Sedona, AZ - The city invites the public to save the date for its next artist reception on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers and Vultee Conference Room at City Hall, where photographs taken by Elaine and Bill Belvin are on display through Jan. 9, 2024. Special music guest at the reception will be singer/keyboardist Shaeri Richards, performing an eclectic blend of jazz, pop and blues.

The Belvins moved to Sedona in 2012 to experience the rugged landscape and vibrant artist community. Although they are most often side by side, photographing the same sites, they each rely on their own creativity to produce distinct and personal images.

Elaine’s interest in photography was sparked by the beautiful landscapes hiking in the southwest. After a career in information technology, photography became her focus. Wilderness exploration gives her access to remarkable sites where she uses a combination of artistic and technological skills to create her images. Her portfolio includes landscape and wildlife images from the American West, Canada, Africa, Iceland, France and the Falkland Islands. “I use the camera to create works of art that capture an expression, a mood, a natural geometry, an exceptional quality of light or a striking color palette. My computer skills help to bring together the final product. Through photography, I have discovered a way of expressing and representing the things that touch me and hopefully touch others,” said Elaine.

Her photographic work has been recognized for its excellence, winning top awards. She is currently a juried artist at the Sedona Arts Center. Elaine has taken an active role serving on the board of the Sedona Camera Club and she was involved in creating Sedona Photography Symposiums, which are educational events bringing together photographers from throughout the country.

Bill, a former actuary, is a fine arts photographer who found his true passion capturing richly detailed images of the southwest, as well as during his world travels. Bill spends hours searching "secret" locations. His greatest joy is sharing these places with others. “Photography is a journey of discovery. It has taken me to remote corners of the Earth to witness the sublime and the subtle. I find particular joy in capturing desert landscapes. The desert is a tableau of extremes: stark yet stunning, harsh yet serene. I am drawn to the challenge of abstracting the essence of a place or animal in a single frame, conveying its mood and character through composition, lighting and perspective,” said Bill.

Bill has won many first place awards in local and regional competitions. He has been published in the Utah Adventure Journal, Shutterbug magazine and Green Living. He is also a juried artist at the Sedona Arts Center and the Sedona Artist Market.

“I have admired Elaine and Bill’s photographs for years. I am thrilled to be able to display their incredible work at City Hall. I hope the public will take time to view this beautiful and engaging exhibit,” said Arts and Culture Specialist Nancy Lattanzi.