Under The Sea

Details

Photography

Sunday, 28 June 2009 05:55

By Simply XQuisite

Snapshots of Helen Hall, Underwater photographer, Artist. Helen Hall was born in Staffordshire, in the United Kingdom, where she lived and worked as a journalist before she relocated to Plymouth and resided for approximately ten years.

Like most creative geniuses, Helen felt drawn to and inspired by the sea, so it was no surprise that she was extremely delighted when the opportunity to move to beautiful Antigua arose due to her husband’s work in the Royal Navy.  Up until a year ago, Helen called Antigua home for over four years before she returned to the UK, where she currently resides.

While in Antigua, Helen and her husband, Steve, went snorkelling and scuba-diving several times per week, and for her, those times were the most inspiring.  The end-result was the ‘Indigo Gardens Images’ collection.  The underwater scenery 60 feet below gave her a sense of freedom and peace and it was this awe-inspiring experience that has been her driving force.

From candid snapshots of friends, portraits of her children, to images of life beneath the waves, Helen Hall’s love of photography began well over twenty years ago when she was just a teenager.  Her photographic strengths are in composition and vision which will allow her to ultimately translate every minute detail which she sees through her camera when she dives.  Helen has had only basic training in photography, but firmly believes that there is always something to learn or someone new to learn from.  “Arrogance stops you from learning and stops you from growing,” she says.

When asked what advice she would give to aspiring photographers, her response was, “I'm no guru of art, life or business so I don't consider myself qualified to offer others advice. However, my mantra to myself is something like this: Follow your passions because life is short; Focus on the things you're good at. Believe in yourself and what you do. Act with integrity, dignity and respect; Don't allow conventions or other people's opinions to constrain your vision, but do remain open and flexible so that you can learn and evolve through your experiences.” 

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While still in search of new places to exhibit her portfolio, Helen works from her home in Cornwall, developing some new material.  She plans to travel to the Far East in summer 2010, then return to the sea and sun (Antigua) thereafter.  This summer she will be taking part in two major exhibits in Devon, UK.  She also hopes to show some pieces in Antigua next season.

Currently, Helen’s greatest interest is more abstract, fine art work.  Her ‘Sixes’ series (collage groups of six different macro details in neutral tones on stretched canvas) evoke the incomparable beauty of the ocean with strong emphasis on pattern, texture, and movement.  Helen refers to these as ‘Second-look pieces’ because they tend to prompt people to look again.  She says that her 2009 images of floating leaves have a similar effect.

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Helen has sold to private clients and interior designers in the Caribbean, UK and the USA, and has also produced pieces for 5-star resorts.  She does not have a target audience, but her base is comprised mostly of people who have a tremendous appreciation of the ocean, of originality, and first class workmanship.

Helen uses only the highest quality, archival materials for presentation.  It is her hope that her work in some way, helps to educate her audience and stimulate further interest in issues surrounding the undersea environment.

Helen Hall’s photographic collection can be viewed online at www.indigogardens.com and at www.yessy.com.

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