"Koi" by Photographer Les Dublin

"Life Force" by Photographer Myrna Cambianica

"Post Office Tower" by Photographer Phil Harvey

TienhaaraKaarina Peace Brochure

Phil Harvey, one of Ojai’s “Living Treasures,” has been an artist and nature photographer for over thirty years. He has an eye for the light of life and he creatively captures the essence of those moments that take our breath away. This gifted photographer expresses this essence in his collection of “Mystique of Ojai” images, which will be on display during Ojai’s annual Art Detour.

Harvey founded the Ojai Photography Club in 1984. In honor of Harvey and in celebration of the club’s 28 years, several members of the club will be joining him in exhibiting their photography. Their exhibit, “Mystique of Ojai Fine Art Photography - Phil Harvey and Friends: Myrna Cambianica, Sally Carless, Les Dublin and Kaarina Tienhaara,” will be at Phil’s studio, 302 S. Montgomery Street, Ojai.

The Ojai Art Detour provides the opportunity to visit artists’ studios and galleries of some of Ojai’s accomplished and unique artists. The tour will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14, from 10 am until 5 pm. It is free to the public. The Artist reception will be Saturday October 13th, 6-9pm at Bohemia, 214 W Ojai Avenue, Ojai.

Cambianica will be showing her delicate and dramatic composite images that reflect fragility and the cycle of life. According to the artist, the photography bug first bit her 16 years ago during a trip to Taft gardens. Now she can’t imagine being without her "third eye.” “I used to physically set up these complicated still lives using props like nests and butterflies,” said Cambianica, who now uses computer graphics with multiple photographs to achieve her final images.

Carless, a photographer and educator, sees photography as a way to feed the soul as well as educate and inspire. She will display images from her short film, “Portraits as Portals: An Invitation.” Her photo of a soulful chimpanzee, “Reflection,” won first place in the 2012 Art Center photography show.

“My photographs are intimate portraits,” said Carless, whose work has been published by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Radio Project, and the Sacred Land Film Project. “I want people to experience a deeper connection with the animal world . . . to be able to look into their eyes and see a ‘Being’ looking back at them.”

Dublin, a New York transplant, loves to work with contrasts and is comfortable dealing with macros, landscapes, and abstracts. In his words, “In my photography, I attempt to share my vision of our journey through time and space. I am interested in exploring the dualistic illusion of light and shadow and playing with nature’s patterns. My goal is to give the viewer an opportunity to disengage the thinking brain and release their imagination in unexpected ways.”

Tienhaara, whose photographs document reality with no computer manipulation, joined the now forty-eight member Club, because of its inspirational, supportive atmosphere, which is so aptly expressed by its present credo: “education, camaraderie, and inspiration.”

“I never thought I’d be exhibiting my work,” said Tienhaara, who credits the Club for her growth. “I like to document the beauty in nature that many people miss because they don't take the time to observe,” said Tienhaara, who also makes one-of-a-kind handmade books. “I want to capture that sense of peacefulness and wonder. The play of light and shadow and reflections, which can make familiar objects seem strange and mysterious, especially fascinate me.”

For more information about these artists visit the Ojai Photography Club at: http://ojaiphotoclub.com/ For information on the Ojai Art Detour, or to download a free map, visit www.ojaiartdetour.com/