Photo by Deb Gau Marshall Area Fine Arts Council president Carol Purrington said visitors have enjoyed the humorous elements in the art of photographer Beth Stahn. An exhibit of Stahn's work is on display at the MAFAC gallery this month.

MARSHALL — A photo can capture a moment, but it can also be used to tell a story. Photographer Beth Stahn said storytelling is a big part of her work, which is now on display at the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council gallery on Third Street.

“I kind of lean into the surreal,” Stahn said of the photos. Instead of shooting traditional portraits, her scenes often include humorous or whimsical images.

An exhibit of Stahn’s photography, “In the Comfort of Silence,” will be at the MAFAC gallery on Third Street through March 26. An artist reception will be held March 19.

Members of the public have had positive responses to the photographs on display, said Carol Purrington, MAFAC president. Visitors enjoyed the humor in Stahn’s work, she said.

Stahn is a photographer and conceptual portrait artist based in Minnesota.

“My idea of conceptual is, photography that is storytelling, not necessarily always facts,” Stahn explained. Those stories can be told through silly characters, or images that might make a viewer take a second look. Stahn said she creates photo shoots using sets, and subjects that sometimes include her own children and her family’s chickens.

“I do have a series (of photos) where I use my chickens to tell a story,” Stahn said. “Within that series, I have eggs in weird places, or people eating eggs raw.” Some of those photos are part of the MAFAC exhibit.

Stahn said she’s used the imagery of chickens and eggs to represent a lot of different things in her photography. In one example, she was inspired by real-world problems like the rising cost of eggs. At other times, she has also used eggs to symbolize ideas of fertility, or women’s rights, she said.

Stahn said her finished photos start with a physical set and a photo shoot.

“I try to get most of the actual set in-camera,” she said. However, working with animals and children can be unpredictable. Stahn said she uses digital tools like Photoshop to make composites of different shots for some of the finished images.

Stahn said it was exciting to be part of the MAFAC exhibit.

“It’s cool to have your photography in a public place,” and see people engage with it,” she said.

Purrington said “In the Comfort of Silence” will be the last gallery show at MAFAC’s Third Street location before the organization moves into a new office and display space on the second floor of Marshall City Hall.

MAFAC announced an April 1 move date on its Facebook page. The first show in the new location will feature art by area high school students.

Because the new MAFAC location will not include a gift shop, MAFAC plans to hold a sale at its Third Street gift shop starting March 10, Purrington said.