Back with our second exhibit of the season, the Romano Gallery opens with in the middle of it, debuting October 6 in Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts. The collection houses a variety of disparate images by photographer Rob Yaskovic that represent fleeting moments captured, along with the feelings and the intentions through the eyes of the artist. While the viewer is “in the middle of it,” they are also encouraged to look at the edges at times, and be aware of what the photographer doesn’t want you to see as much as what he does.

Mr. Yaskovic sold his first photo at 16, received his first commission at 19 and continued to build his career from there. At 21, he began working at The New Jersey Herald as a photojournalist, bringing local community life to people’s doorsteps for four years. 

“Making photos every day…your style develops fast,” Mr. Yaskovic explains. “After leaving the paper, I ran my own photography business photographing events and portraits and still do to this day.” 

While Mr. Yaskovic has made a career in photography, he also totes a well-rounded resume of jobs, including: scaffold builder, barista, bread baker, cook, marketing manager and most important, stay-at-home dad. He now spends three days a week photographing watches for a  gray market watch company. He also photographs portraits and events and takes marketing photos for small businesses.

“I’ll never claim to know it all about photography,” Mr. Yaskovic shares. “What I will proclaim is making photos is about light and ‘seeing’ your subject. Noticing details—whether it’s shadows or highlights, a smirk on a face or just the space around something—it’s your job as a photographer to see it. It’s a job that I do without a camera up against my face, and it’s a job I’ll do forever because, to me, the best way to constantly be better at photography is to constantly make photos.”

From October 6 to 30, all are welcome to visit the Romano Gallery to bear witness to in the middle of it. Mr. Yaskovic will be on campus Thursday, October 8, at 7 p.m. for an artist talk with the Blair community about his photography and the process behind his work.