Submitted photo
“The Ghost Image” by Diane Beatty is among the works included in the TAG Photo Invitational, which opens Saturday at Trumbull Art Gallery.

Changes seen in recent years by Gallery Director William Mullane encouraged him to bring the idea back in a different format.

“This year I received three requests for exhibitions, and they’re all photographers,” Mullane said. “Over the last couple of years, both in the (all media) TAG Annual and throughout the year, there’s just been more photographers … I thought it would be fun to do again.

“Having three photographers already apply, I called them to see if they would be interested in working as a small group, and they were. So from there I just went out and picked other photographers that we’ve worked with in various capacities.”

The TAG Photo Invitational, which opens Saturday and will be on display through Aug. 21, features the work of eight area photographers — Diane Beatty, Peter Broberg, Billy Danielson, Richard Hahn, Mark Haney, Rachel Hathhorn, Tony Nicholas and James Shuttic.

All are working in the same medium, but the exhibition showcases a variety of approaches.

“I like to find juxtaposition between things that are not alike,” Mullane said. “I didn’t look for landscape photographers or portrait photographers, but just people working in interesting ways. I gave each photographer absolutely no restriction as to what they wanted to show — nine to 10 pieces of your work that you want to show right now — so it’s eclectic. And yet, as I’m beginning just now to play with the images and to hang it, there’s a lot of overlap.

“There’s a couple artists who really and truly are great at coming close up on subjects and really having shape at the center of their piece. And then there are others, like Pete does some really nice things with just landscapes and environments that he’s in. I like his two blues photographs a lot. It’ll be interesting. I’m hanging the show so that each of the artists gets an individual mini show. I’m not interspersing. And in that way, I think they look really good together.”

The images range in size, and a couple of the artists print or mount their work on non-traditional surfaces. Some of the photographers have been working for years with traditional gear and using a variety of lenses; others came to photography initially from the ease and convenience of the camera on their cell phone.

Mullane remembered talking with David Hume Kennerly, who was President Gerald Ford’s White House photographer, when he was at Youngstown State University several years ago.

“Already he was shooting exclusively with his iPhone after many years of lugging equipment and doing it in every environment,” Mullane said. “There’s a spontaneity that comes with the (cellphone) camera. Photographers who are looking to make good photographs no longer are restricted by film and having to change film or wait to see their images.

“Another piece that I truly have been fascinated by is the tools that they now use. Not so much in this show but a lot of photography I see is really heavily Photoshopped, which is also an interesting addition. At some point, I hope to get some photographers who really work extensively with those kinds of digital tools to enhance their pictures.”

There should be opportunities for that in the future. Mullane envisions the photo invitational becoming an annual addition to TAG’s schedule.

“I think what we’ll do on an annual basis is, rather than do a juried show, do a call for entries, and see how many photographers we have who’d like to participate and choose a different group each year to do that,” he said.

Also opening Saturday are solo exhibitions by Joshua Kronauer and Jonathan Popper. Both artists draw influence from pop culture — Kronauer from vintage horror and Popper from manga and digital animation — but Kronauer is a painter working primarily with black, white and grey while Popper uses a lot of digital tools.

“I thought they really complement each other and look interesting together,” Mullane said.

If you go …

WHAT: TAG Photo Invitational and exhibitions by Joshua Kronauer and Jonathan Popper

WHEN: Saturday through Aug. 21 with opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Trumbull Art Gallery, 158 N. Park Ave., Warren

HOW MUCH: Admission is free. For more information, go to www.trumbullartgallery.com or call 330-395-4876.