My interest in photography began with my first workshop in 1980 with Ernie Braun, a well known architectural and nature photograher from Marin County, California. Since then, I have taken many courses and workshops in the U.S., Canada, Africa and New Zealand, most notably from Freeman Patterson, a highly regarded and internationally known photographer and writer from New Brunswick, Canada. Freeman introduced me to 'the art of seeing' and the study of visual design, and both he, and later his teaching partner, Andre Gallant, introduced me to the possibility of depicting the world in a less literal manner, using the camera to portray feeling and emotion, and a visual 'impression' rather than the actual 'reality' of the scene.
Another strong influence has been Richard Martin of Ontario, Canada, highly regarded for his strong graphic and artistic style, in addition to his sense of color and unique use of shadow and light.
What I love most about photography is the chance to explore, to be open to new ways of seeing, visualizing and representing the world around us. I try to get to 'the essence' of what I am photographing. One's vision obviously changes as one grows, both in terms of years on this earth and experience in one's craft, but also, and more importantly, in terms of 'seeing'. I hope you will find images here that resonate with you.
On a personal level, I live with my husband in San Rafael, California, am active in local photography groups and exhibit locally in community settings, galleries and juried exhibitions. I photograph around my home in places such as Point Reyes, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country as well as in other parts of the United States, Mexico, Canada and places farther afield. I recently spent two weeks photographing in Cuba, which was so very interesting, both visually and culturally.
"Mary Macey Butler's photographs are sensuous and simple. She creates images that I feel as much as I see. For any photographer, such accomplishment demands enormous and painstaking attention to both craft and self over a long period of time. You don't get there in a hurry but, if and when you do, the resulting images, like Mary's, are evocative, compelling, and memorable."
