Visual Arts Lecture

• Published March 5th, 2010 by Debbie Adams
• 1 Comment

I have been a professional photographer for over 30 years. I had an epiphany at the age of 13 while walking home from school in New Jersey. It was the sudden realization and comprehension that my life was up to me, no one would take care of me. I was responsible for making things happen. If it was to be, it was up to me. My 8th grade year book states I was going to be an actress or a photographer. I was very fortunate to get a job as an apprentice in a photography studio after graduating from high school. My photography education was by working, attending workshops and industry conventions, reading and taking a lot of photographs.

8th grade yearbook and portrait of me in the late 70s!

I am very thankful to be here today to share my lifelong passion of doing something I love, capturing the light and holding time still. 

Photography is your own personal vision and the camera, doesn’t matter whether it’s film or digital, is the tool that enables you to interpret what you see with light. I clearly remember my “a-ha” moment when I got what f-stops and shutter speeds were all about. F-stops are the aperture or opening of the lens which determines the depth-of-field (how much is in focus) and shutter speeds determine how long the lens is open.

There are 12 essential elements that make a good photograph: Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Print Presentation, Color Balance, Center of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Print Quality, Technique and Story Telling.

Today’s digital technology makes everyone a snap happy photographer, but if you want to make a living as a professional, it helps to stand out among the crowd. You have to have passion and a positive attitude in what you do to become the best you can be, not only in photography, but in how you live your life and take responsibility for it.

I enjoyed a successful wedding and portrait photography business in Santa Barbara, California for 25 years. I thought I would live there forever on the California coast with palm trees and ocean breezes but an opportunity to change, brought us to Colorado less than a year ago.

We spent our first summer hiking over 100 miles in the Rocky Mountains and I took thousands of images of the spectacular beauty that surrounds us. We love Colorado and are very happy to be here. My passion has been reignited and I have created a new collection of art images.

Even though I am new to Longmont, it is through planning, persistence and building relationships that will enable me to establish Debbie Adams Photography as the premier photographer in the community. I am very excited that I will have a gallery and studio located above Cayenne Kitchen at 372 Main Street in the spring. I invite you to visit my website and blog at dlaphoto.com as well as become a fan on Facebook where I will be announcing the details of a teen photo contest for aspiring photographers that will be showcased in the Still Frame Gallery this summer.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice;

it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” 

-William Jennings Bryon