Local photographer recognized in magazine

Thomas Roach, of Joliet, is an acclaimed photographer who has just won a merit award for his montage piece, "Persistence of Images," and is being featured in a Black and White Magazine next month.

To celebrate, an artist's reception is planned from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Calmer House Gallery, 352 Union St. in Joliet.

Henry Rasmussen, editor of Black and White, reports that 830 entries and 5,493 images were received for its Single Image Contest. The 8-year-old Bay Area-based magazine has a circulation of almost 40,000 and is printed in 48 countries.

Roach has been dabbling in photography's metaphor and abstract category for more than 30 years. He began shooting photographs and painting in high school and, in a written release, he said his early inspiration came from his two aunts who were members of the Joliet Artist League and his Joliet West High School art teacher, Marcie Long. All were modernist-style painters.

"I was producing work that would have been very cutting-edge about 25 years before I was born," he said.

In addition, Calmer House Gallery this month is showcasing "On the South Shore," a collection of photographs taken in and around the Indiana Dunes by Roach.

Dawn Aulet is a Herald News features reporter who can be reached at daulet@scn1.com or (815) 729-6085.