Syracuse University’s Palitz gallery to host travel photography exhibit

Visions of Barcelona, Tokyo and Paris are immortalized by photography in the latest Palitz Gallery exhibit.

Starting Thursday, The Louise and Bernard Palitz Gallery at Syracuse University’s Lubin House will show “Wanderlust: Travel Photography from the Syracuse University Art Collection.” With a collection that spans from the 19th century to present day, “Wanderlust” is an ode to the timelessness of travel photography.

“This exhibition of over 25 original photographs explores how a variety of artists from the late 1800s until today have captured landscapes, either near or far, to give viewers a glimpse of diverse and varied places,” said Scott McDowell, The Palitz Gallery’s executive director of regional strategic communications.

The photos were chosen to show how different artists captured their surroundings and how that has changed over the last two centuries, said SUArt Galleries director Domenic Iacono. The exhibit is meant to serve as a learning experience for the public by sharing a real slice of their life in the places they photograph.

“This exhibit is something everyone can enjoy as it illustrates the evolution of the genre of travel photography, from the beginning where very few could afford cameras to current times where cameras are more prevalent,” said the exhibit’s curator, Emily Dittman. “And snapshots of vacations and travels are much more frequent.”

Dittman added that this travel photography is especially important with today’s digital photography and social media outlets, where anyone can share their travels and interactions.

An ever-changing art, as Dittman explained, “Wanderlust” creates a sort of timeline of the techniques in photography at each period. There were many technological advancements throughout the time that the pieces were taken, which are seen through how the photographers captured their subjects. Dittman pointed out the convenience of digital cameras and their advancements.

The exhibit shows photography as a multifaceted art — creating a template for the advances of the time and acting as a canvas for the artist.

“Travel photographers serve as integral witnesses to the past,” Dittman said. “Small details emerge in these images, capturing popular culture, costumes, architecture or ceremonies that may no longer exist. Thanks to the genre, these integral clues to our cultural heritage are forever documented on film and printed imagery.”