Bertha Parnell

Biography
I was married for 30 years, and I am now recently divorced. I am the mother of three children and now a single parent with a twelve-year-old daughter at home. After having my daughter I was a stay at home mom and now I am a non-traditional student back in school after 30 years.

I love learning, but didn't have the opportunity to go to college, and have always wished that I could have gone to college. I love crafts and working with my hands making things look pretty. I love the world of art. I am a sophomore at The University of Toledo, majoring in art and focusing in cyber art. Also, I am a work-study at the Catharine Eberly Center for Women.

Statement

Images of Night Visions

There are scenes of cityscapes at night, some just after sunset and some scenes of nature. Night shooting is done without a flash. During my shooting of these night visions, I found that the results could be very powerful. It is so unique, the way the films make certain distinctions between the different light sources. I love experimenting with night vision to see what fascinating techniques and effects that these different images show. I am amazed at what the camera picks up, things that my eyes didn't detect.

Notice the richness of the royal blue sky that was shot a few minutes after sunset in one image and the richness of colors that glowed over the parking lot. This image reminded me of a time in my childhood.

I did some long exposures while moving and it created beautiful blur configurations of the lights in these images. There is a blurred image that seems to have a lacy effect that is my favorite. There is such beauty and inspiration in night shooting.

In the next body of work, I use metaphors to express my emotions. As a very young person, my dreams were to marry and have a happy family. Also, my dream was to grow old with this person. My dreams were shattered and I am now divorced after thirty years of marriage. Because of the divorce there has been pain, many changes and losses. I have found that in my struggle to be free of the past, I have encountered many obstacles. But I shall renew my life and mount up with wings like an eagle.

Bertha Parnell