Photographer's Desert Visions on Display at La Verne Gallery

Kinetic Ambiguity exhibit features dreamlike abstractions of the High Desert landscape.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Inspired by his Army service, photographer Edward Lance Montgomery transforms familiar desert landscapes like Joshua trees, power lines, and highways into fluid, abstract compositions through intentional camera movement and long exposures. His solo exhibition "Kinetic Ambiguity" is on display at the Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography in La Verne, California until April 17, 2026.

Why it matters

Montgomery's work challenges the traditional perceptions of landscape photography, focusing on emotional impact rather than technical perfection. The exhibit provides a unique perspective on the High Desert region and showcases the artist's personal growth following his military service.

The details

During his Army service in the Second Gulf War, Montgomery couldn't stop to take pictures in the desert, so he started shooting one-handed while driving. This evolved into his Kinetic Ambiguity style, which uses intentional camera movement and long exposures to reimagine familiar desert scenes into dreamlike, almost science fiction-like compositions.

  • Montgomery served in the U.S. Army during the Second Gulf War in 2003.
  • Montgomery's 'Vistas' segment of the Land Series, part of the Kinetic Ambiguity Project, received an honorable mention in the 2025 Color Photography Contest.
  • The Kinetic Ambiguity exhibit is open to the public at the Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography until April 17, 2026.

The players

Edward Lance Montgomery

A High Desert photographer whose solo exhibition "Kinetic Ambiguity" is on display at the Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography. Montgomery served in the U.S. Army during the Second Gulf War in 2003 and his work has been recognized in photography contests.

Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography

A gallery located in Miller Hall at the University of La Verne that is currently hosting the "Kinetic Ambiguity" exhibition by photographer Edward Lance Montgomery.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I couldn't stop in the middle of the desert to take a picture. So I would just take pictures as I was driving, one-handed… and midway through that tour, I just stared at them and thought, 'Let me reevaluate this.' This might be something.”

— Edward Lance Montgomery, Photographer (newsdirectory3.com)

“I want people to have the same takeaway I do. It makes them feel good… almost something in science fiction, this otherworldly feeling when you look at these images.”

— Edward Lance Montgomery, Photographer (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The Kinetic Ambiguity exhibit will be open to the public at the Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography until April 17, 2026.

The takeaway

Montgomery's Kinetic Ambiguity project showcases his unique perspective on the High Desert landscape, transforming familiar scenes into dreamlike abstractions that evoke an emotional response in viewers. His work challenges traditional notions of landscape photography and provides a personal artistic expression shaped by his military experiences.