The 2025 Women’s Perspective Exhibit is back at Image City featuring the following 10 female photographers: Diane W. Dersch, Cindy El-Gaaly, Joyce Freitas, Christy Librock Hibsch, Donna LaPlante, Melissa Mance-Coniglio, Margy Meath, Sandi Osterwise, Martha Price, and Patty Singer.
According to Margy Meath, organizer of the exhibit, “The Women’s Perspectives exhibition is a celebration of creativity and storytelling through photography. This year’s showcase is particularly special as it marks our fifth anniversary, and we are excited to share a collection of stunning images that inspire, evoke emotion, and invite viewers to see the world through our eyes.”
These talented women—some of whom frequently collaborate—bring their individual viewpoints into conversation with one another, creating an engaging and inspiring visual journey through nature, cities and the sky above. Because of some of their collaborative photography journeys together, viewers have the opportunity to see multiple images of similar subjects.
When visitors first walk into the gallery, they are met by a striking theme wall titled “Sunrise,Sunset;” where each photographer interprets the day’s golden edges in her own unique way. From fiery dawns cresting mountaintops to quiet, glowing twilights reflected on water, this collective sets the tone for exhibition—one of reflection, beauty and connection. An example of the images on this wall is the photo titled “Sunflowers at Sunset,” by Joyce Freitas, which showcases a golden field of sunflowers complemented by the rays of the setting sun.
A sunset from the perspective of a snowy owl can be seen in another section of the exhibit dedicated to Wildlife, which illustrates life and wonder. “Sunset with a Snowy Owl,” by Margy Meath, is an image seen in this area of the gallery. Margy says, “I had spotted this owl earlier in the day as it was ‘hiding’ in a well camouflaged space behind some snow-covered rocks and brush. Knowing that owls will often emerge near sundown, I returned to the area hoping the owl would become more visible. As I watched from my car, the owl jumped up onto the rock pile, then flew over to the post fairly close to my car! I watched him very quietly as the last of the setting sun reflected on the owl.”
The photographers in this section of the gallery used patience and reverence to capture animals in their natural habitats. Christy Hibisch, describes what she did to take her photo called “Incoming.” She says, “You have to be up early to catch the morning mist coming off the water. Early morning is when all the birds start to get active, like this young eagle coming in for breakfast. It is also helpful to have a camera in hand and be ready for anything.”
In another part of the gallery, viewers are transported across the globe when they view the cityscapes, landscapes and seascapes, which include an ever-shifting panorama of human-built and natural environments. Sandi Osterwise says that she has often tried to get a good photo of the Mercury statue atop the Aqueduct Building in downtown Rochester, but she says, “It’s hard to get a good shot from the ground. The opportunity to get this picture came about when the Landmark Society had a tour of the “Wings of Progress” atop the Times Square building. That’s where I got such a great view of Mercury.” Sandi’s image is titled “Mercury Oversees ROC.”
Patty Singer, another photographer in this section of the gallery, is displaying “Peyto Lake – Banff National Park.” She says, “I ventured to the Canadian Rockies several years ago to view and photograph the wonderful landscapes in that area. I appreciate the beauty in our North American National Parks and was not disappointed in the Banff area! There were so many gorgeous glacial lakes there. The water in these lakes appear to be aqua due to the way the rock sediment scatters and reflects sunlight. This area is a photographer’s dream!”
For those viewers who enjoy space in color and motion, there are several images depicting the northern lights dancing across the skies in dreamlike images; for example, “Night Lights” by Cindy El-Gaaly. She says, “It was a magical night last October when all of the elements came together to create an amazing Northern Lights display across Western NY. I got to experience this with a friend as we started at Hamlin Beach and then traveled east down the Lake Ontario Parkway, ending up at the Braddock Point Lighthouse. I was afraid the light from the lighthouse might overshadow the lights in the sky, but to our amazed delight, the colors shown brightly, and I was able to capture this image, which ended up being my favorite of the night.”
In contrast to the Aurora images, the Equine Wall offers grounded elegance, celebrating the strength, spirit and grace of horses, including expressive and intimate portraits. One of the horse photos, “Black Knight,” was taken by Diane Dersch. She says, “This photo was taken at an Amish farm. Having the horse turn his head back towards us was a blessing. I changed the background because all the trees drew the attention away from the horse.”
2025 Women’s Perspective is more than a photography show—it is a celebration of women’s artistic voices, perspectives and shared passions. Each wall tells a story and together, they form a compelling narrative of how women see, feel and frame the world.
If you would like to write a comment or ask a question about the show, please do so in the comment box below.
One response to “Celebrating the Vision and Voice of Women Behind the Lens”
The individual stories above and the many photographs in the Gallery display a unique collaboration and storytelling that is compelling.It is a wonderful display.