Gallery 104 Artist of the Month
Photographer
Lee
uses light in unique ways
He
will display his work
this month in La Grange, Ky.
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
LA GRANGE, Ky. (August 2011) – When photographer
Perry Lee snaps a picture, he first looks for an unexpected aspect that
will make people stop and take notice of his work. When he looks through
the lens of his Pentax camera, he sees everything in a brand new way
and hopes those who view his photographs will, too.
Lee relies upon lighting to give his photography an edge that makes
it decidedly different. The atmosphere he creates with light on the
printed photo makes the viewer feel they are standing in the photograph
amongst his scene.
 |
|
Photo
provided Frankfort,
Ky., photographer Perry |
“The different way the light reveals the landscape
to us” is what he wants to capture on film, said Lee. The first
light of day, fog or even mist can transfer a viewer into a scene that
is familiar, said Lee, and make them think, “I know where this
is, but I never knew it looked like that.” If he gets that kind
of reaction to a photograph, Lee is happy.
Lee, 66, is the featured Artist of the Month at Gallery 104 in La Grange,
Ky.
He studied theme design and lighting design in college while earning
a degree in studio design. He pursued an undergraduate degree at the
State University of New York and earned his master’s degree at
the University of Kentucky. His interest in photography manifested itself
during his freshman year of college. He decided at that time to minor
in photography so that he could take his own portfolio shots.
Lee gradually became interested in other things and dropped photography,
working professionally in theater for 20 years in set and lighting design.
He spent some time working in graphic design and outdoor advertising
where he did layout painting. He then became interested in computers
and took a job with Lexmark, working his way up to high end color lasers
and conducting color analysis, he said.
Four years ago, he and his wife took a trip to the Caribbean, where
he snapped many unique photos. Hooked on photography again, Lee took
some pictures during an ice storm in Franklin County, Ky., where he
lives and entered one in a magazine contest. “It won third prize,”
he said.
Encouraged to pursue photography again, he purchased a high quality
printer and some framing supplies and entered several local competitions.
After winning several of these competitions, he decided to focus all
of his energy on photography full-time.
Most of his works in the La Grange exhibit will depict Kentucky scenes,
but “there will be a couple of new pieces never shown before,”
he said. He will also have a few abstract scenes, a form of photography
he is just getting into.
“Perry Lee has been with Gallery 104 for about a year and a half,”
said Kathy Dowling, executive director of the Arts Association of Oldham
County and Gallery 104. The Artist of the Month program honors each
Gallery 104 artist.
Dowling said she enjoys how Lee “takes beautiful photos of Kentucky
landmarks, Cumberland Falls, a bluegrass farm, even a jailhouse door,
and creates something a bit different by printing on stretched canvas.
His floral photos are simple yet exquisite.” Lee also uses his
prints to add to the gallery’s collection of handmade greeting
cards.
Born in New York, Lee spent most of his life as an Army brat traveling
wherever his father was stationed. He lived in Tennessee during his
high school years and came to Kentucky to attend college. He liked Kentucky
so much, he stayed. Lee currently lives in Frankfort.
For Lee, photography possesses a quality that “is so exciting to
see something new come to life.” He prefers snapping photos that
make the viewer think of the subject matter in a new way.
• For more information on Lee, visit www.PerryLeePhotos.com or contact Gallery 104 at (502) 222-3822 or visit www.Gallery104.org.