Monday, December 3

Artist's statement: "My interest in photography started in high school and turned more serious during the year I spent in Paris while working on my masters degree.I worked closely with a French artist who schooled me in 35mm photography, composition and the benefits of one type of film versus another. During the late 70s and early 80s, I entered photos in competitions,juried shows, and had a gallery show. However, during the next thirty years, I concentrated on my career in education.Through this period, my "art" was limited to snap shots of my students for school publications. Now that I have retired from education,I am working to realize my dream of being a professional photographer.During my years of photographing my students, I discovered that I had a talent for taking candids, so that is the focus of my new business, Belchertown Photos, Candids of You."---by photographer Randi Shenkman