Portland Public Library opens “Photos of the Year: Maine Through Our Eyes” January 7th in the Lewis Gallery

Portland, Maine - Portland Public Library is pleased to open Photos of the Year: Maine Through Our Eyes, The Photography of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on January 7th from 5:00-7:00pm.

This exhibit, in the Lewis Gallery, features photographs from the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram photojournalists. These journalists spent 2015 traveling across the state, going as far as Stonington to document lobstermen at sunrise, for a series of stories on the dramatic effects of climate change in the Gulf of Maine. They photographed a music teacher on her last day on the job, and captured a contemplative moment after a 47-year-old father was baptized for the second time. They were on land, in the air, and on the water when a parade of tall ships sailed into Portland Harbor. They shadowed paramedics as they responded to a woman overdosing on heroin and witnessed dozens of officers salute Sultan, a declining K-9 unit police dog, before he was euthanized. These photojournalists were there for every moment, capturing the stories of Mainers one frame at a time. This collection showcases the year’s best work by the Press Herald staff.

In addition to the photographs, the Library will host a series of gallery talks with Press Herald photojournalists:

January 13th:  Maine from the Sky, Aerial Photography

Gabe Souza will show his best aerial photography shot on assignment, or often en route to an assignment. He’s used the unusual perspective to capture the Cumberland County Fair, and has traveled as far as Eastport to work on a story about the Passamaquoddy tribe.

January 20th: Face to Face with Mainers, Portrait Photography

Whitney Hayward will talk about her approach to making portraits, including conception and her technique. This past year, Hayward set up an on location studio for portraits during a bowling tournament and created diptychs for a story on Star Wars fans.

February 10th: Peak Moments, Sports Photography

Derek Davis will show his best sports images from his career at the Press Herald. He will talk about his approach to covering sporting events, from planning and anticipating, to making compelling images that go beyond what is obvious and expected.

Talks will be held in the Library’s Lewis Gallery at 5:30pm.  They are free and open to the public. Exhibit will run from January 7th-February 12th 2016.