Photographs, in theory, are supposed to tell some kind of truth about the world.

So why are they always printed on smooth and shiny surfaces?

Local artist Cindy Bennett knows that real life is anything but glossy. So when she switched from oil painting to photography, she devised a process for developing photographs on more textural surfaces, like wood and canvas. She’s even made lamp shades out of her work. Her pictures have both depth and muted sadness. The images and scenes capture the places Cindy has spent her life — Wyoming (where she grew up) and Los Angeles (where she lives now). Landscapes and communities are preferred subjects, and she depicts them in a decidedly unsappy way. A little rough around the edges.

Like life, you could say.

Cindy Bennett’s work can be seen and purchased at Landon Cole, 149 South La Brea Avenue, between 1st and 2nd streets (323-933-3318).