Architectural Photographer Ellen Fisch Donates Photograph to Harlem Church

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Photographing Harlem gives me an opportunity to portray the history and the heritage of the Community.

New York City, NY (PRWEB) June 19, 2012

Recently, Photographer Ellen Fisch donated one of her black and white photographs to St. Mark’s Church in Harlem to honor Dr. Lionel E. McMurren, a pillar of the church, Harlem Community and a dear friend. The photograph is an aerial shot of the Harlem Community featuring St. Mark’s in the foreground. Fisch, an architectural fine arts photographer, has photographed the iconic New York City neighborhood of Harlem extensively over the past few years. She has shown her Harlem black and white and sepia photographs in Manhattan’s Jadite Galleries; Long Island’s African American Museum and the Hewlett-Woodmere Library among other venues.

“Photographing a neighborhood gives me an opportunity to portray the history and the heritage of the place. Harlem is one of the most historic and cultural communities in New York City,” says Photographer Ellen Fisch. On the numerous times that Fisch went to Harlem to capture its legacy with her architectural fine art photographs, the photographer notes that “Harlem is a diverse and extraordinary area that offers a visually exciting and rich tapestry of life in a tightly knit New York City neighborhood.”

The framed photograph was received at St. Mark’s Church by Reverend Nathaniel T. Grady who knew Dr. McMurren as a strong supporter of St. Mark’s and the community. The Pastor noted that Fisch’s photograph would be displayed in a prominent area of the church to commemorate the remarkable Harlem member and the church itself. Pastor Grady commented, “Ellen Fisch created a beautiful photographic representation of St. Mark’s and of Harlem.” The photographer was glad to have the opportunity to relate the story behind her black and white fine art photograph.

Photographer Ellen Fisch pursued two careers after graduating from Brooklyn College. She was an architectural draftsman/ industrial designer and a photographer. After some years as a draftsman, Fisch was drawn to teaching mechanical drawing and photography. Her first teaching appointment was at IS 10 Fredrick Douglas in West Harlem. There she met two important people: her husband, Kenneth Karcinell and IS 10’s Principal, Dr. Lionel E. McMurren. Both individuals guided Fisch in her teaching and became invaluable to her photography career as well. Dr. McMurren was a revered educator and resident in the Harlem Community where he also dedicated his time and devotion to St. Mark’s Church.

When Ellen Fisch decided to teach part-time to pursue photography and art full time, she received encouragement from her husband and close friend Dr. McMurren. As an artist, Fisch was nurtured by such individuals in her journey towards success. When Ellen Fisch exhibited her black and white and sepia photography, she was always thankful that Dr. McMurren gave her “word-of-mouth” buzz throughout his Harlem circles, which prominently included his St. Mark’s congregation.

Eventually Dr McMurren and his wife Jean retired to Florida and Fisch and her husband would visit them in Sarasota. Fisch brought or mailed her photographs of Dr. McMurren’s beloved Harlem to him there. After learning of Dr. McMurren’s passing, Fisch knew how she could memorialize this special man: donating one of her black and white photographs of Harlem to St. Mark’s Church, which had meant so much to her friend and mentor.

In looking through the catalogs of her Harlem photographs, Fisch found the perfect photograph to give to St. Mark’s Church. The black and white image is an aerial shot taken with a wide angle lens to capture a magnificent image of Harlem that Dr. Lionel E. McMurren cherished as did so many who lived and spent time in this marvelous section of New York City.

About the Photographer:
Ellen Fisch is a New York based architectural fine art photographer specializing in black and white and sepia photography that is artistically expressive, historically relevant and timeless.
To view Ellen Fisch’s black and white, sepia and color tinted photographs of Harlem visit http://www.ellenfisch.com/harlem.php
To learn about the life of Dr. Lionel E. McMurren visit http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/lionel-mcmurren-39
To learn about St. Mark’s Church in Harlem visit http://stmarksharlemumc.org/about/history-of-st-marks

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