Suzette A. Paduano answered questions about how she captures such magical moments Friday night at the Prendergast Library Art Gallery.
A Panama resident, Mrs. Paduano's exhibit, entitled ''God's Creations, My Inspirations,'' will remain on display through Feb. 6.
''I just want to show people what I see,'' said Mrs. Paduano, who shoots most of her photographs around her home. ''I didn't go to school for this. I've always taken pictures, but really just started three years ago. I've only been developing for two-and-a-half years. It's really just an outlet to something creative.''
Now the president of the Jamestown Audubon Society Photo Club, Mrs. Paduano's work on display now at the Prendergast Library looks like it must have taken years to compile - though she says it was all recently shot within the last six months. Many photos of birds she shot from within her home, through her kitchen window.
From closeup nature shots and people to pictures of animals in their natural environment, Mrs. Paduano's exhibit is varied, colorful and a welcome break from the white surroundings of the present season.
''It reminds you that the seasons are going to turn around,'' said Anne Plyler, who handles booking art exhibits at Prendergast library. ''We're pleased to have her. We have so many talented people in this area. One of the pleasures of the library is to help share their work with other people in the area. That's one of the goals of the art gallery, to be a showcase for these regional artists.''
The Prendergast Library Art Gallery has nine exhibits each year, with each exhibit running between four and five weeks. Exhibits vary in the type of artwork exhibited as well as in single, duo and group shows.
Mrs. Paduano said she is able to capture extraordinary images with ordinary equipment, but she attributes some of her best work of the past year to a generous United Arts Appeal grant, which enabled her to buy a telephoto lens.
A lifelong resident of Chautauqua County, the artist graduated from Southwestern High School. As a student, she was interested in all types of arts and crafts, from jewelry making, sewing and needle point to photography.
This year, she won ribbons at both the Chautauqua County Fair and Art in the Park in Mayville. She also exhibited her work at the Bonagany Allegany show and sale, the Something Unique galleries in both Sherman and Mayville, Harmony Historical Society, Chautauqua Suites Expo Center and Prendergast Library with the Audubon Photo Club. In 2007, she participated in Ashville Days.
Mrs. Paduano and her husband, Jerry, live in Panama in a house they designed and built themselves. They have three grown married children: Jennifer McDonald, Nicholas Paduano and Kristen Briggs.
Gallery hours for her exhibit at Prendergast Library will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Beginning Feb. 13, Prendergast Library will feature work by the Chautauqua County Art Teachers. The library is located at 509 Cherry St., Jamestown. For more information, call 484-7135, ext. 225
