Catherine Thiem Photography

My photography has come a long way in the last two years. I got a Canon SLR for my birthday and quickly learned there was more to digital photography than what my old pocket point-and-shoot camera could do. I joined a local camera club, took scores of classes, and worked with seasoned photographers.

I also began seeing the world around me differently and with greater appreciation, always wondering if that animal, tree, bird, insect, person, or building is worthy of a tap on the shutter button. My photographs have won awards at the local level as well as the New England regional level.

Photography is equal parts craft and art. Craft deals with the mechanics of the camera and editing programs: lens choice, f-stop, shutter speed, exposure, and the like.

The art aspect is harder to define, but I feel it when I’m in nature and become lost in time with its sights, sounds, and smells. I feel the beauty in the intricacies of color and texture around me. I sense a connection and a sense of peace with my subject, whether it is a waterfall with light, shadows, and rushing water blending into one, or a dragonfly alighting on a dew-covered flower. When looking at one of my photographs, I can smell the pine trees, feel the warmth of the sun, and sense the serenity I experienced when I took the photo. This, by far, is my favorite part of the photography process.