Meet Barbara Altevers of Clarkdale, AZ 86324

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Altevers.

Hi Barbara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My photography journey began when I bought a new camera. I had, of course, owned other cameras, but because it was new, I started looking at it more closely. What were all those letters on the knob at the top of the camera? What were F stops and shutter speeds, and what did people do with those things? I signed up for an adult education class and found out. I took my new camera on a trip to Ireland. A place I had always wanted to visit, and it was wonderful. I tried to process my photos, but I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I had to learn more. I found a MeetUp photography group. I took 3 of my Ireland photos to see what a critique would be like. I learned a great deal, but was a little overwhelmed at the same time. I continued to attend this group, and my photography improved. I still attend that group today. One night, the person running the critique saw one of my photos and indicated that it would make a good black-and-white. He converted it there on the spot. I loved it. I would process my photos in color, and just to try it out, I would convert them to black and white. After a while, I realized that this was what I wanted to do, and the only way to improve was through practice. I never produced another color photograph.

My first exhibition was at the San Diego County Fair, where I participated in an international photography competition. At the Fair, I won several awards. The Orange County Fair was another place where my work was awarded ribbons. I have since been showcased and won awards at several galleries, including the Carlsbad Oceanside Art League, Front Porch Gallery, Oceanside Museum of Art, Ashton Gallery, Yavapai College Gallery, and Sedona Art Center. I have also won awards through affiliations with a camera club and the Southern California Association of Camera Clubs. My enthusiasm for showcasing my work has also led me to exhibit at the Sedona Visual Arts Coalition’s Open Studios and Member Exhibit, as well as the Made in Clarkdale Showcase. I have been published in several of LensWork Publishing’s publications. I continue to explore new subjects for my black and white photography and discover new avenues to share my art.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For me, the challenge is the hunger to do more, to perfect what I am trying to do. I love the light of black and white. The ability to sculpt the light and focus the viewer’s eye to see the focal point that I saw when I was shooting the scene. I plan that focal point as I shoot. I process to accentuate that focal point. I want the viewer to step into my black-and-white world for just a few moments in time. If I can do that, I hope they will look a little closer at what is around them and see their own focal points in nature.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Many people have black and white photographs in their portfolio, but for me, black and white is my passion. With my first introduction, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Every photograph is vital to me; for me, it is a reflection of what is happening in nature that goes just one step further. You no longer look at the color; you are looking beyond that to where I believe the true beauty shines. When looking at a flower, the first thing people see is the color, but what I see is the curves and lines that make up what truly defines the beauty of that flower.

I am known for my black and white photography because it is unique. Not many photographers use black and white exclusively. It brings me joy that when people see me at a show, they want to stop to talk to me about what they see in my work. People enjoy finding out where I was and why I took that shot. I had taken a photograph of a myrtal spurge, which people know as a gopher plant. No one knew what it was. They thought I had manipulated the photo or had taken multiple shots. Even people who knew what the plant was had not noticed the way the plant spiraled. I had found a plant like it outside the studio and pointed it out. Almost every person who had engaged with the photograph went out to examine the plant more closely. I have, in a small way, enhanced their view of the natural world.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Many people are surprised to learn that I have never considered myself an artist or creative person. I had never created anything artistic before I started my photographic life. I had no idea I was an artist myself. I tried many times to create things in different media; however, I never felt like I could be successful with any of them. It has taken me a long time photographing to think of myself as an artist. I love photographing and processing the images I shoot. Discovering that I could create something others would consider art began with getting my photographs into the San Diego County Fair. The night I won my first award, a third-place ribbon, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share my work with others. I began participating in gallery shows and was published. I began to believe I was an artist when others showed an appreciation for my work. What more could an artist want?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://barbaraaltevers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbaraaltevers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbaraalteversphotography

Image Credits
Black and white are all photographed by Barbara Altevers Photography