Jeanne Angell: Photography and Digital Art

Works by amateur photographer Jeanne Simon Angell are on display in Pendle Hill’s Barn through March 16, 2012. This show features both nature photography and digitally enhanced photos. Everyone is welcome to attend Jeanne Angell's artist reception on Sunday, February 12 from 2-4:30 pm in the Barn.

The Art of Nature

Jeanne thoroughly enjoys nature, whether she is designing and tending her own garden in suburban Philadelphia, organizing tree planting days, or walking through the woods. “I often use photography as a way to connect with nature in a spiritual sense. Wearing the camera around my neck or holding it in my hand encourages me to see God’s beauty more clearly. I walk more slowly, look more carefully, and when I see a scene or an object that captures my attention, I stop to experience it more fully. When I look through the camera lens, I try to view it from different angles, experimenting with different ways to capture the beauty that I see.”

The Nature of Art

Jeanne is fascinated by the tension between “purist” photographers who pride themselves on their technical expertise and try to avoid or minimize the use of digital editing, and other photographers who embrace Photoshop as a powerful tool to assist the artist. “I believe that it comes down to the nature of art as primarily a vehicle to communicate something to the viewer, as opposed to a specific set of techniques, skills, or tools.”

“I often use Photoshop to accentuate the feelings that the subject and the photo elicit in me. This creative process is nearly as exciting to me as the process of taking the photos, and I see it as just another step in the creation of the art. I feel that by making the piece a bit more abstract, as opposed to completely realistic, I can sometimes pull the viewer more deeply into the emotional or spiritual essence of the piece.”

About the Artist

Jeanne Angell grew up near Buffalo, NY but has lived in suburban Philadelphia for the past 27 years. She received a B.A. degree from Earlham College and her master’s degree from the Bryn Mawr School of Social Work. In addition to working as volunteer coordinator at Riverbend Environmental Education Center, Jeanne is heavily involved with civic life in Haverford Township, serving on numerous boards and committees, and is an active member of Germantown Monthly Meeting.