~ the art of light and shadow ~

Chiaroscuro

Light and shadow define the world around us, revealing form, depth, and emotion in their eternal interplay. Chiaroscuro, the dramatic contrast between illumination and darkness, is more than a technique—it is a way of seeing. From the deep shadows of Caravaggio’s paintings to the stark drama of classic black-and-white photography, this visual language speaks of mystery, tension, and revelation.

In this exhibition, photographers explore the power of contrast, using light not only to illuminate but to obscure, to shape, and to transform. Whether through bold silhouettes, moody low-light compositions, or the delicate balance of highlight and shadow, each image in CHIAROSCURO invites us to look beyond what is visible—to sense the presence of the unseen.

Selected by juror Tom Chambers, this collection celebrates photography’s ability to sculpt with light, evoking stories that exist in the space between brightness and darkness.

Welcome to CHIAROSCURO.

A note from our juror:

When asked to jury the Chiaroscuro: The Art of Light and Shadow for Decagon Gallery, I was excited to anticipate the range of submitted images. The use of light and shadow in photography creates many possibilities for telling a story.

Light and dark can be used to highlight the subject or to accentuate details. In the jurying process, I looked for images that are captivating because of the way in which light and shadow are utilized. I found many photos that spoke to me. The selected photographs were chosen because they are interesting photographs, rather than photographs of interesting subjects.

Almost 900 photos were submitted, and I valued studying each one of the entries. So many of the photographs deserve recognition. After much consideration I selected “Where is My Beauty” by Paola Ravioli for a first prize award. Its mysterious narrative quality is enhanced by a wonderful use of color and by the light passing through the window in the vein of Chiaroscura.

Second place winning photograph by Bastian Kientz’s “Wolfsberg” pulled me in because it required me to take time to look deeply and to appreciate the subtle lighting and shadows. Nick Sullivan’s “Coming Storm”, third place winner, caused me to pause and consider if we are anticipating a literal weather event or some other type of storm. The moodiness is created by the variation in light and darkness.

A merit award goes to Enrico Pietracci’s “Caravaggesca" which seems to be a contemporary take on Caravaggio with a great use of light through shadows created by body movement and random pieces of cloth. Arnold Jeserznik’s “Alien” really caught my eye as I tried to decipher what was happening in this futuristic image, and thus received the other merit award. My only regret is that I could not select more images for recognition. I encourage all the photographers who entered the competition to continue doing what you love and working to create beautiful images.

~Tom Chambers

FIRST PLACE

Paola Ruvioli

From the series- Where is my Beauty

"My love for photography began immediately after receiving my first camera, a Polaroid SX-70 on my seventh birthday. Since then I have studied and made photographs around the world, enriching the content and narrative potential of my photographic vision. I hold a degree in Political Science from the University of Cagliari in Sardenia, Italy.
My work focuses on the intimate relationship between individuals, and their unique psychological perspective in the worlds we inhabit, with particular sensitivity to human behavior. My images investigate the myriad sensations and perceptions encountered in our daily surroundings, with the intention of reflecting back more acutely to viewers their emotionally resonant potential . By referencing specific moods viewers are inspired to revisit sensations and passages into parallel realities typical of the world of dreams and their interpretation, creating emotional pathways that attempt to reveal the secrets of who we are in our inner and outer worlds.

Where is my beauty?
“What is essential is invisible to the eye” (Saint Exupéry)
If I could suddenly close my eyes and fly above the clouds, free to express who and what I am, would I be able to say that I have found my true nature? Could I say that I am happy?
“Where is my beauty?” is a photographic project born from of the need to describe my inner self, while tracing the journey towards rediscovering my true essence.
These images reveal the my personal conflict between emotionality and rationality, in an attempt to describe the feelings that arise from being in the middle, poised between two worlds, waiting for an inner change.
Mind and body, conscious and unconscious, dream and reality, fear of and attraction to that which we do not know. The desire to escape from stereotypes, the awkward feelings of being different, as if in a cage, and of reclaiming the right to listen and respond to oneself intimately.
In this way, I began to collect images that speak of my roots, delete of my home and of the feeling of being protected when I was a child and young adult. I wish to capture the spontaneous nature of the body as it expresses itself instinctively through its own language, beyond convention and criticism.
Photography satisfies my need to reinterpret reality, desires, and dreams into another possible reality within which to live.
I am fascinated by the emotional effects which images are capable of provoking, and delete I wish to portray the invisible invisibility within everyday life."

Bastian Kienitz

Wolfsberg

Bastian Kienitz, born in 1975, holds a PhD in natural sciences. He has been a freelance photographer, filmmaker, and writer since 2012. In addition to his interest in poetry, he is intensively involved with the fundamentals of life and biology, and attempts to incorporate elements of this knowledge into his work. The same applies to digital photography, "Snapshots in Word and Image Form," which he has been practicing since 2008. Bastian Kienitz is a member of the German Association of Young Authors (BvjA) and has published poetry, prose, and photographs in various anthologies and literary magazines (including Experimenta, Entwurfe, Kaskaden, Konzepte, Maulkorb, and Versnetze). Furthermore, Bastian Kienitz has participated as an author, poet, and photographer in the following exhibitions, award ceremonies, and events, for example: 2023, finalist for the Vienna Workshop Prize for Photography. Chromatic Awards in the Photo Manipulation/Amateur category, as well as first prize winner in the Architecture/Amateur category. 2024, winner of this year's Photoadventure, and among the winners of the FoFoFo competition.

Nick Sullivan

Coming Storm

I started taking timelapse video ten years ago at age 63, and my interests in still imagery and capturing more varied subjects grew over time.

Enrico Pietracci

Caravaggesca

Enrico Pietracci, visual artist1958 Born in Porto S. Giorgio (FM), Italy1983 Diploma in stage design at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze1988/89 Art director in the field of fashion photography, directingfashion shows in conjunction with dance and theater in Florenceand Prato1990-96 Art director at the in-house television channel of the Fininvest group in Milan1994 Moved to Berlin1995-2005 Illustrator for advertising agencies and various magazines,draftsman of storyboards for cinema and television productions inBerlin and MilanDraftsman for cartoon productions, graphic designand realization of interactive CD-ROMs for children in Berlinand Babelsberg1998 Started working as a freelance artistsince 2002 performances, synthesis of visual and performing artswith an aesthetic, dynamic and interdisciplinary concept,expressed through movement (dance), music, drawing andpainting.Since 2015, concentration on photography, understood as amean of expression that goes beyond the mere representation of reality and extends to an area that ranges fromstaged photography to digital processing andcollage.The aesthetic and conceptual research is characterizedby a form that is always geared towards a personal and experimentalaesthetic, with narrative, ironic and surreal implications.Numerous exhibitions in Europe and prizes/honorable mentionsMember of the BBK Berlin.

Arnold Jeserznik

Alien

I have been retired for 5 years. Photography is both exciting and relaxing at the same time.

Ken Alexander

Cuba and the Night

I am a black and white photographer living in Woods Hole, MA. When I travel I shoot documentary images and when I am living in one place for awhile I also shoot portraiture photography.

Emily Zaboski

Self Portrait

Emily Zaboski is a multidisciplinary visual artist and creative director based in Brooklyn, NY. Her work blends photography, design, and experimental techniques to explore how identity, memory, and emotion are shaped—sometimes fractured—by the systems we move through.This collection reflects a quiet tension between visibility and obscurity, light and shadow. Whether turning the lens inward or observing others from a distance, the work searches for truth in the in-between: moments where light reveals, but doesn’t resolve. Faces blur. Bodies drift. A gaze is caught, or just missed. Each image holds the residue of presence—partial, imperfect, and deeply human.Together, these photographs trace the space between subject and shadow, control and vulnerability. They ask what it means to be seen—and what slips away in the process.

Nily Harel

Slot Canyon

For many years I enjoyed taking travel photography. In the last 12 years I have been more active participating in a few photography venues. I started taking part in the semi annuals exhibits at the Hoyt Gallery in the USC School of medicine and later joined the Pasadena Photography Art Association. The PPAA held monthly meetings alternating between guest speakers’ presentations and Open Show-a global organization which gives visual artists a platform to showcase their work.

I had the opportunity to present twice in Open Show Pasadena-East LA. After my retirement I joined the Paso Robles Art Association and have been participating in the exhibits since September 2018.
I also participated in three curated exhibits in Studios on the Park (Paso Robles): “The Big Little show”/APR 2019, “Keeping the Faith”/ JAN 2020 and "Walk Like an Animal"/ JAN 2025.

The aspect of photography I'm into is the aesthetics- finding the composition that I like. I enjoy finding beauty in the world around me, nature or urban; special or mundane.

Michelle Johnston

Lost in Lodi

Michelle Johnston is a Renaissance Girl. Art has been in her life since she was a child. She started her career as a dancer, starring in the film, A CHORUS LINE, when she was just a teenager. She went on to act and dance in films such as CHICAGO and SHOWGIRLS, to name a few. Her Choreography era was spent working with Madonna, Michael Jackson, Tony Bennett, Elton John, Cate Blanchett, Andy Samberg and many more. In her Writer/Director period, she teamed up with Sophia Carson, Selena Gomez, Jane Lynch, Hilary Duff, Jennifer Tilly, Chad Michael Murray, among others. Throughout all this time, Johnston was constantly drawn to the Production Design rooms, the Costume trailers. “The colors, the design, the texture, it mesmerized me”. And it led her to her true passion,Photography and Painting. Johnston’s work has appeared in galleries and magazines and online exhibits, such as ARTISTONISH, GALLERY OF HERMOSA, LAS LAGUNA ART GALLERY, ARTSY and more. Whether thought-provoking and divisive or lighthearted and playful, Johnston’s work is a true conversation starter.

Gaurav Govil

Dilemma

I am an amateur photographer. I have been using my smartphone Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to capture the scenes around me. I am a self-employed medical professional with surgeon's capabilities. I am interested in capturing the essence and scenery in monochrome. The happiness one derives from the emotions one captures makes the efforts worth trying and showcasing.

Melanie Guerra

Gotham

I see the world around me in terms of light and captured moments – and often the tiniest details become the focus of a larger story. I frame my images larger-format mats and frames to both draw the viewer into the detail while simultaneously letting these details "take up space", both physically and visually. In addition to photography, I am an accomplished jewelry designer, and I think that perhaps this attention to detail stems from this work. Another result of this work with metal, gems, and other natural materials is my obsession with texture, both visual and tactile.

Michael Kraus

Contrasts of Keetmanshoop

Living in Austria, 64 years old and retired - in photography since about 2009, joined the Olympus/OM Systems cpmmunity in 2015 self-tought but serious photographer, participant in lots of courses and workshops travelling, mountaineering and reporting about. full-member of the VTNÖ society in Austria.

Catherine Comtois

Emotional

Art beautifies life and makes it worthwhile!

Pati John

Swirled

I am self-taught photographer with sharp eye for details and a curious explorer looking for my own style. Already as a child, I was fascinated by the structured world of the various blocks. Among all those repeating patterns and geometrical figures, I was always able to find my inner peace. That’s why, continuously day by day, my passion into each, next undiscovered buildings structures was born. My style is a mishmash of many different approaches an techniques, often overlapping each other. Whatever the photo subject is you can always expect some geometrical patterns and forms composed in – kind of my photographic signature of finished artwork. Regardeless of naming, I simply want to be defined through the prism of my mobile photo’s because a day without a Photo is a day lost. That’s why I am trying to repaint my daily reality pixel per pixel again.I decided to share my new set of photos continuing the serie: ‘City Pattern’ because I thought they could be suitable for the competition theme,let me explain my consideration about it:While I was visiting different cities in Nederland and abroad, I was able to create all my submitted shots. Looking through my later results, I realized that there must be something, strictly in common, between different cities, sometimes situated at a far distance of about 1000 km or more from each other. Although they were apparently most indescribably different, I still could feel the specific vibes in almost every visited corner. The vibrationsare impossible to meet anywhere else. Then I could understand that just as we humans have our own unique DNA containing our unique genetic information. Also, each city is built according to its own unique pattern. A pattern impossible to decipher anywhere else, where an attempt to duplicate it would end up in mutating something unique that cannot be transferred to another place on earth with a different latitude. Because of its unique sphere of the fading lights of lanterns or impressive shadows, the sounds of the innermost gossip whispered in secret, the smell of raindrops falling on the hot asphalt, the view of the night sky through the window of a dream-lit house, the colors dominating every element of everyday life, and the steps taken daily to reach the desired goal. Does each city have its own unique pattern? I believe it has, and moreover, I hope my works belonging to the series 'City Pattern' are proof of that. I also believe that my photography project using human elements as a focal point can show how the theme CHIAROSCURO - highlighting the art of light and shadow—can be seen through my point of view, where perspective of unity can be explained despite the individual approaches and due to differences related to people's maturation, beliefs, and growth environments facilities.

Barbara Colombo

Mother's Funeral

My greatest intention is to show up, to connect, to feel, with a true, authentic heart. The world around me often meets me there. Whether it’s plants or animals or people, the desire to feel the presence of the other over rides all other distractions to truly see the true essence of that which comes before my lens. Over time the lens of my sight has aligned with the lens of the camera to truly connect to that state of being where genuine earth energy aligns to see what perhaps one has never seen before. My great joy, my great passion. Barb Colombo MFA 11:11 Productions Photography

Ryan Ketterer

Self-Portrait (Studio)

My work emphasizes contrast in self-portraiture to express various emotional aspects of my life. In using black and white film all color is reduced to light and shadow, therefore, contrast conveys emotion to each narrative. Each image takes place in the natural state of my bedrooms, further adding to their intimacy and vulnerability. Using long exposure in several works captures movement to convey a story. This resulted in ghost-like figures which are rendered through variations in contrast. Maximizing my contrast further employs the effectiveness and use of chiaroscuro to depict my emotions.

Joyce Andersen

Main Street

My lens is my window to the world. My photographic journey began as a means to document the chaotic beauty of life. Over time, it has evolved into a passion which keeps me alert and drives me to explore the world, looking for unique moments. My goal is to create images that not only capture the eye but also engage the soul, inviting viewers to pause, reflect and connect with the stories told.Through my photography, I aim to inspire a greater appreciation for the world around us and to create a sense of connection and respect for the diverse tapestry of our planet. Each photograph is a piece of my journey, a chapter in the ongoing story of discovery that defines us all. I hope that viewers relate to my images, sparking a sense of curiosity and a deeper understanding of the majestic beauty that surrounds us.

Andrea Zinn

Still life with Persimmons

In March of 2020, as New York City went into lockdown, like many others I became an “artist-in-residence” in my own home. A large drafting table next to a window in an upstairs room became the center of my photography as I began to work on a new series of still life photographs. My initial influence was the 17th century Dutch still life paintings. I was drawn to the quality of the light, which led to my decision to only shoot in natural light. I was also intrigued by the contrast between the beauty and lushness of the subjects with the underlying hints that what is pictured is just a fleeting moment in time.

The Still Life project has become a meditation on the nature of cycles. The daily and seasonal cycle of the sun and the seasonal changes in the light as the trees in front of my windows bud and leaf and change color have become an integral part of each set of photographs. The objects I choose explore the qualities of light and the ephemeral nature of living things and their passage from freshness to fading, remnants and regeneration.

Daniel Jenney

Gehry at Sunset

My images thematically have always featured heavy colors, deep moods, harsh shadows and at times discordant patterns. This is how I view the world as I move through it. My style choices involving color, effects, and methods should leave no doubt that this photograph is how I see the world, how I experienced the moment, and am trying to convey that through a single image. It’s a nice release from the more constrained, client driven, photographic work that dominates my day. I don’t believe in keeping within a constrained subject matter nor do I like to stage or pose my images. The real joy in photography is finding that single fleeting moment and getting to share it with the world.

Nick Bellistri

Illuminate

I am a photographer based outside Boston, Massachusetts whose work seeks to reveal the underlying patterns and textures that define our natural world. My photographic journey began in childhood with an Olympus Quantaray Zoom camera that I used to document every mundane detail of my ten-year-old life, and evolved into a lifelong love of capturing the emotional essence of landscapes, from the Atlantic coastline ten minutes from my house to the stark beauty of the desert Southwest—and what it really feels like to be in those places.
My work explores both color and black-and-white photography, with a particular emphasis on composition, texture, and natural lines. While color captures the vivid essence of a landscape, I often find that black and white photography allows me to highlight the fundamental elements of composition—light, shadow, line, and form. I am particularly drawn to the textural contrasts found in natural environments, from the rugged coastlines of New England to the dramatic rock formations of the American Southwest.

As a self-taught photographer, I bring an unfiltered enthusiasm to my work, allowing intuition to guide my artistic decisions. My approach is not defined by technical accolades or formal exhibition history, but by a genuine devotion to observing and documenting the subtle, textural elements of landscape that often go unnoticed. How the little things make up the big picture. This lifelong dedication to photography represents not just a creative practice, but a way of seeing and engaging with the natural world

Arnold Jeserznik

Energy

I have been retired for 5 years. Photography is both exciting and relaxing at the same time.

Kenna Hand

Echoes of the Valley

I was raised in the red dirt and open sky of Oklahoma, where the land speaks in silence and nothing rushes unless the wind says so. My work is rooted in stillness, light, and presence — shaped by place, memory, and heritage. My grandmother was a painter, and her quiet creativity still guides me. She taught me to look longer, to feel the land, and to trust what doesn’t need to be explained. I’m drawn to the moments that don’t ask to be noticed: a pause, a breath, the weight of the quiet. The West I know isn’t loud — it’s patient and enduring. I photograph to remember, to honor, and to hold onto what won’t stay. These images are less about what’s seen and more about what’s carried. I hope each frame offers a sense of solitude, reverence, and rooted connection — not to define the West, but to reflect what it leaves behind.

Nova Darkstar

Dark was the night, cold was the ground

David Pittenger

Shapes

David Pittenger holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology. For many years David taught a broad range of psychology courses including a course that reviews what psychologists have learned about the processes of sensation and perception. Currently, he is an academic administrator for Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

His interest in photography began in college during the latter 1970s, but he set the avocation aside as he pursued his graduate degree and began to teach and purse various research projects. He recently returned to photography and has been working to develop his aesthetic sense and style. As a generality, he prefers modern realism as the foundation of his work. More specifically, he enjoys making images or rural landscapes, especially in the greater Appalachian region. He also focuses on individual objects and scenes others are likely to overlook.

Melanie Guerra

Hossan Il Mosque, Casablanca

I see the world around me in terms of light and captured moments – and often the tiniest details become the focus of a larger story. I frame my images larger-format mats and frames to both draw the viewer into the detail while simultaneously letting these details "take up space", both physically and visually. In addition to photography, I am an accomplished jewelry designer, and I think that perhaps this attention to detail stems from this work. Another result of this work with metal, gems, and other natural materials is my obsession with texture, both visual and tactile.

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

MERIT AWARD

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