Dan Pennachio of Winchester was in the fifth grade when his father's interest in photography began to rub off on him. Since that time, he has participated in photography clubs at his middle and high schools. Now, at 18, he's trading the darkroom for the spotlight.
About a half-dozen of Pennachio's photographs are on display as part of an exhibit featuring 40 students from Winchester High School and the Boston Arts Academy. "Photosynthesis III" is in the main gallery of the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester through next Sunday.
Pennachio specializes in nature photography, particularly images he captures while walking around Horn Pond in Woburn. His images often capture the visual changes that occur when photographing such objects as a coin or dollar bill in extreme close-up.
"It's pretty exciting and fun to have my work professionally done up and hanging in a place where my friends and family can see it," said Pennachio, a senior who is a teacher's assistant this year in the photography club at Winchester High. "I hope this will encourage people to take student photographers more seriously and see that our work is interesting enough to be in professional exhibits."
The museum is also exhibiting Lowell resident Marla Sweeney's photographs at beaches throughout New England. For more information, visit griffinmuseum.org.
CINDY CANTRELL
