The Godfrey Dean Gallery's new Serpentine Gallery exhibition space is all about encouraging and promoting local photographers. The first show in the space, ROAD2LIGHT, showcases a collection of photographs by Taisha Rudoski, with a focus on images of food and landscapes.
Rudoski's photos come from a unique source, her Blackberry Storm. She admits she was surprised that the phone could take high quality photos.
"One evening I was just playing with the features, trying to educate myself about the big, fancy phone. I snapped a photo and I couldn't believe what I saw. I just started taking pictures of anything and everything," Rudoski says.
While she admits that the selection on display is only a small selection of what she photographs, and that her favorite subject is people, she understands that the phone gives a particular look to images of food.
"It captures every detail in a strawberry and it doesn't miss a thing, so I was hooked," she explains.
"Food for years has been used for celebration and family get togethers, and even in times of sorrow there's food. So I figure, why not capture it and really glorify it?"
Rudoski puts priority on keeping retouching to a minimum, limiting it to some basic color enhancement. She explains that she doesn't want to get too far from the original shot.
"I try not to photo touch them too much, because then it feels like you're lying, that's not how it really looked," she says.
The reveal that the photos come from a Blackberry comes as a surprise to many people, and Rudoski admits that the reaction isn't always kind.
"I have been called a liar on numerous occasions, and I always say I have the original prints to prove it."
She says she won't give up the phone because it allows for spontaneity that a larger rig wouldn't allow. She notes that she always has it on her, so whenever she sees something worth taking a picture of it's there.
Putting together the show is a dream for Rudoski, and she's proud of her work and the chance to display it.
"It's always been my dream to be in an art gallery. Art's my life, so now that I'm here I'm very happy," Rudoski concludes.
The show will be at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery until April 29, and she has more images on her website, www.pmyphoto.com.
