Local lens woman talks about zest for photography

A BARBED wire fence, a bumble bee nestling on a blue bell, the sunset over Benevenagh - local photographer Violet James can capture the most simplistic of images and transform them into an art form.

The talented Limavady lens woman has just finished a run of her very own exhibition at Limavady library, launched her own website and launched a selection of awe-inspiring greeting cards at the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre. The 39 year-old, who runs photography website ‘Photography and Designs by Violet’, described to the Sentinel her passion for photogrpahy and design plus her hopes for the future.

“I wouldn’t say that I specialise in any particular field. If I see a nice view of something and it interests me, then I’ll take a photo of it,” explained Violet. “The pieces range from some of my earliest photos like the Mussenden Temple to recent ones of the snow.”

“I’d have people asking me why didn’t I do a display of my work. I suppose being your own worst critic, you never think that your work is good enough, especially to put on public display.

“Unfortunately, I am not working at the moment and I was on one of my regular jaunts to the library, feeling that I needed something to motivate me into the New Year, and also give my hobby a bit of a kick start again,”

“It was nearing the end of November, I had gotten into a rut and my camera was spending too much time in its bag. I thought if I planned a small display, it would give me something to plan towards and also a shove to start snapping again. I brought some examples of my work down to show the girls in the library and they were very agreeable to me holding a small display in the new year.”

She continued: “I have always worked within an administrative background, and would escape to the woods, mountain or beach with our dogs just to chill, unwind and get a bit of exercise after being confined to an office all day, especially in the good weather. I just decided to take the camera one day because we would always end up off the beaten track, and there would be ‘different’ scenes/objects which I thought would be nice captured on camera. And it all started from there. I find being out with my camera taking photos very relaxing.”

Taking inspiration from her surroundings as well as her photographer peers Violet says what draws her to taking a picture is it’s uniqueness.

“I find close-up or Macro photography very intriguing, the detail you can see is quite amazing. I get ideas and inspiration from flicking through my Photoplus magazine and its website Photoradar.com. Quite often the photos that I take are because I like them for their ‘unusualness’, they mean something to me or hold a memory. I love taking photos involving water because of the reflection, or the movement, which you can get creative with.”

Violet continued: “One of the most difficult parts of photography is not being able to go to remote locations or places where there aren’t many people about, because of general safety for example up the mountain or personal safety of being on my own. Trying to get different angles to take the photo at, the wooden fence with the barbed wire wrapped round it was taken lying on my belly in the middle of the moss and heather. Ok if it is dry, bit of a bummer if it is not. And trying to operate the controls on your camera when your fingers and toes are frozen and the temperature is minus something, all to get a lovely photo of the snow or moon.”

After taking up the hobby four years ago, Violet was pushed on to display her work after receiving positive feedback from friends, family and acquaintances who viewed her work. She hopes that her work will inspire others to pick up their camera.

“The most enjoyable part of my work is getting home and seeing my images on screen and being really pleased when I’ve captured the image the way I wanted it. I also enjoy the fact that other people enjoy looking at my work. It gives you a wee bit of encouragement to think that you must be doing something right.”

“In terms of the future I would like to explore other areas of photography - black and white, night-time and motion. I also wish for Limavady to have their own camera club. I’ve attended several night class courses in Adobe Photoshop at the NWRC in Limavady and Londonderry. A small group of us from the last course continue to meet up every weeks where we learn off each other by sharing our knowledge and trying out new ideas together.”

“All of my photos mean something to me. If I have to choose then it is probably joint favourite between The Mussenden Temple at sunrise, a wooden fence with barbed wire wrapped round it disappearing into the middle of the mountain and a lonely little toadstool which something has been lunching on.

Violet concluded: “The staff in Limavady library were so helpful. They’re very good at keeping me informed bout things and ordering the endless number of photography books from other branches which I am always requesting. A lot of what I know has been self-taught from devouring every photography related book in the library, to my photography magazine and related website.

“I don’t see myself as the next David Bailey or anything. I just enjoy taking pictures, and If people like what I take, then that’s a bonus.”

Violet’s d work can be viewed on the ‘Photography and Designs by Violet’ Facebook page. A selection of her greeting card creations are on sale now at the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre.