty of the area where I grew up and have returned. It's amazing to think that all of the image were taken in less than a square mile!
If you'd like to order one, you have 2 options:
1. Click here for one that includes the Winfield recycling dates.
2. Click here for the version with no recycling dates.
Please note, these calendars will be coming right from the publisher, www.lulu.com, not from me directly. They are $21 each. Usually you can do a search for a coupon code and find one for at least 10% off. Try LAKAB317CD
Unfortunately the online bookstore does not tell me who orders the calendars, so I will say thank you right now if you decide to get one. And I would love to hear from you if you do! Hope you love it as much as I enjoyed making it.
THANKS!
Jacki
jacki @ lightdance .org
]]>
NEWS FLASH! Companion calendars available. Click here for info and ordering link.
“Down the Woods”
Artist Statement
Growing up in a big family in a small Winfield home, it’s no wonder I developed a love for the outdoors. Inside, our house was always crowded, but outside I could breathe. We were lucky to be situated on the county road, right next to the Rahway River Parkway. Naturally, my favorite place to go, like many neighborhood kids in those days, was “down the woods.”
I am so happy I was able to grow up close to nature, in tune with the seasons, and aware of the animals and plants that shared my world. I also feel fortunate to have had a father who was a wonderful photographer as well as nature lover. My dad, Frank Dickert, could walk the same path 100 times and always see something new and interesting to photograph. I seem to have inherited his eye.
I feel it’s also the heart that makes a photograph special. These images were surely made with love, showing a treasured place that has been my home for most of my life. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Jacki Dickert
October 2021
]]>
]]>
This special exhibit, part of Rahway’s first annual River Fest, is housed in Art on Main, a pop-up gallery at 1425 Main Street, Rahway. The “Real” section of the show features photographs of the Rahway River through the seasons, giving us an appreciation of the beauty of local natural landscape. The “Abstract” portion of the exhibit takes a unique look at water in it various forms - from intricate ice patterns and colorful wavy reflections, to more impressionist work in which the photographer has intentionally moved the camera to create almost painterly images. The exhibit runs Monday to Friday during River Fest, from 11-8, with an opening reception on Monday, August 23 from 7-8:30 PM. The photographer/artist will be in attendance, and light refreshments will be served. Please join us!
]]>
I recently discovered a section of shoreline along the Raritan Bay on which numerous tree skeletons lay. I don't know when they washed up or were otherwise deposited there - perhaps by Hurricane Sandy, years ago. In any case, the weathered trunks were smooth like bones, and in some cases, covered with seaweed from the ebb and flow of the tides. It was a fascinating place to explore and photograph. Click here to see some of my work from my visits to this tree graveyard.
]]>
Firework with zoom burst:
The scene at Union Beach:
]]>
]]>
What a thrill to witness the ancient ritual of horseshoe crab spawning of the spring full moon tide! Pics from Union Beach and Cliffwood Beach along the Raritan Bay can be found here: https://www.lightdance.org/horseshoecrabs.
]]>
Better late than never! I wasn't sure I was going to be able to publish my annual World of Wonder calendar, but it finally happened! This past year has been crazy for many reasons, which you all know. I recently found out I have to move, and preparing for this big change put me behind on my usual photography projects. Things are slowly falling into place, and now I am happy to share with you this collection of some of my favorite images from 2020. Most of the photos are from my home state of New Jersey; indeed, my home county! I did make a couple trips to neighboring states and one trip to Mexico before the pandemic hit, so you will see a few pics from there. But no matter where I found myself, I seem to be lucky with encountering beauty and wonder on a regular basis! I hope you all got through 2020 relatively unscathed, and I certainly wish you the best in 2021! May beauty, joy, and wonder abound!
Calendars are $17.95 and may be purchased at this site: ORDER CALENDAR The photos are a standard 8.5x11, the calendar taking up 11x17 on the wall when open. If you *really* want a large one, contact me about a special order. Thank you!!
Back of calendar gives locations:
Thank you, and Best Wishes for wondrous holiday!
Jacki
***************************
]]>
I've mentioned my travels around the Raritan Bay this past year, and hinted at one of my projects which involved Seeing and Imagining in the patterns of rust on the iron seawalls in some of the bayshore towns. This led to a project I call "Water B'Witched" because most of the images were from an area called "Water Witch." You can see some of the images I made here. Also, I have some 5x7 metal prints on display at the most awesome WaterWitch Coffee Shop and Art Gallery in Highlands, NJ, as part of my larger "World of Wonder" metal print exhibition there, now until October 30. I'd love to hear what you think about this new work! Thanks.
]]>
I'm thrilled to partner with the fun and funky Water Witch Coffee, bringing my World of Wonder series of metal prints, as well as some new work, to their space. Twenty one metal prints from around the world hang on the walls, and 10 all-new easel-backed metal prints have their own display area. My new series, Water B-Witched, was inspired by the sea wall right down the street from Water Witch Coffee, in Highlands, NJ. During the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of traveling afar, I focused on my local area, especially around the Raritan Bay. (See earlier blog post.) The rust patterns on the sea wall totally fascinated me, and I made a series of "rust-scapes" from my what I found there. If you are in the area, stop by and check out the exhibit! And make sure to try some of Water Witch Coffee shop's great food and beverages. Hours are 7-1 Mon through Friday and 7-5 Sat/Sun.
]]>
You are cordially invited to a FREE arts festival, featuring live music, talented artist vendors, and opportunities to socialize...all safely from home! The Croton Arts Live Festival is happening September 25-27 from 6-10 PM each evening. You have to register in order to get in, but it's quick and painless, and allows you to "chat" with the vendors in real time. I have a booth that will be featuring metal prints from my "World of Wonder" collection. I hope you can stop by! Link: https://live.crotonarts.org
]]>
I am proud to have had a metal print selected for inclusion in a classy online gallery show. Artfront Galleries based in Newark, NJ, has found a way to continue their work in sharing art with a really cool cyber experience simulating walking through an actual art gallery. Check out this show: Heliotrope: Turning toward the Light. My photo "Glory of the Night" is in the 2nd room on the wall across from the door. Go full screen for the best experience!
]]>
I’ve been staying close to home this summer, for a change, exploring the beaches along the Raritan Bayshore. I love the open spaciousness there...and am excited by the drama of the dynamic clouds and changing skies. Favorite town beaches I’ve photographed are: South Amboy, Old Bridge, Cliffwood Beach, Keansburg, Union Beach, Keyport, Highlands...Click here for a gallery of photos from the Raritan Bayshore.
]]>
I recently had a client in need of elephant photos, and I was more than happy to have a excuse to go through my hundreds of elephant pictures from Namibia last year.. These majestic animals were a highlight of my safari with Gava Explorations! I especially loved seeing the desert-adapted elephants of Damaraland, and how family-oriented they were. This big boy in the picture was joyfully splashing in a waterhole in Etosha National Park. Enjoy my collection of elephant photos from Namibia as well as a previous trip to Tanzania here.
]]>
I have a few "secret galleries" on my website, and the most populated one is probably the one that features scenes of natural beauty from my local area. Most people don't think of New Jersey as a place of natural beauty, but I beg to differ. Even though where I live is very suburban, we have a well designed, historic park system that follows the Rahway River where wildlife and other natural wonders abound. It is getting well-used during the virus pandemic, when people don't want to be indoors. I am glad others are discovering the treasure in our backyards. Click here to check out my gallery from beautiful Union County NJ!
]]>
I tried something new this spring - combining my digital photos with digitized versions of dissolved-ink art I created. I used old National Geographic magazines, and poured a solvent on the pages, and was amazed at some of the results. Many of them suggested landscapes or scenes having nothing to do with the original photos printed on them. Going a step further, I took photos of the papers, and then combined them with my own original photos. I got some very interesting results! It was a great thing to do while I couldn't travel and when the local parks were closed...In fact, it seemed like a metaphorical activity at the time: society as we knew iit seemed to be dissolving, and it is up to us to create something new from what's there. Click here to see some of my "mixed media" creations from this spring.
]]>
I'm so sorry to announce this lecture has been postponed until we can safely meet again!
]]>The January issue shows a magical night in Glacier National Park a couple of years ago. I was camping in the Two Medicine region and was amazed at the number of stars that could be seen there. One of the campsites had a red light that lit up the dead tree in the foreground. When I developed a picture in color, the artificial lighting was garish, so I converted it to black-and-white with a digital red filter, and the tree popped out so white against the black sky! I like how it mirrors and extends the split shape of the Milky Way.
The photo on the February cover is an infrared photo I made in the Highlands of Scotland. I was pulled over on the side of the road trying to assist a motorist in need, and while we were waiting, I wandered about a bit. I crossed a bridge and looked over at the train tracks, and immediately knew I had to make a photograph. I chose to use my infrared camera because I knew that the foliage would all turn white and make a great contrast with that dark track curving through. I’m so happy it found a place on the cover of a magazine I enjoy and respect so much.
Announcing a solo exhibit at the Pearl Street Gallery, housed in a historic building along Elizabeth River in Elizabeth, NJ: Landscapes of Wonder includes 13 metal prints from around the world, both near and far. As a bonus, 2 canvas prints have been hung over the mantels of the large fireplaces in the building. The gallery is open from Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 PM For more information, please see this article.
Below: Scottish Highlands, 30x40 canvas print
]]>
Sorry - Sold out! Contact me if I can help you with prints or anything else. Thanks! Jacki
This year's calendar features photos from 3 different continents! Last year I traveled to northern Italy, Namibia in the south of Africa, and of course wandered around my neighborhood in NJ, North America! I love seeing the beautiful things nature has to offer wherever I go. I hope you enjoy this year's selection and that it inspires you to appreciate the wonder of of world! Calendars are $13 each - Click to order.
Here is an example of a long exposure simulation you can make with "live photos" - Come to my talk and find out how!
]]>
]]>
I’m proud to have several of my high-definition metal photographic prints on display at a wonderful gallery and shop called Simply Art and Frames, in Cranford, NJ. The theme is “Celebrating Local Beauty,” and all the photos are from parkland in Union County, where I live - Rahway River Parkway, Echo Lake Park, and Warinanco Park. Lucky for us local folks, these parks were designed by the acclaimed Olmsted firm, who designed Central Park and other famous parks. There’s never a lack for beautiful photographic subjects here! if you are in the area, check them out, as well as the other great art and gifts Gary Fletcher has in his shop.
]]>
The 2019 World of Wonder Calendar is now available for pre-order! It features some special moments that I experienced in the natural world in the past year...from quiet moments like a leaf caught in ice and dewdrops caught in a low web...to the excitement of a baby moose leaping out a pond and a regal osprey leaping from a branch. My love for landscape shows, and this year there are many "intimate" or close-up landscapes - and many are from my neighborhood. No matter where I am on this lovely planet, I love looking up and looking down and finding wonder all around! The photos look great printed on the 8.5x11 professional glossy paper.
To purchase, please submit $12 per calendar and $3 for shipping to my paypal link. Be sure to include your shipping address. Additional calendars are an extra $1 each to ship after the first one. Shipping will be in early December. Thank you so much! If you are local, send me a message and we can arrange pickup.
Thanks for your interest and support!
Best regards,
Jacki
Slideshow of images from the calendar
]]>
Registration not required - just come on by the Linden Library!
]]>
This year, the publication features some magical Scottish landscapes, our new national monument in Maine, a rust collage, one motion blur, one black and white, one iPhone photo, and a few intimate landscapes from NJ. I hope you like the collection, which represents my work in the last year. Thanks for checking it out!
]]>
]]>
]]>
I am happy to announce that my photo "Photographer on the Edge" has won first prize in the "My Ansel Adams" photography contest sponsored by the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY The challenge was to share a photo influenced by the style of Ansel Adams. I chose to enter this one because of the subject matter (mountains of the West) and well as the tonal range in the image. My other 2 entries (below) were runners up. I am looking forward to visiting the museum in a few weeks. One of their current exhibits features early works of the famed and influential photographer.
Runner up: "Mountain and Cloud" by Jacki Dickert
Runner up: "Sand and Sky" by Jacki Dickert
]]>
Most of the time, we photographers try to avoid blurry pictures… carefully choosing shutter speeds to achieve sharpness…holding our bodies still while we release the shutter to preserve detail…So why would we want to intentionally move our cameras in the midst of making exposures?
Beside being a fun and freeing experience, Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) can also satisfy our basic creative urges. We are able to do something different than “straight” photography, in a way that can be even more personally expressive. In addition, much can be gained by experimenting with such a technique: a deeper understanding of how our cameras work, increased fluidity while shooting, and composition skills that become refined as we tune into and play with some of the basic elements that make up our images.
Springtime in the Swamp, ISO 100, f32, 1.3 sec
Obviously, when we practice intentional camera movement, we are creating something very different than detailed, documentary images. The results will naturally be more abstract and impressionist. Details are generally obscured, and what’s left after ICM is often an impressionistic wash of colors, with only the implication of basic shapes. However, the sense of movement that is inherently imbued in these images carries a sense of energy that can be very compelling.
Koi Pond, ISO 100, f25; 1 sec.
The basic technique for ICM involves choosing longer shutter speeds that will allow you to move the camera without overexposing your picture. Depending on the ambient light and focal length, somewhere between 1/8 of a second and 2 seconds is a good place to start experimenting. Since these long exposures will let in a great deal of light, you will have to compensate in one or more ways: lower your ISO, stop down your aperture (higher number f-stop), or add a polarizer or ND (neutral density) filter. I’ve even used sunglasses in a pinch, on my point and shoot camera! (You can also just wait until it gets darker out!)
Camera movements can vary, though it is generally effective to move in the direction of your main subject, and in the same plane. Vertical movements work well for tree trunks and plant stalks, horizontal sweeps are pleasing for beach scenes, and circular movements can be magical for flowers.
Sumac Stalks in Early Autumn, ISO 100, f32, 1 sec.
To preserve some of the graphic elements in the scene, movements are smaller than one might expect, several centimeters at most. Motions can be either in one direction, or back and forth once or several times, depending on the length of the shutter speed and the desired effect. Some ICM artists like to work on a tripod for consistency, while others prefer handheld for its fluidity.
When choosing your composition and framing, including some strong or definite shapes will anchor your image and keep it from becoming a complete abstraction. Abstractions can be wonderful, though…so it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Twilight at the Beach, ISO 100, f22, 2 sec.
Tree trunks are fairly easy to use as subjects when starting with ICM. With just a slight up and down motion, you can make the trunks seem like they were made with brushstrokes. Look for good separation between the trunks for cleaner lines and forms.
Aspens, ISO 50, f27, 1/3sec
Color and lighting play an important role. Having your main subject contrast from the background - by color, for example - will allow the forms to take center stage in your composition.
Yellow on Green, ISO 100, f5.6, 2 sec.
When considering lighting, be careful of bright spots that might blow out during the long exposures. Flat light is often easier to deal with…but depending on the capabilities of your sensor, contrasting lighting can be dynamic and attractive. I particularly like sidelight when making blurs of tree trunks, as it helps accentuate the shapes.
Sidelit Trees, Impressionist
These suggestions are really just starting points for experimenting with ICM. Don’t be afraid to experiment. There are many ways of working with camera motion - pan blurs, zoom blurs, camera toss techniques, to name a few. An expanded world of creative expression is open to us when we use our cameras like this to “paint” with light, form, and color.
Jacki Dickert
March 2016
www.lightdance.org
]]>
************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Many of my local friends and I are heartbroken over the death of 24 year old Joseph Parrillo, a former student of mine, who recently succumbed to Leukemia only weeks after being diagnosed. We are mobilizing to help his family with medical bills and other expenses.
My part is to offer my art at special prices, and I will donate the money I make to the cause. Some pieces are available at an auction that will be held Saturday, February 27th. They also may be purchased at "Buy It Now" prices, with 100% of the proceeds (not just profit) being donated.
In addition, if anyone wants to buy ANY prints of mine, just send me a message and I will custom print them for you and donate any profit I make, after printing costs, now through March 1.
Below are the pictures up for Auction/Buy it Now. To pay for Buy It Now, Click this PayPal link and make a note telling which picture you are paying for. ***Some have already sold, so please check the info below or contact me to see if something you want is still available.***
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Jacki
NEW ADDITION TO AUCTION! Milky Way and Tree 20x30 framed print Starting bid $25
Golden Pathway, A misty autumn morning in Rahway Park makes a magical scene. 16x24 High Definition Aluminum Print Starting Bid $40 Buy it Now $150 SOLD!! Contact me if you would like to special order a print.
Autumn in the Glen - Ricketts Glen, Pennsylvania High Definition Aluminum Print SOLD! Contact me if you would like to order a specially priced custom print with profit going to the cause.
Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah 12x36 print, in black fame w/glass Starting Bid $20 Buy it Now $125
Misty Alaska - 16x24 high definition aluminum print; Bidding starts at $40; Buy it Now $150
Belmar Fishing Pier, 12x16 gallery wrapped canvas, ready to hang Starting bid $20; Buy it now $75 SOLD Contact me if you would like to order a specially priced custom print with profit going to the cause.
Kiss of Light - the last rays of sun fall upon a dune fence at Island Beach State 7x21 with 3 inch white border; 2 inch wood frame w/plexiglass. Bidding starts at $20. Buy it now: $85
Moonrise at Zion National Park, Utah 12x16 gallery wrapped canvas, ready to hang Starting bid $20; Buy it now $75
Seastar Washout - Cape May, NJ. 14x14 on gallery wrapped canvas. Bidding starts at $20. Buy it now: $75 SOLD!!! Contact me if you would like to order a specially priced custom print with profit going to the cause.
Drama on the Savannah - a glorious sunset in East Africa, sepia toned. 12x18 matted, framed, with glass. Bidding starts at $20. Buy it Now $100. SOLD!!! Contact me if you would like to order a specially priced custom print with profit going to the cause.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY for fellow Winfielders!! This was an original photo taken and printed by my father, Frank Dickert, Jr., in the 1970's. I worked hard to digitize it in a way that would make him proud...It is now available in a 16x20 ready to hang canvas gallery wrap for $125 ***BOTH HAVE SOLD*** I will take special orders on this. Contact me if you would like to order one.
If you would like other sizes or formats, they may be ordered as well, with all profit after printing costs going to the cause. Prices: 8x10 print on photo paper=$20; 16x20 print on photo paper=$40. The canvas is really nice, though!
]]>
Each year, I try to present a variety of images that celebrate the beauty and wonder of the natural world. This year, many selections are from my local area, but there are also some images from favorite areas in the Southwest, New England, and Iceland. I usually like to make BIG calendars, to really show off the photos, but the company I usually work with discontinued the large 11x17 size. This year, I tried out a couple of new places to print, and I am happy to report that the calendars look very good, even at smaller sizes.
If you are interested in purchasing a calendar, there are 2 size options: Regular (8.5 x 11 inches folded) which sells for $12 (add $3 for shipping) and Large (11.5 x 14 folded) which is $22 (add $5 for shipping.) The large size has thicker, glossier paper which shows off the pictures nicely. The regular is more of a matte look, but the colors are still strong and true.
Send me a message if you would like to order any! Thanks. Best wishes to everyone during this holiday season!
The waterfall photo in the picture below is a large fabric wall sticker. Sometimes called "removable wallpaper," it's an affordable way to make a very large print and not have to spend the money to frame it. I will have some samples with me at the Trailside show and can take special orders to print any of my photos on the wall stickers, if you would like to try them.
]]>
From now until the end of February, you can view the World of Wonder Photography Exhibit at Union County's Trailside Nature and Science Center, one the premier environmental centers in New Jersey. The exhibit has grown bigger and better, now with 25 metal prints featuring landscapes and nature images from NJ and around the world. The center, which is Mountainside, NJ, is open from 12-5 each day. Stop by if you get a chance!
photo by Dave Williams www.feralflower.com
This grouping in the photo below shows some of the new work from around New Jersey: Rahway Park, Warinanco Park, and Sandy Hook.
Fall into Creativity
by Jacki Dickert
Autumn is an inspiring time for photographers. Whether it finds you photographing richly colored leaves against a bright blue sky or composing atmospheric images of bare trees on a foggy day, fall always presents great potential for creating visually interesting shots. It is also a wonderful time of year to go beyond the obvious, to engage the imagination, and to push the limits of your creative expression. Here are some techniques to experiment with during this colorful season, as you make your fall into creativity!
Capitalize on Colorful Water
Leaves and Reflected Leaves ISO 1600, f8, 1/30 sec. (handheld; no polarizer)
Colorful leaves are beautiful on their own, but you can sometimes use their reflections to add an important visual element to your images. If you are lucky enough to be near a lake or stream, look at it from different angles and levels, and notice how the water reflects the colors in different ways. For the image above, I had to crouch quite low to make the leaves appear to float on the yellow reflections, rather than the blue water. If you are using a polarizer - as you usually should do in autumn, to cut down on glare on leaves, water, and wet rocks - be aware that it will also cut down on desirable reflections as well. Adjust or omit the polarization accordingly.
Paint with Leaves
Waterfall with Swirling Beech Leaves ISO 100, f16, 8 seconds on tripod, polarizer
There are several ways to achieve a painterly effect, using motion blur during long exposures. Since long exposures allow a lot of light in, this technique works best on cloudy days or at dawn/dusk. However, it is not impossible to achieve in bright conditions. Two especially useful tools in such situations are a polarizer and a neutral density (ND) filter. Both cut down the amount of light entering the lens, allowing for longer shutter speeds. Once you slow the shutter speed down, you can “paint” either by capitalizing on movement already occurring in your subject or by intentionally moving the camera during the long exposure.
The image above shows what can develop when a handful of colorful leaves are thrown into flowing water. It was taken on a fairly bright day, so I needed to cut the light by using a polarizer, dialing the ISO down to 100, and using a small aperture (f16 in this case.) These settings allowed me to have a shutter speed of 8 seconds, enough time to “paint” the flow pattern of the moving leaves into my image. Of course, a tripod is essential in such long exposures, to keep everything else from blurring. I also usually use a 2-second self-timer or cable release, to avoid camera movement when pressing the shutter. It’s helpful to study the water first, noting the patterns of movement, and then imagining what it might look like if traced out. There may already be leaves floating in the water, or you can toss in a handful to create a natural painting from the resulting movement!
Autumn in the Park, Impressionist: ISO 200, f5.6, 2 seconds with camera movement, polarizer
Another type of creative painterly image that works well with autumn colors is made by actually moving the camera itself during a slower exposure. Again, you may need to cut the light by using a polarizer or ND filter as well as a low ISO and small aperture. A shutter speed of around one to two seconds often works well. The camera is moved up and down (or side to side, or in circles, depending on the major graphic elements in the composition) a small amount - perhaps an inch or two - in the same plane. The more the range of movement, the more abstract the result will be. Some experimenting is necessary to see what works. Look for compositions with contrasting colors and some definite lines - tree trunks work well, especially with a vertical panning motion. Try to avoid bright spots from the sky. Post-processing usually involves adjusting contrast, especially the midtones. Often the results resemble impressionist paintings!
Take Advantage of the Autumn Fog
Trees Dancing in the Mist ISO 1600, f6.7, 1/30 sec. (handheld)
Boldly colored leaves are even more striking against a soft backdrop of fog or mist. Such atmospheric conditions are not uncommon in fall. When cool autumn air meets the warmer lakes and waterways, wonderfully evocative atmospheric conditions result, and opportunities abound for rich imagery. Fog often has the effect of simplifying a composition, as potentially distracting elements are softened or obscured, and other graphic elements can take center stage. Autumn in also a great time to find and photograph mist-covered spiderwebs! Using a zoom lens at maximum reach will help further eliminate background distractions. If your camera has a depth of field preview button, use it to see exactly what will and will not be in focus. Adjust your f-stop so the subject is in focus but the background is soft.
Spiderweb in the Rain, ISO 200, f8, 1/125 sec.
This autumn, get caught up in the beauty of the season by making some creative photographs!
]]>
When: Wednesday, May 13, 8 PM
Cost: Free
Photographing the infrared spectrum can enhance our creative output and exercise our ability to "see" photographically. In this program, I will give an overview of the options in making IR images, explore the issues involved with this kind of photography, make workflow suggestions, and hopefully inspire everyone to try something new! (And, yes, it can be done on a budget!)
This program will be presented at the Cranbury Camera Club, which welcomes visitors. Please click the link for more information about the club.
