BIO

Shirley Hackett is from the small farming community of Java Center, New York. She grew up outdoors exploring the acres of fields surrounding her home and developed a deep love for nature.

She took her first picture in a 10th grade art elective class using a Kodak Instamatic camera and has been enchanted with photography ever since.

At age 17 she enlisted in the Air National Guard to study photography.  She learned her craft on a 4x5 Speed Graphic, medium format cameras and bought her first SLR.  During her 3 years of service she shot mostly official portraits and events on base and free-lanced for local magazines, photographing rock and roll concerts and interviews with musicians.

She moved to the Bay Area in California in 1980, married, had a child and pursued other interests; buying and selling real estate, ran a print shop in Berkeley, and later became a Labor and Delivery nurse.

Hackett was widowed in 2000 and her son was critically injured in an accident the next year.  She resigned from nursing and they moved to South Lake Tahoe shortly after, seeking solitude, tranquility and the healing powers of her other passion: skiing.  Unfortunately, a rare life-threatening illness sidelined her again, but eventually she came full-circle and started taking photography classes at the local college as a way to use self-expression to heal.  She is slowly embracing the local artist scene and is currently working towards her certificate in photography and defining her style.

Currently, her winning photograph, "Lost" is being displayed at the City Art Gallery in South Lake Tahoe. She has shown her work at Lake Tahoe Community College Student Art Exhibitions and has been selected for multiple awards. Three of her photos were featured in an exhibition at Benko Art Gallery.

In the future, she is hoping to coordinate her certificate of achievement in photography with the arrival of her custom Sprinter Van and eligibility of Social Security benefits to travel and photograph nature's wonders with her dog, Kayde.

Artist Statement

I carry my camera when I’m out exploring to capture what some people might miss. It could be the way the light is illuminating an object or a just a beautiful scene that I’m lucky enough to come across. It’s both exciting and relaxing at the same time, as I anticipate what I will see and get lost in the moment while photographing.  I am passionate about photography because it lifts my spirits and nourishes my soul; it is a sanctuary from the stressors of everyday life.  I feel a sense of calmness while photographing and seek peaceful situations.

I like to present the physical world and what is right before the eye in a unique way using available light and the basic elements of design: shapes, lines, textures and forms.  I use a full frame digital SLR always set on manual. I focus each frame; select the ISO, shutter speed and aperture, keeping in mind the principles of the Zone System.  I do minimal post production work to my photos, preferring to pre- visualize the end result before pressing the shutter.  I strive to emulate the values of the great photographers of the past using digital equipment. 

I have been concentrating on black and white photography lately because it forces one to see the pure design of the composition and not get distracted by color.  My photos are my interpretation of life.  I believe I do this on an almost subconscious level.   Strong leading lines suggest looking to the future, or they might represent a blocked path.   The fog, a snowstorm, or an out of focus background might obscure the outcome, the answer you were seeking.  Solitary figures may represent people I know. Photography is a universal language and a way to find common ground with all people.  While my photos have a deep personal meaning to me, I want the viewer to reach their own conclusions. 

Click here to download my resume