Greenville's free alternative weekly

Photography exhibit at City Art

Time…captured

By Judit Trunkos

Dr. Fred McElveen, a dermatologist living and working in Columbia, is also a well-respected photographer who studied with Ansel Adams, Cole Weston, Phil Davis and Alan Ross. This year McElveen will present South Carolina-themed prints in his “Time…captured” exhibit, which can be seen until September 29 at City Art, on Lincoln Street.

Both photography and the practice of medicine hinge upon attention to detail and this collection truly embodies McElveen’s observation and exploration of life’s small details. He captures a frozen second and makes it irresistibly beautiful by choosing interesting angles and close-ups and together with computer manipulation, highlights the nuances of our environment.

Water, sky, trees and flowers melt into the beautiful rural Carolina images while streets, houses and cars illustrate the urban life of Columbia, Charleston and other cities in the state. McElveen combines his technique with computer-assisted manipulations and his pictures become a mystical reflection of every-day objects and scenes. The mystical feeling mostly comes from his usage of light. McElveen likes to use foggy, unclear images to give the scene a romantic impression. The often dream-like images draw the viewer into a mystical world and at the same time connect them with their homes, with the street they live on or the bridge they cross every day.

“Time…captured” is an enchanting exhibition of photographs taken of the unnoticed beauties of South Carolina. McElveen stops time and points out the details that are being missed due to the speed of modern life.

“Time…captured” will run thru September 29 at City Art on Lincoln St.