Finding God through the camera lens

Young Chang

Richard Ross was looking at a row of glass lanterns in a Chilean

church some years ago when the padre approached and asked what he was

doing.

He told the father that he was trying to put God into his camera the

way the padre put God into his place of worship. The padre suggested Ross

light the lanterns.

For Ross, whose photographic God would have to be light, the

suggestion allowed his camera to do what it’s always supposed to: capture

something spiritual.

“We were going on and on in some primitive Spanish,� the photographer

said, laughing.

This incident was unique for Ross in that by lighting the lanterns, he

manipulated his setting -- something he never, ever does.

“It would be arrogance to think I could move something and make it

better,� Ross, 54, said. “And part of that is my power over you to say I

didn’t touch a thing.�

His collection “Gathering Light,� on exhibit at the Orange County

Museum of Art’s main and satellite galleries since last week, shows

naturally lighted settings in countries from nearly all corners of the

world.

A pile of rubble shines with what looks almost like a divine spray of

sun. A white sculpture swims in a brighter white light, creating a

picture of white on white that makes one wonder whether other colors are

even necessary?

But a photo titled “Ferry Stop,� taken in Jesolo, Italy, argues that

an artist just can’t do without blues. A pier against a blue ocean glows

an odd lime green as a street light taints everything a mix of cold hues.

And from Pompeii, Italy is a piece titled “Excavating Room.� A wild

yet precise streak of white light slices across a wall.

Known most for his photographs of museums around the world, Ross’

collection at the Newport Beach museum includes pictures of temples,

forts, theaters, casinos, movie sets and even ruins.

At South Coast Plaza’s satellite gallery, Ross exhibits two entirely

different projects -- one created with his daughter Leela and another

that focuses on the concept of vision and memory.

Called “Leelacyd,� the work done by Ross and his daughter is a visual

diary of Leela’s daily outfits. For four years, Ross photographed the

teenager before she went off to school every day

“It’s a journal of fashion and a journal of growing up,� Ross said.

“And having it next to the Benetton store was really perfect. I don’t

know if people would see that as subverting what fashion is, or embracing

that.�

“Fovea� is a larger installation made up of photos from his family

album and other projects. The work could be called Ross’ journal -- a

chronicle of his career detailing everything from family moments to yet

more museums. The term “fovea� refers to the center of the retina that

perceives color, said museum curator Sarah Vure.

He used a Diana camera -- an inexpensive, toy camera -- to shoot the

images, Vure continued. Some of the photos are blurry, some are in focus,

and the piece’s 130 images can be installed in different configurations.

“It’s very evocative,� Vure said. “Each person who views it will be

drawn to a different image and subject.�

FYI

* What: “Gathering Light�

* When: Through March 31. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday

through Sunday

* Where: Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport

Beach

* Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, free for members

and children younger than 16

* Call: (949) 759-1122.