Being there
The photography of Mary Helmer
by Berry Wijdeven
The photography of Mary Helmer
by Berry Wijdeven
I don’t have a photo of Mary Helmer and suspect not many exist. Mary doesn't like her picture taken. I have found many photographers to be like that. They have discovered that if you take the photo, you don’t have to be in it. So Mary takes photos. Lots of photos. Of her grandchildren, potlatches, pole raising, dances and other community events. But where Mary really shines is in her photos of Haida Gwaii landscapes. Stunning sunrises, moody landscapes, evocative wildlife portraits, presented in compositions which are just right. Mary definitely has the eye.
Equally important, Mary has reminded me that the first step in getting a good photo is that you have be there. To get a picture of that spectacular sunrise or of the light bouncing off the water just so, you have to be in the right spot at the right time. And more often than not, Mary Helmer is there, putting in the time for the moment to be just right. Most days you can see her scooting about the islands in her little SUV looking for photographic opportunities. And there are many times we don’t see her while we are still comfortable tucked into our beds as she is out and about, capturing those amazing sunrises.
Remarkably, it was only nine years ago that Mary got a camera for Christmas. Up to then, she hadn’t been that much into photography but now discovered she really enjoyed taking photos. She started posting the pictures on Facebook and her posts received a tremendous response with likes and shares from all over the world. Her photos were featured on the Global TV website, have been published in Canadian Geographic, Our Canada Magazine and in Indigenous People books for school use. Over 100 of her photos were featured in a slide show on the Haida at the McCord Museum in Montreal.
So Mary keeps doing what she is doing, driving across the islands, looking for photographic opportunities. She uses a variety of cameras, but relies mainly on her Nikon D7100 and Sony A6000. She shoots mostly in JPEG format, not enjoying the digital editing RAW requires. In fact, she doesn’t do a lot of digital post enhancement, sometimes just a bit of sharpening and lightening. So Mary’s photos have to be pretty much perfect when she snaps them. And they are, encapsulates the moment, draws the viewers in. Looking at Mary’s photos is kinda like being there. Thanks, Mary.
So Mary keeps doing what she is doing, driving across the islands, looking for photographic opportunities. She uses a variety of cameras, but relies mainly on her Nikon D7100 and Sony A6000. She shoots mostly in JPEG format, not enjoying the digital editing RAW requires. In fact, she doesn’t do a lot of digital post enhancement, sometimes just a bit of sharpening and lightening. So Mary’s photos have to be pretty much perfect when she snaps them. And they are, encapsulates the moment, draws the viewers in. Looking at Mary’s photos is kinda like being there. Thanks, Mary.