When she was a little girl growing up in Northeast Ohio — if not before she had a camera, years before she would become serious about photography — Barbara Bosworth went on little nighttime walks with her dad and gazed up at the stars.

“The night skies in the ’50s were much darker than they are now because of all the light pollution,” says Bosworth, who spent those younger years in rural Geauga County, specifically Russell Township, commonly referred to by her and others as Novelty.

Now a resident of Stow, Massachusetts, Tanembaum is in town and, on this particular Tuesday afternoon, in the Cleveland Museum of Art because the renowned institution has just begun exhibiting a show of her photographs, “Barbara Bosworth: Sun Light Moon Shadow.” It runs through June 30 in the Mark Schwartz and Bettina Katz Photography Galleries.

Not bad for someone who didn’t become deeply interested in creating art through a lens until after college.

“I bought my very first camera with my own allowance money when I was like 9,” she says. “It was just for vacations, trips, friends.

“At some point, I decided I wanted to learn about photography, and someone took me into a dark room and showed me how to process film, and I was just hooked.”

Many of the shots on display in “Sun Light Moon Shadow” are quite large, shot on an 8-by-10-view camera that holds an 8-by-10-inch piece of film, according to materials provided by the museum.

“I’m not exactly sure when I figured out that was the camera for me, but I intuitively knew that was the camera from (very early on),” Bosworth says. “I’m not fast at anything. Slow. So that was the perfect camera for me. It’s a big box lens on end, film on the other, on a tripod. Slow.”

The show, states a museum news release, “invites viewers to explore their relationship with nature and natural phenomena.” Its timing is no coincidence, as Northeast Ohio’s much-publicized date with a solar eclipse — April 8 — is in the middle of its run.

“I’d been looking at Barbara’s work for a long time — very familiar with it and thinking about what the context would be to show it,” says Barbara Tannenbaum, CMA curator of photography, chair of prints, drawings, and photographs. “Of course, the eclipse was the perfect opportunity to do that.”

While the images in the show can be quite grand, they also tend to reflect a level of intimacy.

”I really wanted to address how Barbara takes these amazing celestial phenomena and points out that humans really imbue them with personal meaning and personal emotion,” Tannenbaum says. “The stars in the sky may be gorgeous, but they don’t know and they don’t care.

“But, in fact, that’s the way we look at nature. And so these aren’t astronomical shots, they’re not scientific shots, even though they show you the moon, the sun, the stars. They’re really about human emotion and our response to those celestial phenomena.”

Perhaps there are no better illustrations of that than the shots featuring Bosworth’s late father, Franz Bosworth, in some way, such as the 2002 piece “My Father’s Last Sunset,” which shows a colorful sky as day draws to an end.

He is directly featured in “Christmas Solar Eclipse in My Father’s Hands,” According to the placard accompanying the piece, Bosworth shot it on Dec. 25, 2000, while visiting her parents in Sanibel, Florida. She punched pinholes in a large cardboard sheet and held it between him and the sun, the eclipse projecting images of the sun onto his hands, which he is holding together in front of himself. She notes he is wearing a vest with brass buttons he donned only on Christmases.

“It’s personal to me,” she says of the shot, “but I think people can relate to it because many people have fathers who present the universe to them.”

As for the more spectacular shots, such as 2007’s “Moon Setting into Fog Bank over Cape Cod Bay, Morning of the Total Lunar Eclipse” and 2017’s “Light of the Lunar Eclipse,” Tannenbaum says they can be viewed as almost surreal.

“Even though these are photographs, in many ways, some of them become very abstract,” she says. “They become almost like abstract paintings — abstract expressionist paintings. And if you were to look at them out of context or without knowing that this was the photography gallery, you might look at them and think that you were looking at a painting.”

Bosworth’s work has been exhibited in, among other institutions, the Denver Art Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. So while at first it may seem as though “Sun Light Moon Shadow” is part of CMA’s efforts to showcase the work of artists living in Northeast Ohio or with another connection to it, that’s not necessarily the case.

“Barbara is somebody whose work I’ve been wanting to show for a long time and was just trying to find the right circumstance,” Tannenbaum says. “And the fact that she’s from here is great. But, you know, it wasn’t the deciding factor.”

Regardless, it means a lot to Bosworth to see her work hanging on these walls.

“Just incredible,” she says. “I grew up in these halls. … I took art classes here.

“All of my photographs stem from this landscape of Northeast Ohio, of Novelty — the woods and the stream in the forest. That’s all my work — and of this comes from that.”

‘Barbara Bosworth: Sun Light Moon Shadow’

Where: Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd.

When: Through June 30.

Admission: Free.

Info: ClevelandArt.org or 216-421-7350.

Lecture

In a Rupp Contemporary Artists Lecture at 2 p.m. March 2 in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium, Barbara Bosworth will speak about her photographs and the stories that shape them.

“Her imagery, highlighted for its ethereal beauty and emotional resonance, explores the intersections of nature, humanity, and memory,” a CMA news release states. “Through her biographical storytelling, attendees will gain insight into her artistic process, inspirations and the connections she forges between the natural world and human experience.”

The lecture is free but tickets are required.

by Stacy Jackson

March 1, 2024

The Atlanta “photo-griot” describes herself primarily as “a people photographer, finding grace and dignity in the faces of our people.”

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For 50 years, a petite, curly-haired photographer named Susan J. “Sue” Ross has documented Atlanta’s Black community through thousands of candid shots of leaders, artists, activists, musicians, and everyday people.

She calls herself a “cultural activist,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Natrice Miller, who connected with the cultural artist at a previous photo exhibition. Although Ross does not identify as an official member of the media, she has worked for the City of Atlanta supporting minority and women-owned businesses, capturing her beloved city, which she’s dubbed “Magical Atlanta.” Her website describes her as a “documentary photographer” and “photo-griot,” which in African heritage refers to the “oral historian holding the essence of African history and culture through the word.”

Ross moved from Connecticut as a child in the 1960s when her academic parents taught at Atlanta University, according to AJC . She lived among civil rights icons like the King kids, who were neighborhood friends and “regular family people,” Ross shared. “Yoki is Yolanda King, and she was the oldest of the four King children. Her younger brother Martin, who we called Marty growing up, and my brother were roughly the same age.”

The documentary photographer said she encourages young people today to “take pictures of the folks that they’re involved with, because you never know who is going to grow up to be the next leader in Atlanta or in the world.”

Observation is only a small part of Ross’ artistic eye. She also participates in the same spaces she photographs, like helping elect Atlanta’s first Black mayor, Maynard Jackson. Ross has documented key moments in Black history – from the ’96 Olympics to portraits of Nelson Mandela and former President Barack Obama. Her work resides in various collections, books, and her 2011 exhibition “Sankofa” at the National Black Arts Festival.

Now, Ross’ shots, boasting a “special connection” to everyday folks, are being preserved for future generations. The Atlanta photographer boasts an archive full of Atlanta’s young artists, campaign rallies, community discussions, and annual events. Ross is a founding member of Sistagraphy, a collective of Black women photographers who express themselves and share their passion for photography.

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In the heart of Snoqualmie Valley, amidst its sprawling landscapes and breathtaking vistas, resides Stacy Garfield, a local photographer whose work transcends mere images to tell stories of love, adventure, and the great outdoors.

With a background as vibrant as the scenes she captures, Stacy’s voyage from aerospace engineer to elopement and landscape photographer is a testament to following one’s passion and the transformative power of nature.

From Satellites to Sunsets: A Journey of Discovery

Stacy Garfield’s career began in the high-tech aerospace world, where she spent twenty years working with satellites and rockets. This profession fulfilled her childhood dream, but her move to the Pacific Northwest rekindled her love for the outdoors and set her on a new path.

“When we moved to the Pacific Northwest, I fell in love with the outdoors again and experienced how much happier people are when they are in nature,” Stacy reflected.

A marriage proposal shoot in the Olympic National Park turned her career towards photography. She remembers the moment vividly, “I still remember every detail of the moment…how I felt, the tears of joy in my eyes and the beauty of the sunset.”

A New Chapter: Elopement and Landscape Photography

Armed with a few DSLR cameras during her engineering career, Stacy embarked on a path of learning the art of photography through trial and error, complemented by countless hours of YouTube tutorials and reading. Her technical background gave her a unique edge in mastering the complexities of photography, from the basics to more nuanced techniques like astrophotography.

Her passion extends beyond capturing love stories as an elopement photographer to embracing the broader spectrum of landscape photography, family portraits, and adventure sessions.

She attended a specialized workshop in Arizona, where she honed her skills in capturing couples’ raw emotions and beauty against the majestic backdrop of nature. Stacy’s work is not just about taking photos; it’s about telling stories, connecting with nature, and sharing landscapes’ profound impact on human emotions and relationships.

Now, Stacy has embraced her role as the “storyteller of your love in nature,” combining her passions for photography and the great outdoors. Her approach to elopement photography is unique, focusing on capturing the essence of a couple’s love against the backdrop of nature’s magnificence.

“I am within driving distance of the most beautiful scenery in Washington State, Oregon, and Western Idaho,” she states, highlighting her ability to bring couples’ dream elopements to life in stunning settings.

More Than a Photographer: An Advocate for Love and Adventure

Stacy’s philosophy extends beyond photography. She is an ally for the LGBTQ+ community, stands for true love in all its forms, and believes in the importance of adventure and cultural exploration. Her adventurous spirit is evident, having completed over 20 triathlons and valuing new experiences with her partner. Stacy emphasizes, “I love having new adventures with my partner. They bring us closer together and deepen our love for each other!”

Recognizing the complexity of planning an elopement, Stacy offers comprehensive support to couples, guiding them through every step. Her commitment to the environment is also paramount, as she educates her clients on Leave No Trace Principles and ensures their special day is memorable and respectful of nature’s sanctity.

A Local Connection: Involvement and Inspiration

Stacy’s connection to the Snoqualmie Valley is deep. Residing in North Bend with her husband and their dogs, Goose and Maverick, she finds constant inspiration in the surrounding landscape. Her involvement with the local community extends to volunteering with the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation and promoting STEM education among students.

Garfield’s work is displayed in various North Bend locations, such as Pressed On Main, Mount Si Physical Therapy, and Mount Si Dental Center, and displays of her landscape work at local farmers markets and holiday markets. 

In Stacy, the Snoqualmie Valley has not just a photographer but a storyteller, a guide, and an advocate for love in all its forms. Her work reminds us of the beauty surrounding us and the stories waiting to be told against the backdrop of the natural world.

You can see more of her work on her website, Instagram/Instagram (there are two!), Facebook, and our gallery page.