Directory cover artist captures a rainbow of opportunities

Nancy Martin says she remembers as a youngster taking pictures in her backyard with her mother’s box camera, and she has taken “probably 1,500 to 2,000” photos, but she doesn’t consider herself a photographer.

But she is—a really good one.

And judges have picked her photo of a rainbow to grace the cover of next February’s new Green Valley Directory.

Looking over shoulder as she pages through the current digital pictures in her camera is a real treat.

Martin doesn’t seem to just snap, snap, snap hoping to get a few good images.

Almost everything in her camera is good.

She seems to specialize in landscapes, the Grand Canyon of course, and Death Valley, Copper Canyon, local deserts and mountains and a little bit of Alaska.

In a recent interview, Martin recalled getting ready for the Alaska trip with a friend.

“She didn’t take a camera,” Martin said.

Asked, the friend said there was no need. “Nancy will take the pictures.”

She said she’s interested in taking more pictures of people, but said it would be very difficult.

She admits she probably makes some companions nervous when hiking near canyons and cliffs.

“I never look at my feet,” she said.

She’s too busy looking at the views.

Martin sometimes hangs back, taking pictures.

“People are always losing me on the trail. That’s why I’m not in the hiking club.”

Martin also said she collects views in her mind, and not just in her camera.

“I don’t want to miss it by just taking photos.

Unlike some photographers who tote lots of equipment, Martin travels light.

She uses a small Casio camera with 7.2 megapixels, and a three to one zoom lens.

It’s small enough to carry in a pocket, and she never leaves it home.

Martin took a local photography class by Howard Benedict and followed his suggestions when it came time to buy her camera.

She moved to Green Valley in 2004 from Perrysburg, Ohio, where she retired as a biology teacher.

The Green Valley Community Coordinating Council publishes the annual local directory. This year’s theme is “Green Valley: A Rainbow of Opportunities.”

GVCCC Executive Director Joyce Finkelstein said 10 artists from Green Valley submitted 33 works including photography and computer art.

Finalists were Mary Petrie and Joyce Harrison.

Receiving honorable mention were Marianne Bishop, Ruth Huking, Robert Martin, Cyndy Nickerson, Georgia Puttock, Ronald Stein and Don Tuttle.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 520-547-9749