Picturing Ellsworth with Heath Paley

“Paley’s photographs fall somewhere between documentary photography and art. They’re a composite of dozens, sometimes hundreds of images, digitally stitched together. . . . The end result is a series of exceptionally detailed, color-saturated composite photographs. Many of the images depict longtime staples of the city’s business community: Jack’s Barber Shop (now Elle’s), Home Depot, Charlie’s Pizza & Sub. By combining the in-focus areas of a range of high-resolution images, Paley is able to produce a final product that is crisp down to the last detail. A reflection of the City Hall cupola shimmers. Pockmarks on a curb pop, and the weeds growing at their base are a vibrant, singing green.” — Kate Cough