Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Marty Espinola and I’m a photographer who mostly does nature photography these days. I have worked as a newspaper and wedding photographer. I’m retired but I still teach photography classes and do workshops. I host two small, monthly photography groups in the valley and offer individual guidance to serious beginners.
Tell us about some projects you’ve worked on.
I’ve taken photos for all kinds of projects such as plays, school and community events, web sites and magazines. Two issues of Birds & Blooms have included some of my bird photos this year and I’ve even had two poems and two photos published in an anthology called Honoring Nature. A small collection of my photographs can be seen at https://lighteffects.shutterfly.com.
What other art or artists have been inspirational to you in your work?
My inspiration came when, as a young teenager, I fell in love with the images of Ansel Adams and other famous photographers of that time. I wanted to be able to capture that special quality of a scene that was a kind of living image of a unique moment in time. I found that photography was a way for me to express some of the feelings I had when I encountered a scene that grabbed my attention and wanted to be recorded. I’d say I strive for optical intimacy with nature’s many wonders.
What helps or hinders your creativity?
I’d say that what helps is being totally open to whatever comes my way when I’m out shooting. Open, not just to what I might hope to capture, but to any instance when the light and subject blend into a composition that works. It also helps to limit myself to a single camera and lens that requires me to find a new way to make an image. What hinders me is my tendency to stick only to what I know I can do, and not taking the time to fully explore the possibilities of a subject or scene.
Tell us about some other jobs you have had other than being an artist.
I’m retired now from my career as a teacher and school administrator. But even in those roles I sought to find creative and exciting ways to engage students in the learning process. I specialized in curriculum development and the ways that technology could enrich the curriculum. These days I appreciate having time to help others find their unique form of expression through photography.