(Above: Philip Coleman’s infrared photograph of Guaecá Beach in Säo Sebastião, Brazil, is one of the images in the Maude Kerns Art Center Show)

By Randi Bjornstad

Sandi O’Brien’s infrared photo of Cape Perpetua on the central Oregon coast is in the show

Anyone in need of respite from what seems these days to be a world of nonstop noise and frenetic — and often disturbing —  images might find soothing relief for jangled nerves at a new exhibit opening on Feb. 23 at the Maude Kerns Art Center.

It’s called “In a Different Light,” and it consists of pictures taken by five Willamette Valley photographers who employ infrared photography to create a world of dreamy, sometimes somewhat surreal images.

“Along the Marys River” is one of photographer Paul Barden’s images in the show

The reason is that infrared photos operate at wavelengths that are not normally discernible to the human eye. However, the wavelengths can be captured by using special black-and-white film or with special digital imaging sensors. But when they are, they look different from usual reality because organic substances — living things such as plants, animals and people — reflect more of these wavelengths than inorganic substances such as rocks, sky, water and buildings.

That increased reflection is one reason military and law enforcement agencies often use infrared light at night, to carry out forays or search for fugitives or missing persons, because live subjects appear in greater relief than their surroundings.

Jack Larson calls this photo simply, “Blossoms”

“In a Different Light” includes work by five photographers:

  • Eugene photographer Sandi O’Brien has shown her work locally. She became enamored of infrared photography several years ago, because of its “magical quality.” She uses both infrared and digital infrared in creating her photographic prints.
  • Paul Barden, of Corvallis, has been interested in using infrared film for more than 30 years, especially to record natural landscapes, because “Human visionmakes use of just a tiny fraction of the light radiation spectrum,” he said. “There is so much more happening in our Universe for which we must invent technology to ‘see.’ “
  • A second Corvallis photographer, Rich Bergeman, also has work in the show; he has shown his work at the Maude Kerns Art Center previously, in 2011. Bergeman has been a fine art photographer for three decades, specializing in abandoned homesteads, ghost towns and places “on the verge of disappearing.”
  • Philip Coleman, who lives in Philomath, trained originally as a scientist and most enjoys capturing subtleties in both the naturaland human-created worlds. He particularly appreciates the greater control available in digital photography, compared with film.
  • Yet another Corvallis photographer, Jack Larson, is part of this show. His emphasis is expressing what he feels as he photographs more than what he actually sees.

In a Different Light

When: Feb. 23 through March 23, with an opening reception for the artists from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 and an artists’ talk from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 8

Where: Maude Kerns Art Center, 1910 E. 15th Ave., Eugene

Gallery Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. when shows are on display

Information: 541-345-1571 or mkartcenter.org/

Rich Bergeman’s contribution to the infrared show includes this infrared image, titled “Castle Hill Edinburgh”