This week’s Member Moment features work by Film Club member Mary Logan Donelly, whose photos exhibit relaxed moments with family and quiet landscapes. Scroll down to see her pictures and to read the interview!
PL: What got you interested in photography?
MLD: I credit my mom for my interest in photography. Growing up, it seemed like she was always behind a camera capturing moments of me and my sisters. She was always supportive of us trying out her cameras, and even gifted me my first camera. My sisters and I used to lay on the floor for hours, flipping through photo albums and bins upon bins of photographs from our mom’s life and our childhood. This really inspired me to start capturing moments of my own. My sisters also inspire me. My oldest sister, Elley, has such an eye for creating incredible home videos and capturing stunning shots in nature. Sarah is an artist and therapist so she has shown me how art can be a helpful tool used for healing. Lastly, my youngest sister Maggie’s bubbly & youthful spirit helps remind me to slow down & find joy in everything I do.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?
PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?
MLD: I love trying to capture moments where it feels like time is slipping away. Some of my favorite photos I've ever taken are from slow mornings on the back porch at my grandparents' house. For the longest time, I put so much pressure on myself to get the “perfect” shot that all I could see when I got my images back were the “mistakes”. This caused a lot of these captured moments to lose the true feeling behind them. Over the years, my style has become more fluid and relaxed but is still heavily inspired by my family. I love trying to sneak shots in here and there when no one is paying attention— to keep the moment as authentic as possible.
PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?
MLD: I had the opportunity to go to Iceland with my sister last October, and it was truly the trip of a lifetime. I think I packed like four or five rolls for four days. Our last day was truly the rainiest day, and I figured considering all the weather factors my film was going to take a back seat. We decided that the weather wasn’t going to stop us from trekking down to Vík, the southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland. It continued to pour throughout the day, but the weather completely turned around as we made it up the hill to the Vík í Mýrdal Church, also known as Reyniskirkja, a small church that stands on a hill overlooking the village and the coastline. A rainbow peeked through to the left of us and the sun started shining above the black sand beach highlighting the iconic landscape and giving me the chance for a near perfect shot.
PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?
MLD: What I enjoy most is definitely the community photography creates. My favorites days are when I get to distribute my film to friends, family, and new faces I meet along the way. I think that the most challenging thing for me when I first started was just being comfortable playing with film and being open to making mistakes. Luckily, I have met (and now call friends) so many talented photographers who have really supported me as I continue to learn and grow in this space.
PL: How would you like to grow this collection of photographs?
MLD: I think I would love to try my hand at shooting weddings or engagement shoots. My sister asked me to capture the behind the scenes of her wedding and after-party a couple years ago (I might've begged her a little). It was so much fun being a supplementary photographer for her big day. I’ve also done a few mini sessions for friends which has been a cool and exciting challenge for me, so I would love to continue doing more stuff like that.
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