Justine Knight and Stacey Vukelj Present "NEAR and FAR: A Selection of Travel Photography"

The Larchmont Public Library’s Oresman Gallery presents a new exhibit by photographers Justine Knight and Stacey Leece Vukelj. The exhibit titled “NEAR & FAR: A SELECTION OF TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY” opens on January 2 and will remain on display through January 30. There will be an artist’s reception honoring the photographers on Saturday, January 10, from 2:30 to 4:00pm. The exhibit, which is open during normal library hours, and reception are free and all are invited.

The exhibit, which features street scenes in and around New York City as well as locations outside the immediate area and are predominantly in black and white but with color photography interspersed throughout. Several photographs present the photographer’s children in many unique settings as well as city scenes that are very familiar, such as Grand Central Terminal, and others that are less well-known. According to Stacey Vukelj, “Our exhibit is a presentation of some of our favorite photographs. We both like the challenge presented by this type of photography.”

The photographers met only a couple of years ago when each signed up to take an online photography course so they could learn to take better pictures of their children. Once they began to learn how to become better photographers, their collective passion for taking photographs really began to grow. As their friendship also continued to grow, their interests in subject matter grew beyond their children and they began photographing urban street scenes. “Because our photographic styles are similar and complimentary, it just made sense for us to put together a joint exhibit of our work,” said Vukelj.

Stacey Leece Vukelj has lived in New York City for the past ten years and began her study of photography to better document her journeys with her family. Her formal education is as a lawyer; her photography education has been largely through self-study and small workshops. She has also studied at the International Center of Photography in New York City. Although her original photography goals centered on documenting her family, street and travel photography have become her passion. In addition to her personal work, Vukelj is also a volunteer for The Gold Hope Project, a photography non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer and a mentor and breakout instructor at Clickin Moms, an online family photography forum. Anonymity among the crowds of the city is a recurring theme in Ms. Vukelj’s work. She seeks opportunities to isolate her subjects, even within the busiest of scenes, and has a special affection for shooting at night and in inclement weather.

Justine Knight is a fine art and portrait photographer based in Westchester. She began her photographic journey just over 2 years ago. Her aim at that time was to capture the life of her family with a focus on her two daughters. After undertaking a workshop in 2012 at the International Center for Photography, she developed a passion for fine art street photography. Ms. Knight loves the challenge of photographing the ever-changing streets and people of New York City and in September 2013, she won the Juror’s Award for her “Eye on the Street” exhibition at the Kiernan Gallery in Virginia.