ART: A new vision

By Paul Lane/lanep@gnnewspaper.com
Greater Niagara Newspapers

January 31, 2008 10:47 am

— Mike Miller is one of “those guys” who wants people to view the world in a different way.
Unlike the metaphorical way many people mean this, though, Miller lives it.
Miller, of Akron, is a retired computer software developer whose work in the arts has evolved to 3-D photography. He will put this work on display for the first time this weekend at the Market Street Art Center in Lockport, showcasing about 40 pieces featuring Western New York landmarks.
Using any camera, including a cell phone camera, Miller creates the images by snapping a picture from two spots 2 1/2 inches apart — about the distance on one’s face between the eyes. The result is a picture that seems to jump out at the viewer.
“I like to see more than what you see on a piece of paper,” he said. “You see depth. You see real depth.”
There are two ways to view the pictures. One can use the red and green glasses made popular by 1950s-era 3-D movies or cross their eyes to see the image. The glasses are easier, Miller said, but eye-crossing allows the picture to look more realistic.
“Things that are red or things that are green lose their integrity,” he said. “Cross-eyed colors maintain the integrity ... once you adjust into it, you can look at others quite quickly.”
Having dabbled in 3-D photography since the summer, Miller seems to have fully converted his craft in that direction, although he’s also won awards for his painting and writing. He’s authored a how-to book on 3-D photography and insists that it’s the truest way to project an image.
“If you move the picture a little bit, you will see relative movement between the foreground and the background,” he said. “You get much better representation of the depth, which gives you much greater detail.”
Running concurrently with Miller’s show at Market Street will be the annual black and white exhibit, in which center director Sally Bisher said all submissions are made lacking color. Wine tasting will take place during Saturday’s opening reception hosted by Vizcarra Vineyards of Gasport.
Both shows will prove enjoyable, Bisher said, with Miller’s exhibit not nearly as odd as it might initially sound.
“I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but I loved it,” she said.
Other art lovers should share a similar sense of adventure and try something new with his 3-D art, Miller said.
“If you want to look at photographs in a different way ... this will do it,” he said.
Contact reporter Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116.

IF YOU GO
• WHAT: Mike Miller 3-D photography exhibit, and black and white exhibit
• WHEN: Saturdayfeb 2 through March 2; opening reception at 5 p.m. Saturday
• WHERE: Market Street Art Center, 247 Market St., Lockport
• MORE INFORMATION: Call 478-0239

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