What's beyond cellphone photos at Hunter Museum

What's beyond the world of selfies, those photos taken of oneself while holding the camera at arm's length?

That's what will be explored in the first of a series of programs on the intersection of technology and creativity in "Createch: The Amazing World of Cell Phone Photos," a Hunter Happens event today, Jan. 31, at the Hunter Museum of American Art.

"We're looking at something that seems so simple, the cellphone photograph, and see it in completely new ways," said curator of education Adera Causey, referencing design, technology and other fields as new ways of looking at such photos.

The series is being held in conjunction with the Chattanooga Public Library and design association AIGA.

"Technology is just technology until you find new and creative ways to use it," said Causey. "[The series] is not just a forum but a place to explore."

The program will start in the gallery as participants "look at what makes a picture good," she said.

Mark Wood, a professor of art at Chattanooga State Community College whose degrees are in photography, then will talk about cellphone art from a photographer's point of view. A panel then will explore what technology is available for cellphone photos and what technology has yet to be released.

The overall discussion, according to Causey, will focus on what a good picture is, what it can be, how it can be expressive and communicative without being exploitative, and how technology can serve it.

The idea, she said, is that people will look at their cellphone photos in completely new ways.

Contact staff writer Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6497. Subscribe to his posts online at Facebook.com/ClintCooperCTFP.