This week, internationally known photographer John Paul Caponigro visits Buffalo to deliver a free artist’s lecture and slide presentation at Villa Maria College. A Yale graduate with a background in art and literature, Caponigro has become an authority on the digital platform, combining both traditional and progressive photographic methods in his process. This multi–disciplined artist uses his knowledge of painting, drawing, calligraphy and literature to create compelling images. Caponigro’s pieces are often landscapes, and the aesthetic manipulation of nature–based reality can lend a surreal quality to his work (“Oriens” from 1999 is pictured). As a writer and contributing editor for View Camera and Camera Arts magazines, a featured columnist for Photo Techniques Magazine, and author of the book Adobe Photoshop Master Class, the artist’s knowledge and expertise has been widely published. Similarly, Caponigro’s work has been extensively exhibited in galleries around the globe. The artist’s lecture will include discussions on digital media and will be followed by a question and answer session.

—k. o’day

Thursday, February 9 at 7pm. Villa Maria College, Recital Hall, 240 Pine Ridge Rd., Cheektowaga (896-0700). Free.