The Through the Lens exhibition presents large color photographs gathered by Paul Mudgett during his travels around the West. The Capital City Arts Initiative’s exhibition is now open in the Community Center’s Crowell Board Room, 851 E William St. “Landscape and wildlife photography offer challenges and opportunities to create images that reflect a moment or experience,” Mudgett said. “There is a certain excitement that comes with unpredictable things, whether that’s the color and reflection of light at sunrise or how wildlife will move through the lens. “Finding the right composition for landscapes is really finding a view that appeals to me visually and waiting patiently for the right light rather than being a stickler for the ‘rules of composition.’ My journey into photography started as a distraction from work. Being outdoors allows the perfect environment to disconnect and step away for a little while.” He is mostly a self-taught photographer practicing new techniques. “My wife refers to me as the accidental artist,” said Mudgett. “I bought my first DSLR because it seemed like a hobby that would be a great distraction from work, but then I got hooked on learning all I could about the technical details of the camera, good light, composition, and anything else I could absorb.” With a career that requires constant, technical learning, Mudgett has taken that same hands-on, disciplined approach to learning photography. Mudgett grew up in Southern California but moved under the shadow of the Sierra Nevada in 1992 to finish school at the University of Nevada. While digital photography has grown to be a passionate hobby, his career is in the cybersecurity field, working for one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms. In his spare time, Mudgett also enjoys paddle boarding at Lake Tahoe, golfing, writing, travel, and playing guitar. CCAI is an artist-centered not-for-profit organization committed to community engagement in contemporary visual arts through exhibitions, illustrated talks, arts education programs, artist residencies, and online activities. For information, visit CCAI’s website at www.ccainv.org.
