25 May Seeing More Through Photography
Lesley Ackman studied music at Indiana University and had a career in finance and accounting, but she found her true passion in photography in 2008. At that time, she was traveling a lot and enjoyed taking photos, but wanted to improve her skills. She took some photography classes and joined the long-running Riviera Camera Club in Indianapolis, which changed her perspective on the world around her.
“This added a new dimension to my travels and gave me a new view to the places I visited,” Ackman says. “I could see details in architecture that I had missed before, began to see how the light could affect the mood, and saw new patterns in nature that I had missed.”
Ackman will be our featured Showcase Artist in June, exhibiting her photographs inside the Stephenson House on the Noblesville Creates campus June 1-30.
When asked about her favorite photography experience, Ackman cites a recent trip to Cuba where she got to spend a morning with Ramses Batista, a talented Cuban photographer. They photographed some of his favorite spots in Havana and then went to a magnificent, old mansion where two beautiful ballerinas from Cuba’s International Ballet modeled for them. (The image here is a detail from one of Ackman’s photographs.)
“I’ve never worked with models, so this was a new experience. Using only natural window light and no tripods, this was somewhat challenging but the results were very rewarding,” Ackman says. “Of course I shot the old cars and buildings, but it was the Cuban people who made this trip special.”
Ironically, in her efforts to better photograph her travels, she also grew to see the beauty in her own backyard.
“Who knew that cornfields, old barns and even cemeteries could be so fascinating!” Ackman says. “While I still enjoy photographing my travels, I also enjoy driving around country roads to see what we can find.”
View Ackman’s photos and meet the photographer during an opening reception on Friday, June 17, 508 p.m.
