Mike McLaughlin
Mike is a research analyst by trade who discovered the creative side of his brain after finding the North Fork of Long Island. A desire to capture and share the beauty of the Long Island Sound and the adjacent farmland is the reason he began taking pictures. His quantitative background in combination with a passion for modern architecture has informed his approach to both composition and post-processing technique. His work is characterized by a spare and clean style as he seeks to evoke the purity of form achieved by architectural icons like Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. After years of concentrating on mostly rural scenes this sensibility has come full circle as his focus has expanded to include architecture itself. Shooting in natural light, he favors the hues and tones of twilight and many of his urban tableaus are captured “in the gloaming” or at night. In his recent “Architectural Extractions” series alternative techniques are used to highlight the solitary beauty of individual classical and modern buildings. By removing the crowded urban backgrounds of his subjects he encourages the viewer to focus on the detail of a structure’s form and ornament. Initially self-taught he developed his skills through course work at the International Center of Photography in New York City. His work has won numerous awards and has been featured in solo and group shows across the East End of Long Island and in Manhattan. To see more of Mike’s work visit www.MikeMcLaughlinPhoto.com
Helen Janson
Helen Janson has taken photographs since she was a young adult. Since retiring from a marketing career in NYC and relocating to the East End of Long Island she has been able to pursue her passion for photography full-time. Helen enjoys photographing the beautiful shorelines of the East End and her hometown region of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Helen’s work is a collection of fine-art photographs of sea and landscapes capturing the serenity of nature. Most often taken in early morning or late evening, Helen explores how light and weather effects the elements of nature and the emotions they evoke. She also experiments with long exposure and camera movement to add softness and painting-like qualities to her photographs. Helen has studied photography at the International Center for Photography in NYC and with Alison Shaw, a fine arts photographer from Martha’s Vineyard. She has exhibited with East End artists associations and Alex Ferrone Gallery where jurors have selected and awarded prizes for her work. Helen lives in Mattituck, NY with her french bulldog, Henri. They love taking long walks on East End beaches and capturing a photograph. To see more of Helen’s work visit helenjansonphotography.com