Photographer of the Week: Gillian Henry
Gillian Henry, aka amythyst lake, is a two-time RAW monthly contest winner: Her photo of two skiers and a lone tree, "Tis the Season ... for winter sports" finished 2nd in our December contest, and she captured 2nd place again in May with her image of daisies on Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston, "Day's Eye."
In looking over her photos in her Flickr account, I was struck by how Jill is able to capture gorgeous photos in an urban setting. (And I have to admit I was partial to her photos from the Neponset section of Dorchester, where I grew up.) So when I asked her to be a POTW, I asked her to focus on her city photography. Her pictures are proof that to make a great photo, you first have to see the great image that could be right in front of you.
By Gillian D. Henry
Revere
I have always felt the desire to capture fragments of the world around me. When I was a child, I loved to draw and paint - my father and grandfather were both talented amateur painters, and I received plenty of encouragement at home.
Photography was a natural progression, and as soon as I could afford it, I bought my first SLR, an Olympus OM10, around 1980. I have taken pictures on and off ever since, but digital cameras, computers, and the Internet have opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Now I use a Nikon D80 and a Canon PowerShot G9 point-and-shoot.
I love the way that photography transforms both what I see and the way that I see it. It makes me notice things in an entirely different way. Much of my photography reflects an inner urge to record and to share that vision. I love the outdoors, and I have always taken much of my inspiration from nature. In real life, I am a biochemist and I study biological molecules all day. Photography gives me a different, more tangible link to the natural world, and an alternative way of thinking about its beauty, the way it works, and how we perceive it. It connects everything.
Capturing natural beauty while living and working in Boston is not as difficult as one might think. The secret is choosing the right light and the right time of day, which, with few exceptions, means the hour around dawn or sunset. To make things extra specially challenging for myself, I don't own a car. All the pictures that I've chosen to show here were taken in places I could get to by walking from my home in Dorchester (the Neponset River Reservation) or more recently in Revere (Revere Beach). Both places are easily accessible by public transport.
The shot below was taken at the Neponset River Reservation at the summer solstice just before dawn.
The Neponset Reservation is a natural estuary and tidal marshland sandwiched between Boston and Milton. It is remarkably rich in all sorts of bird life, and on occasion I have even startled a deer. Unfortunately, it also suffers badly from its urban surroundings and is strewn with an unwelcome quantity of trash, perhaps partly as a result of the tide. Discarded bottles, beer cans, toys, shoes, and supermarket carts are far too easy to find, so be warned. Yet in the early morning as the sun rises and touches the phragmites reeds, it can be magical.
One of the most enjoyable things about a walk in the great outdoors is that you never know what you might find. Sometimes it pays to look down. These leaf-like plates and grass-like needles of ice were formed on a cold day on the marsh as the tide went out.
The moon is an enormously appealing subject, but difficult to photograph because it is so bright. Exposures that are short enough to show the details of the craters will leave the surroundings black; exposing separately for the moon produces pictures that look fake, especially if there are reflections of the light across water. One solution is to photograph it in reflection as I did here. This is one of my favorite shots - somehow symbolic of all my early morning walks on the Neponset.
About a year ago, I moved with my boyfriend to Revere Beach. Revere Beach has many things that a photographer could want - people, color, water, action, sports - but it's not the most obvious place in the world to study landscape and nature. Yet in winter or early in the morning, or when the fog rolls in, it assumes an entirely different character. I don't think I could ever run out of subject material here.
I took this seagull shot on a bright, cold January day on the beach when there was plenty of snow on the ground. I don't normally feed the seagulls - they really don't need the encouragement - but I have to admit that I did in this case. I have a piece of bread in one hand and my camera in the other. The bird is hovering in one spot and turning its head to one side so it can keep a close eye on me as it decides whether to take the bait.
There was a lot of light reflected upward on the bird from the snow, and the sun was low so the shadows are gentle and the details are clear. You can see how effectively the gull has buried its feet within its feathers - they are crossed over below the breast and almost invisible. Not only does that keep it warm, it makes the gull beautifully streamlined for flight.
When a photograph reveals secrets such as this, it is an extra special bonus for me; I photographed the bird because it is so elegant and I wanted an artistic shot, but now I know something that I didn't know before.
One of the things that I try to keep in mind when I'm composing a shot is simplicity. Anything that does not add will subtract. Sometimes this can be taken to extremes, as in this minimalistic shot of grass on the beach. Again, this was taken at dawn. Another advantage of shooting in the early morning is that it tends to be calm. It can be very trying to photograph grass on a breezy day.
I love to shoot the sunrise. There is always an element of surprise - each one is different, and you can never be sure what you are going to get. These old pilings at the south end of Revere Beach have been the subject of many of my sunrise shots. During the daytime they look quite ordinary, but in the right light, they become almost mystical. This is a three-image HDR.
For me, photography is an opportunity express myself visually, so I tend to adopt an artistic rather than a documentary style. "Moody Beach" is a shot that I took on a foggy day early this summer. Here I have added a texture in Photoshop (the Midlife Crisis texture by Flickr-ite Skeletal Mess) to help recreate the mood and to counter the rather bland "whiteness" that fog imparts to a shot. The eye and the camera are very different instruments. Sometimes something extra is needed to see what we see.
I love to travel, but I have tried in this piece to show that great subjects can be found close to home. The great advantage of shooting locally is that you can take the time to understand your environment and its moods and to observe it in all lights and all seasons. And if you know a place, then you care about it, and your photos will have more meaning.
In this last shot, a most unpromising January day suddenly produced this beautiful late afternoon sky. It is one of my favorite shots of all time, and it was taken on Revere Beach Parkway.
 | About Gillian Gillian (Jill) Henry grew up near Liverpool, England. She lived in Western Canada for many years before moving to the Boston area in 2000 to work at one of the universities as a biochemist. She uses various kinds of spectroscopy to look at the structure and function of proteins. Jill likes to take photographs of all sorts of things, but specializes in natural subjects and landscapes. (Photo by Jim Sudmeier) |
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Gorgeous photos. She should be elevated beyond amateur to professional. Love her stuff!!!
I really enjoyed looking at these pictures. All these things in life are for "free" and we all take them for granted! So beautiful! Thank you for sharing these lovely photos!
I really like the pictures, especially the Revere Beach ones since that's near where I live. Keep up the good work, Jill.
Fantastic pictures! These pictures speak to my soul. You have a gifted eye; keep up the great work.
These are absolutely wonderful. You have a great eye!
Tremendous work, very well done!
Wow, looking at your beautiful photos made my day! You have such talent and obviously enjoy it. Thank you!
Amazing photos. I found the photos by accident and agree they made my day. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!
Inspiring ... beauty is everywhere ... just look around ... Love it!
You should teach your art!
Does she have a website? Where can I purchase her photography?
Jill is one of my favorite contacts on Flickr. I love how she is able to capture the beauty of nature in an urban setting. She is truly a gifted photographer.
Incredibly beautiful. "My Three Trees" is stunning. Thanks for showing your photos.
Wonderful photos, you have a great gift! Thank you!
I, too, have walked Revere Beach many an early morning and have some of the most breathtaking images in my mind of that crescent of shore. I once came upon a lit candle in the sand down by the edge of the water - with no footprints leading away from it! Also, watch the fragile but fast sandpipers play dare with the crashing waves after a storm...
You may also want to check out Deer Island in Winthrop. City, harbor and ocean views to die for along with winding, hilly paths bordered by wildflowers. Lots of great birds too! You're sure to find a few winning shots there...
I would also like to purchase some of her work and would like the website please.
Love "My Three Trees"
These shots are AWESOME! You have a great gift of photography... Thanks for sharing!!!
Two or three are not bad but the rest are average at best
Wow, those are incredible. Could that "Golden" photo be real? It looks like a Sci Fi flick!
Absolutely Beautiful! Love, Love, Love! Great Job!
Beautiful! Does she have an website? Please advise. Thank you!
Michelle - I agree, her photos are wonderful, but I see you are misinterpreting the term amateur here. An amateur photographer (or astronomer, athlete, musician, etc.) is someone who pursues an art (science, athletic activity, study, etc.) as a pastime, meaning outside of a full-time profession. It has little to do with a person's skill level. In Gillian's case, it's really a matter of choice and not skill.
Is her stuff available to buy? I love her photos.
I wish to learn photography with you. I love your style and sensibility. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pics.
Hi Everybody,
Thank you all so much for all your kind comments. I have enjoyed reading them so much and I'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. It is a great privilege to be featured photographer on RAW - I really enjoy the site and I don't know of anything else quite like it.
Judy Nee - we are so lucky to have such a great beach and live so close to the city. I love watching the birds, too. In the fall, the scoters congregate in large flocks and remain out in the bay all winter. I hope to get some good pictures of them this year. I've been cycling on Deer Island, but I haven't been there with my camera. It's on my list!
Sonny_Corlione - the 'Golden' shot is an HDR, which can result in that SciFi effect sometimes. I'm still learning how to do HDRs well and I might process it a little differently if I were to do it again today ... maybe try to give it a more natural feel.
To all the people who asked if I have a website and whether I sell my photos - thank you so much for your interest, I'm flattered. My Flickr site is my only website at the moment. You can reach it by clicking on the "amythyst_lake" link at the top of the article. There are lots more pictures of the beach and shots that I've taken around Boston. As there seems to be some interest, I plan to make some of my pictures available through Imagekind. I will post the link here as soon as I have set it up.
Once again, a big thank you to everybody who found time to look at my work and especially for all the kind and generous comments both here and on my Flickr site.
Beautiful! I was moved by each and every photograph ... especially with "Morning on the Neponset", which was stunningly vivid!
I also happened upon your pictures by accident and they are truly wonderful and inspiring. It makes you want to grab your camera and see what you can do, but you have an eye for beauty that is a gift. I would love to be able to purchase your photos as well and can't wait to get your post.
Wonderful photos and lovely essay. I've bookmarked your Flickr photostream for inspiration.
Jilly's photos are almost as beautiful as she. XO
Jilly is the way best photographer. You make landscapes and nature come out almost better than they do in real life. I love your pictures!
Thank you.
/John Sudmeier
I love how you really captured the pink sky + blue water + pink reflection effect. Living on Revere Beach, I see this all the time, but have yet to capture it well in a photograph.
Fantastic photographs - the depth of composition is reflected in the quality of the photos! All aspiring photographers can learn from your beautiful work! Call us when you are in Wisconsin ... Bev and John
I would like to contact Gillian Henry regarding her photos. I would like to purchase one. Thank you.
Congratulations on your photo winner "My Three Trees". I have a professional office in Winthrop, and I would be interested in purchasing your photographs for display. You have a gifted eye. Please continue to share your treasures with us.
Gillian, I saw your photograph of My Three Trees today in the Boston Globe. It's almost spiritual in its beauty. Thank you for photographing Revere, my hometown, with such grace.
My instinct is that to take new, interesting "pretty" photos I need to hop in my car and drive elsewhere. Your wonderful photos and narrative challenge me to look much closer to home. Thank you.
Gillian, your ethereal shots of the area bring me a certain calmness. I am in awe of the images that you have captured and would love to see more. The Revere Chamber of Commerce should put your shots in their brochures!
Keep up the phenomenal work...
Motivate the art to your students and let me know the scientific name of the snail in the snap 'moon snail'. Love the picture and it's my desktop item.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK
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