A Sense of Place Cocktail Reception

Curators Robert Scott McKay and Dan Epstein are bringing an exquisite photography exhibit to The Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, NJ. Each of us goes through life these days with a camera in our pocket, ready to capture the important moments in our lives, as well as the simple ones. Millions of photographs are taken every minute of every day around the world. Amid all of this, many people capture images that give the viewer what can be described as "A Sense of Place." Among these are photographers who take their craft very seriously and work hard to produce images they hope will be extraordinary! This exhibit, "A Sense of Place", aims to bring some of these exemplary photographers and their images into view. We hope they make you think, laugh, or reminisce. We hope you are awestruck, find comfort, or even sense danger. Some may evoke a pang of longing, a sense of sensuality, or a whiff of darkness. In all cases, these photographers hope to stir something in you, to create a connection or show you something completely new, something that points you in a direction, not literally, but toward a figurative "Sense of Place". This curated, invitational exhibit, featuring one piece from each of many photographers, reflects not only months of work but also decades of experience. The two guest curators, Dan Epstein and Robert McKay, are longtime professional photographers who have served as curators and judges for many shows. These experiences have led to relationships with many of the artists featured in this show. With great pride, they present, along with Hotel Curator Ellen Martin and The Oyster Point Hotel, "A Sense of Place". “A Sense of Place” will be on view from November 4, 2026, through January 4, 2027. An opening cocktail reception will be held Friday, November 20, 2026, at The Oyster Point Hotel, 146 Bodman Place, Red Bank, NJ. Robert Scott McKay Robert Scott McKay, born and raised in New Jersey, has been taking pictures his whole life. Growing up in an artistic family, he is largely self-taught. He embraced photography as an art form early on and has exhibited in many shows and galleries. He attended Brookdale Community College, where he met Elisabeth Koch, and graduated with an AA in Communications Design, majoring in photography. He and Liz founded McKay Imaging in 1995 and married in June 1998. His interests and strengths lie in styling and documentary photography, which inform most of his personal work. In addition to his work at McKay Imaging, Bob has served as co-photo editor of X-it Magazine, a publication of The Monmouth Arts Council. He co-chaired the Brookdale Alumni Art Show for 7 years and served as Director of Operations for The Freedom Film Society for 3 years. He has served as a juror for The Middletown Arts Center's Annual Photography Show, The Shore Institute of Contemporary Arts Photography Show, The Art Alliance, The Black Mariah Children's Film Festival, The Guild of Creative Art Eyesights Photography Exhibit, the annual photography exhibit at The Ocean County Artists Guild, and the photography section of The Monmouth Festival of the Arts. He later co-chaired the “Exposures” photography exhibit at The Ocean County Artists Guild. Robert is now a business manager, curator, and photographer at McKay Imaging Photography. Dan Epstein A graduate of both The School of Visual Arts and Montclair State University, Dan Epstein is a photojournalist known for portraits that convey warmth and intimacy. His newsmagazine photo credits include Fortune, Time, Money, Entertainment Weekly, and the New York Times Magazine, among others. He also pursues personal photographic projects, including portraiture and the landscapes and culture of the New Jersey Shore. Epstein, a frequent panelist and lecturer on photography at colleges and professional organizations, has administered several professional photography internet forums. He has served on the boards of arts and professional photography nonprofits and currently coordinates several Critique Groups and co-moderates a monthly Zoom-based drop-in Critique Session. He also produces and curates numerous fine art and photography exhibitions for various venues. He has appeared on both radio and television to discuss photography. Image above by Jacki Dickert Poor Monkey Lounge by Jay Seldin