Behind the Lens: Gazette Photographers Talk About Their Favorite Shots
Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton at Tabernacle, August 1993. Alison Shaw saw the first family again later that day at the Granary Gallery, where she was invited in after President Clinton asked questions about her work displayed at the gallery.
Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton at Tabernacle, August 1993. Alison Shaw saw the first family again later that day at the Granary Gallery, where she was invited in after President Clinton asked questions about her work displayed at the gallery.
Janet (Nanny) Drummond, August 1990. Ms. Shaw couldn't pass up this scene while she was driving to another assignment on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Ms. Drummond was a nanny to many Island children; the baby in the carriage is Mike Wallace's grandchild.
Janet (Nanny) Drummond, August 1990. Ms. Shaw couldn't pass up this scene while she was driving to another assignment on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Ms. Drummond was a nanny to many Island children; the baby in the carriage is Mike Wallace's grandchild.
Elizabethan Fair, Artworkers Guild, Vineyard Haven, Sept. 1, 1973. The Artworkers Guild used to gather in Vineyard Haven, at a building owned by James Taylor. "It was great to see everyone at work with their artistic creations," Peter Simon said. The second year the guild decided to have a big fair. "This picture evokes the sort of hippie artistic work ethic that we all had."
Elizabethan Fair, Artworkers Guild, Vineyard Haven, Sept. 1, 1973. The Artworkers Guild used to gather in Vineyard Haven, at a building owned by James Taylor. "It was great to see everyone at work with their artistic creations," Peter Simon said. The second year the guild decided to have a big fair. "This picture evokes the sort of hippie artistic work ethic that we all had."
No Nukes Concert, Allen Farm, September 1978. It was the beginning of the anti-nuclear power movement, Mr. Simon said. Singers included Alex, Hugh and Kate Taylor, Carly Simon, and John Hall. "This brings back that era, that golden era when we all loved each other and were joyous," Mr. Simon said.
No Nukes Concert, Allen Farm, September 1978. It was the beginning of the anti-nuclear power movement, Mr. Simon said. Singers included Alex, Hugh and Kate Taylor, Carly Simon, and John Hall. "This brings back that era, that golden era when we all loved each other and were joyous," Mr. Simon said.
Comet Hale Bopp over East Chop, March 1997. Mark Lovewell said he got up at 2 a.m. to try to get a picture of the comet, first at the Edgartown Light and then Ocean Park. "This was the last picture on the roll of film," he said. The sun was starting to rise.
Comet Hale Bopp over East Chop, March 1997. Mark Lovewell said he got up at 2 a.m. to try to get a picture of the comet, first at the Edgartown Light and then Ocean Park. "This was the last picture on the roll of film," he said. The sun was starting to rise.
American oystercatcher. This is a slightly unusual pose for this species, Lanny McDowell said. "The photo is cropped to give you an abstract painting."
American oystercatcher. This is a slightly unusual pose for this species, Lanny McDowell said. "The photo is cropped to give you an abstract painting."
Leucistic song sparrow. Song sparrows are usually brown and gray, but this bird has a lack of pigmentation called leucisim. "This is the whitest sparrow of any sparrow that you're ever going to see, only because of this curious thing that happened in their DNA somewhere."
Leucistic song sparrow. Song sparrows are usually brown and gray, but this bird has a lack of pigmentation called leucisim. "This is the whitest sparrow of any sparrow that you're ever going to see, only because of this curious thing that happened in their DNA somewhere."
Keith Farm, November 2016. "This was my playground growing up," Albert O. Fischer said. "I probably take pictures of this farm more than anything...I drive past it and I stop because the sun shines through and I get out and the cattle see me and come over. What I loved about this is I'm photographing memories."
Keith Farm, November 2016. "This was my playground growing up," Albert O. Fischer said. "I probably take pictures of this farm more than anything...I drive past it and I stop because the sun shines through and I get out and the cattle see me and come over. What I loved about this is I'm photographing memories."
Stanley Larsen's wheelhouse, February 2017. Mr. Fischer thought about cleaning up the cluttered area. "I looked at it, maybe if I move this, or that quahuag shell there...you know what, it's perfect," he said. "I'm not going to change a thing."
Stanley Larsen's wheelhouse, February 2017. Mr. Fischer thought about cleaning up the cluttered area. "I looked at it, maybe if I move this, or that quahuag shell there...you know what, it's perfect," he said. "I'm not going to change a thing."
Solstice fireworks at Ocean Park. "Everything I know about how to shoot fireworks I learned from Alison Shaw's book," Steve Myrick said. This is a composite of several fireworks.
Solstice fireworks at Ocean Park. "Everything I know about how to shoot fireworks I learned from Alison Shaw's book," Steve Myrick said. This is a composite of several fireworks.
Oak Bluffs fishing pier. "A lot of people think this is a painting," Mr. Myrick said. "It's one of my favorites."
Oak Bluffs fishing pier. "A lot of people think this is a painting," Mr. Myrick said. "It's one of my favorites."
Oak Bluffs police babies, July 2017. Ms. Thibodeau decided to take a picture of the officers and their babies on the department steps. "It's one of my more popular pictures that I've taken," Maria Thibodeau said. "What's not to love about policemen and cute babies?"
Oak Bluffs police babies, July 2017. Ms. Thibodeau decided to take a picture of the officers and their babies on the department steps. "It's one of my more popular pictures that I've taken," Maria Thibodeau said. "What's not to love about policemen and cute babies?"
Amy Brenneman, July 2016. Jeanna Shepard said she likes to be close-up for portraits. "She has no make-up on, she had just been stretching and working out...it was the most fabulous light."
Amy Brenneman, July 2016. Jeanna Shepard said she likes to be close-up for portraits. "She has no make-up on, she had just been stretching and working out...it was the most fabulous light."
Ken Vincent, June 2016. "He had his artwork out on the floor. I jumped up on a chair and took it."
Ken Vincent, June 2016. "He had his artwork out on the floor. I jumped up on a chair and took it."
Opening of Alessandra Petlin Exhibit, A Gallery, August 2015. Ms. Petlin is a photographer and was showing some of her portraits. "I started to follow her around the A Gallery...and then this just happened. I was like this is it. Sometimes you have that eureka moment."
Opening of Alessandra Petlin Exhibit, A Gallery, August 2015. Ms. Petlin is a photographer and was showing some of her portraits. "I started to follow her around the A Gallery...and then this just happened. I was like this is it. Sometimes you have that eureka moment."
Birds at Philbin Beach, January 2014. "When the wave broke the light shone through and gave it a transparent look," Tim Johnson said. The flock of sandpipers kept coming back to the rock, giving him time to set up the shot.
Birds at Philbin Beach, January 2014. "When the wave broke the light shone through and gave it a transparent look," Tim Johnson said. The flock of sandpipers kept coming back to the rock, giving him time to set up the shot.
Gus Ben David 2nd, March 2013. Mr. Johnson visited the noted Island naturalist and falconer. "I asked him to take out his golden eagle, which he did. I didn't really have to set it up at all...you can just see them looking at each other. The light fell on his eyes and th eagle's face."
Gus Ben David 2nd, March 2013. Mr. Johnson visited the noted Island naturalist and falconer. "I asked him to take out his golden eagle, which he did. I didn't really have to set it up at all...you can just see them looking at each other. The light fell on his eyes and th eagle's face."
End of the day at Menemsha. Alison L. Mead said she likes to honor working scenes, especially in Menemsha. "To me it's just so alive when I look at it," she said. "I think it's important to honor things, especially as things are changing."
End of the day at Menemsha. Alison L. Mead said she likes to honor working scenes, especially in Menemsha. "To me it's just so alive when I look at it," she said. "I think it's important to honor things, especially as things are changing."
Lamb at Farm Institute. "When you shoot animals you have to be sort of respectful of them. They're shy and scared of you, so you have to gain their trust," Ms. Mead said. "It shows the vulnerability. A very quiet, special moment."
Lamb at Farm Institute. "When you shoot animals you have to be sort of respectful of them. They're shy and scared of you, so you have to gain their trust," Ms. Mead said. "It shows the vulnerability. A very quiet, special moment."
Ten Gazette photographers gathered this week to share the stories behind some of their favorite shots. Some moments took careful planning and persistence, others appeared unexpectedly. The subjects include presidents, actresses, artists, nannies, birds, and lambs. Some photos bring back memories of long-lost eras or beloved childhood landscapes.
"Never go by the shot," Steve Myrick said. "It's never there again."
Other featured photographers were Alison Shaw, Peter Simon, Mark Alan Lovewell, Albert O. Fischer, Lanny McDowell, Maria Thibodeau, Jeanna Shepard, Timothy Johnson, and Alison L. Mead.
All of the photos were inclued in the Featherstone Center for the Arts exhibit Eyes of the Island: Vineyard Gazette Photography. The show is on display until Oct. 22.