Interview with Darlene Spell
Darlene Spell
Nature Photographer
Local, Regional, National juried artist. International Award Winner.
Southeast Missouri and beyond.
Artist’s Statement
I’ve always loved photography and nature and have been exposed to it from an early age. Cameras were and still are a big part of family get-togethers and vacations. Not having the traditional classroom learning of photography, I’ve read books and magazines through the years, today I utilize online programs to further my photography.
As for my focus, it starts with my home state Missouri, visiting Conservation Areas, State and National Parks; then photographing the multi-state area and beyond. Before I venture into nature, I do research on the area, making notes of what wildlife or landscapes I might see. When I get to my destination, I make further notes on what I come across, making notes of time and place. My approach out in the field then is capturing what I see by remembering my notes. Hoping that when you see the photo, you will feel surrounded and immersed in it. Postproduction I try to keep simple and do edits that will bring out the best in the photo.
To me, nature is healing and calming but very fragile.
Darlene, reflecting on your early years within an artistic family in St. Louis, Missouri, could you recount a specific moment or experience from your childhood that encapsulates how your parents' distinct passions for art and the outdoors fundamentally shaped your approach to photography? Perhaps a particular outing or a lesson that has stayed with you throughout your career?
In the 1960's my family and I camped in various State Parks in Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas. Then in the 1970's we transitioned to yearly vacations with the occasional campout the rest of the year. We traveled from St Louis to Florida or St Louis to California depending on where my oldest brother was stationed. We drove, taking our time and taking in the sights along the way. My Dad always had his camera with him and my Mom had the latest 110 camera, and I had a 110 camera, it was my first introduction to having my own camera and I loved it! More importantly my Dad taught me the basics of camera settings since his camera was manual. In our travels I was exposed to the natural beauty of our Country and loved seeing all the sights and natural wonders. The biggest influences though were my parents and their love of using photography to capture a moment that will never again happen. For me, this is why I totally love photography, that pure moment of time frozen that will never happen again.
You've described yourself as a 'nature girl,' a deep-seated connection that clearly resonates through your work. Can you discuss a transformative experience or encounter in nature that profoundly influenced your artistic vision or philosophy? How do such moments continue to shape the narratives you choose to capture and convey through your lens?
I call myself a nature girl as I've been in nature since I was ;6 months old and truth be told my mother was pregnant with me while her, my brothers, my dad camped. Nature is where I feel totally alive! To be in a natural setting like the Grand Canyon or The Badlands or at the oceans, to feel the breeze, breathe the air, see the wildlife, it's amazing! I'm always hoping to capture the pure raw beauty of what's in front of me. I don't see trying to AI or CGI enhance my photos. Nature in its natural state is glorious with the way light hits or shadows, fog, mists, etc. Since I shoot RAW and manual, all I do is bring out what the camera has captured.
Receiving recognition in the form of awards can be a significant milestone for any artist. Can you share how the first award you won for your photography impacted your artistic journey? Did it alter your perception of your work or motivate you to explore new creative avenues?
I started receiving local awards in 2005, then, 2010 I received my first International award. This was totally unexpected and a great eye opener for me. With this award not only was I juried by World renown artists, but also major TV editors. It really inspired me to do even more and take a closer watch on what I was capturing. And for a few more years my photography flourished, then I had to take a brief hiatus. In 2019, a cancer diagnosis took me away from nature as I didn't have strength. 2021 saw strength gain and nature again in my sight, which helped with recovery. I entered a local juried exhibition and made it in, and with that I forged forward with more juried exhibitions. I've now shown in New York City, Amsterdam, globally through online juried exhibitions, and have received many international awards. My journey keeps gong and I'm having a great time in nature taking photos.
Given your background and self-taught expertise in the technical aspects of photography, how do you balance the mechanical precision of camera settings with the spontaneous, artistic expression required in capturing evocative images of nature? Could you walk us through your thought process during a typical shooting expedition?
Before I head into day of photos I do research on the area I'm heading including wildlife I might encounter, flora I might see, and landscape potential. When I arrive at my destination, I set my cameras for lighting and initial shutter speed. Both of those change as I encounter my subject and are adjusted accordingly. I always have my tripod on the ready along with my wireless shutter release. Since I'm usually by myself, my passenger seat becomes my shelf holing open camera bag with both cameras on the ready and all lenses easily gotten to, also having accessible lens cleaner for dust. Cameras include one with longer zooms for wildlife and the other set for landscapes.
Your photographs not only capture the beauty of nature but also seem to advocate for its conservation. How do you hope your work influences your audience's perception of the environment? Are there particular messages or feelings you aim to evoke through your images to inspire conservation efforts?
I'm hoping that through my photos people will see how fragile nature is and that need to take every effort to preserve for future generations. I love when I get feedback from admirers on my photos. Kids, when kids ask questions they're usually really good ones and you can see the genuine interest. When I'm asked questions, I know that my photos are inspiring conversation and sparking interest to visit the places where photos were taken.
Looking to the future, are there specific projects or personal aspirations that you are particularly excited about pursuing in your photographic career? Are there untouched landscapes or particular environmental themes that you are eager to explore and document?
My future is wide open with travel possibilities within my 4-State Region But there are specific states I want to explore more in-depth and revisit. . . . Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. I also want to go back to South Dakota and the Badlands, also exploring into the Black Hills and Wyoming. My ultimate bucket list is an African Safari. My journey is endless and I'm totally ready for adventures
