Local photographer Neil Doren exhibits at the Center for Artful Living

"Black-crowned Night Heron" is among the Neil Doren photographs on display at the Center for Artful Living in Westlake.

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Neil Doren, a local award-winning nature and landscape photographer, is exhibiting at the Center for Artful Living in Westlake. Mr. Doren, who has presented his photography in the area, including Cleveland Hopkins Airport, The Breen Center for the Performing Arts and several juried art shows, describes himself as a nature and travel photographer who strives to “capture those moments in time” that speak to him. Of course, he is passionate about the capture but more so when those moments can be shared with the public. 

Mr. Doren says that beauty exists everywhere like in the veined wing of a damselfly or the magnifying effects of raindrops on the veins of a leaf. For some of his pieces, Mr. Doren has taken inspiration a step further; he has even written haiku poems about the image. The haiku appears on the back of the framed work.

This exhibit features beautiful photographs of images from each geographic direction of America including North Carolina, Alaska, Maine and California in addition to nearby locations of Cleveland, Rocky River and Westlake. Mr. Doren’s florals and wildlife are included as well. The exhibit will run through Jan. 21 and is free and open to the public. A reception takes place on Friday, Nov. 30, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

He has won many awards for his work, including honorable mention for "Reflections in a Pond" in the 2018 Community of Fine Arts Show in Porter Library presented by the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council. This was not the first of his COFA awards, he has won either first place or honorable mention from 2011 through 2018, except for 2012 when he served as a judge. Although proud of his accolades, Mr. Doren derives the most pleasure from people commenting about his photographs.

Mr. Doren’s exhibit includes some of these COFA award-winning pieces including "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," "Survivor – Elyria Barn" and "Reflections at Waters Edge." In addition to his exhibit pieces, many photographs from his collection and greeting cards are available for purchase with the proceeds from sales benefitting the Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation.

The Foundation will host Carolyn’s Holiday Gift Shop on Sunday, Dec. 2, from noon to 5 p.m. The profits from the Center for Artful Living support the work of the Foundation and help to create a dementia-friendly community in northwestern Cuyahoga County.

The Center for Artful Living is located 26633 Detroit Road, Westlake. For more information about, call 440-414-0434, email info@farrellfoundation.com or visit centerforartfulliving.org.