The public is invited to take a look at what some of the top photographers in the area are seeing through their lenses, with the Shafer Gallery’s new show, “Exposure Time: Juried Photography Exhibition.” The gallery, located in the Fine Arts Building at Barton Community College, will host an opening reception for the exhibit from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 6.
There will be music, refreshments and an extended juror’s gallery talk and critique by professional photographer and seasoned photography judge Stan Reimer.  There will also be a mini-show of Reimer’s work on display.
Reimer has been interested in photography for many years.
“I bought my first camera when I was in the 6th grade and learned from my dad how to adjust the settings, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.  “I love the creativity part of it.”
The show accepted entries from any U.S. resident 18 or older in three categories: portraiture, illustrative (landscape and other), and electronic imaging (digital collage etc.).
Reimer said judging photography affords him an opportunity to observe other photographers’ work, but in a very analytical way.
“I take judging very seriously, and I really take quite a bit of time to study each piece,” he said. “Impact is the most important thing that I judge on. When you first look at a photo, does it grab you? It must also be done well technically.”
Reimer has received numerous awards and accolades for his photography on regional, state and national levels.
Gallery Director Dave Barnes said photography exhibits afford people a unique opportunity to focus on the artistic nature of photos instead of just looking “at” them.
“People tend to miss the artistry in photographs, but they are very much like a painting or sculpture and the composition and attention to contrast and other visual elements is just as important to photographers,” he said. “People think of photos as just a representation of reality and often times they don’t realize all the formal choices that a photographer makes.”
The exhibit will run through May 23.  Regular viewing hours for the Shafer Gallery are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Summer hours begin May 14 and run through Aug. 3. The gallery will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is always free.