Photography is a media that has enjoyed quite a bit of development since it was first invented. From the black-and-white photography of Ansel Adams to the digital images of today, the means by which we take photos has changed. But many enthusiasts would argue that what makes a great photo hasn’t changed at all.
Nancy D. Hall is a local photographer who took up the lens more than 30 years ago in an effort to capture fleeting moments while raising a family. Back then, she used film, but she eventually made the transition to digital along with everyone else. However, she still pulls much of her style from the old school of photography.
“Normally my photos are very untouched,” she said. “I don’t usually do more than Ansel Adams was able to do in his darkroom.”
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Like Adams, Hall is drawn to beautiful landscapes. Her upcoming show at the Cypress Gallery in Lompoc—run by the Lompoc Valley Art Association, of which Hall is a member—will include several landscapes from her travels in places like Alaska, Portugal, and Africa. But Hall is also drawn to the wildlife that calls these landscapes home.
“If you love animals, beware, because it’s kind of addicting,” she said. “My major passion for a long time has been for African animals.”
Hall’s trips to Africa have yielded a library of wildlife photos. Armed with a heavy-duty lens, Hall has been able to get intimate shots of birds, lions, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, and others.
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“The first time I went was in 2004 and that was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime,” she said, “but now I save my money so every year I can go.”
What began as a personal passion has become much more for Hall. She started taking photos as a way to relive memories of the places she has been, but now she sees the activity as a source for sharing her experiences with everyone. She has even begun experimenting with combining images for composite pieces, with her first effort appearing in this show.
“I guess I like to make other people happy with my pictures, not just myself,” she said. “But you always have to be there at the right moment and have the equipment.”
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Nancy D. Hall’s photographs can be viewed and purchased on her profile on the website Fine Art America.
Arts Editor Joe Payne’s equipment is a notepad. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2013.