ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Westwood photographer Jeremy Lebled will take viewers “Front and Center” at the Bergen Performing Arts Center with his new collection, now on display at the Englewood venue and cultural institution.
Lebled has spent the last two years as bergenPAC’s house photographer, where he has captured scenes from iconic performers, including Peter Frampton, Paula Abdul, Gladys Knight and many more.
His latest exhibit will show highlights from this year’s headlining performances at bergenPAC, and will hang in its Drapkin Cabaret & Lounge, where there will be an artist reception on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Lebled graduated from Westwood Regional High School in 2010 and was inspired by teacher Dennis Covello, who had told him “If you love what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
Through photography, Lebled has found his calling and continues to be grateful for the opportunities coming his way, including more than 200 concerts he has photographed at bergenPAC.
“This year, I’m really trying to display my work in the crowd, as if you’re there experiencing it. That’s the point of view of this show,” he told Pascack Press.
One of his most memorable shows was photographing Peter Frampton, whom he had listened to with his mom on car trips to family vacations in his youth.
“I got to photograph that show and take my mother and it was a ‘full circle’ moment,” he said.
Another capture he recalls was snapping a picture of Olivia Newton John after her performance alongside her “friend”—who, only later Lebled would realize, was Didi Conn, Newton John’s co-star in the 1978 classic film “Grease.”
From humble roots to bright horizons
The reception and exhibition is a great opportunity for Lebled to reflect on what he’s accomplished and where’s he’s going. Local photographers may know him from his job at Bergen County Camera on Westwood Avenue, where he’s happy to explain camera gear and offer advice to his fellow photographers.
“I’m forever grateful to the people at Bergen County Camera for giving me the opportunity to start out there, to the point where I’m now photographing rock stars and celebrities,” he said. “They gave me my start in photography and taught me the ropes.”
In the future, he hopes to teach and inspire others.
“I think the secret to life is always giving back and I would love to just keep giving back the gift that God gave to me,” Lebled said. “Photography has helped me so much as an individual. It helped me through depression and anxiety; and the only thing I had to fall back on was my cameras. It always kept me in a positive mindset and it was an outlet to escape.”
Enjoy the scenes from “Front and Center,” on display throughout December in The Sandy Bennett Art Gallery at bergenPAC, inside its Drapkin Cabaret & Lounge. Hours, Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 12–4 p.m.