Four photographers who make time stand still
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and noted photographer Eudora Welty once wrote, “A good snapshot keeps a moment that’s gone, from running away.” Photographs document our history, and serve as a record of our personal journey. These photos become among our most cherished possessions and we place them in positions of honor and reflection in our homes or offices.
My mother spent most of her later life visiting historic sites, old battlefields and gravestones, talking to older Vermonters. Investigation of old documents and family connections, because she understood our present lives are connected to our past lives and much of that through photos.
Without question, the art of photography has changed considerably, and now images can be captured with speed and accuracy with digital cameras, and a digital photo can be seen around the world in an instant. Incredible images of distant stars and galaxies, taken from light particles traveling millions of light-years to be captured by the Hubble space telescope, allowing astronomers to rewrite theories.
In and near Hinesburg, we are fortunate to have well-known professional photographers who call this area home.
Jamie Proctor-Brassard
Jamie Proctor-Brassard developed an early interest in photography. Her high school didn’t offer classes in photography, so she helped to start a photo club and darkroom. Jamie attended Keene State College and earned a BA in graphic design and photography in 2003, and a Master of Photography Degree from Professional Photographers of America in 2022. She just completed her term as President of Vermont Professional Photographers. Jamie owns Letter10 Creative, a design and photography studio specializing in Vermont brands since 2008. Jamie states: “The most rewarding part is giving back to Vermonters, through teaching and helping clients with a customized experience. My goal is to tell a story and to create an image that will leave someone with emotion and curiosity.” Jamie’s love for photography and giving back has led her to volunteer for “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” a national organization offering professional images to grieving families. She provides a photographic gift of remembrance for parents grieving deep loss.
Visit letter10creative.com/ for more.
Lindsay Gardner
Lindsay got started in photography after coming to terms with the cost – in her words “shocked” – of taking portraits of her newborn children, and deciding there must be a better way. She got together enough funds and purchased an expensive digital camera and started learning. Lindsay completed several online photography courses and became a member of the Vermont Professional Photographers, and started an online photography business. Most of her business involves taking graduation photos, newborn and Christmas card photos. “My goal is to help people make connections in their lives and make them feel beautiful,” she said.
Visit portraitsvt.com for more.
Jan Cannon
Jan Cannon has been taking pictures for over 30 years. The majority of his pictures have been taken in the town of Charlotte, Vermont – either at Lake Champlain or in the woods nearby. Low hills slope down to a broad valley on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain. In the distance to the west are the Adirondack Mountains of New York and to the east are the Green Mountains of Vermont. Jan feels fortunate to live in a place with so much unspoiled nature. Jan hopes his photos can give “even a little of the beauty that so inspires me in this place.”
Jan has by choice limited his photography to the beauty of this particular place: “There is a discipline in confining my attention to such a narrow geography.” He is forced to go deeper than he might otherwise go by photographing the same things in the same places over and over. And to be fair, there is not a complete absence of variety — even in the same places with the same subjects the light can change everything!
For more go to www.jancannonphotography.com/PHOTOGRAPHY
Anna Watts
Anna Watts is a documentary photographer currently based in New York. Born and raised in Hinesburg, she started working as a photographer in Central America in the humanitarian field with a focus on women’s healthcare and access to education. In 2019, she graduated from the International Center of Photography’s Visual Journalism and Documentary Practice program and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop XXXII, where she was awarded a long-term project with ESPN. In 2022, she attended the New York Times portfolio review.
Anna’s personal work takes a long-form narrative approach to documenting issues around coming of age and the intersection of gender and athletics. Her editorial work focuses on intimacy and sensitivity to trauma covering social inequities in urban settings, from breaking news to immigration, housing, politics and education. She is fluent in Spanish and has taken trauma reporting courses from the Poynter Institute and International Committee of the Red Cross. In 2022, she completed an Adversarial Reporting Training (ART) course through The New York Times that included de-escalation tactics, conflict and first aid training. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times.
For more go annacwatts.com