Mark Kseniak of Atlantic Highlands is no purist when it comes to photography. An illustrator by trade, he has no compunction about altering images for effect.
“I capture images, and with those images, I create my vision of how I want them to be perceived,” he writes, in a statement that accompanies his latest body of work.
“Truth be told, I’m a manipulator, either with the camera or through photoshop.”
Kseniak’s first gallery show opens this weekend at McKay Gallery, and features a half-dozen distinct “books” of images. Literally. He assembles his pictures in handmade books according to themes: ice boats, ‘re-enactments,’ amusement parks, New Orleans, New Mexico and Morocco.
For each, he felt free to alter the images, changing color shots to b&w, giving others an aged effect, making others appear gauzy.
The show starts Friday night and runs through Nov. 21. An opening night reception goes from 7 to 10p at the gallery, which is upstairs at 12 Monmouth Street.
For info, call 732.842.2272.
