Photographer Randy Ross’ work has viewers up-close and personal with native Cortland plants, flowers and creatures.
From 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, an opening reception will be held for an exhibition of Randy Ross’ photographs at the Age Well Center in the Crescent Commons in Cortland. The 15 photos were all taken in his backyard.
The backyard is a great place to take pictures because of its beauty, and because he has mobility issues, he said.
“I love it when we happen to have the butterflies and dragonflies come back, and my wife will yell out ‘Randy, come get the camera!’” Ross said. “I get out there, sit out on my camp stool and try to capture it.”
His work consists of crisp detailed photos of natural scenes, such as a portrait of a frog, a lily reflecting in water and a moth hovering near a flower.
“My wife has a nice flower garden, and we try to do native plants,” Ross said. “We have two-thirds of an acre we’ve been trying to replant native understory under a bunch of old black cherry trees.”
He bought his first digital camera the same month he retired in 2014, he said. Learning digital photography and editing was a steep learning curve for him, as he was used to film.
Sheila Cohen, organizer of art exhibitions at the Age Well Center, loves the subject matter of his work.
“I think it’s spectacular, and the way he captures it is unbelievable,” Cohen said. “It almost looks unreal. The photos are very eye-appealing, very clear and very vivid.”
He won his first “Best in Show” award at last year’s Regional Photography Exhibition for his black and white photo, “Buttonbush Blossom.”
“You don’t see many photos like this,” Cohen said. “Maybe in some magazines, but these are beautiful.”
The exhibition is also a good opportunity to learn about the Age Well Center if you haven’t visited before, she said. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the exhibit will be up through July.
“Come see what you can do in your backyard,” Ross said.
