The Kovan Photo Club exhibition is only on for a short time at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, but it's worth a visit to check out the 50-plus photographic works on display from 22 members.
It's the 13th annual photo exhibit from the club (a combination of "Korea" and "Vancouver"); after two years of showing their work in the Lower Lobby at Evergreen they've jumped to the main Art Gallery upstairs.
The move gives Kovan more exhibition space to showcase the varied talents of its members, as well as an opportunity to use the photography media in innovative new ways.
An example is the seven large-scale works that are backlit with LED lights, giving viewers a heightened experience and burst of colour. Sangin Park's "Some Enchanted Night," a night shot of BC Place Stadium, glows with life.
And Jeeyeon Lee's "Emerald Castle" seems to transport the viewer to the forest floor.
"Splash," by Young Kim, provides a heart-stopping action photo that captures a split-second wild horse race down the embankment of a river, with the splash of the leading horse expertly caught on camera.
The photography spectrum is also notable, with traditional black-and-white shots and studies in contrast to gritty urban shots, landscapes, wildlife photography and portraits, all at the highest level of artistry and composition.
The Kovan Photo Club is a particularly active one, with 42 members ranging from 30 to 75 years old, producing a significant body of work.
They meet twice a month and take regular field trips, including recent jaunts to Yellowstone National Park in the US and to Vancouver Island. In 2012 Kovan members will be heading to Cuba.
Also unique to the close-knit group of photographers is a mentorship program matching expert members with beginners looking to increase their skills.
Kovan president Brian Lim said each submission for the annual exhibition goes through a rigorous process of inspections that includes passing five specific exhibition criteria.
Light on the Mind is at the Evergreen Cultural Centre until Jan. 7, 2012. The gallery is closed Jan. 1 and 2. Visit www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca for more information.
