A WILD CARD CALLED WINTER!

It is January in North Carolina. Mother Nature holds a wild-card called Winter.

On January 17th, she bombarded us with eleven inches of snow crystals creating a wintertime masterpiece.

Six days later, Mother Nature tantalized us with sunshine and spring-like temperatures. Parkas and mittens were exchanged for tank tops and sandals. Quickly, her art scape melted creating a blank canvas awaiting a new painting.

And so is the fickle nature of artist Mother in the winter in the South.

 ©Marthanna Yater - all rights reserved

Local Photographer Honored at Industry’s Famed Lucies Awards

Lucies Award Shows Equivalent to Oscars Celebration

Oct. 25, 2012

DURHAM, N.C. – Renowned, Durham-based photographer Marthanna Yater received four honorable mentions during the 10^th annual International Photography Awards, (IPA), Lucies Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month. 

The awards – equivalent to the Oscars in acting – acknowledge her talent and achievement through four photographs: What Will They See?; Grounded; Brilliance of Their Last Days; and Doors, Not Walls.

According to Yater, each of these photographs gives her the opportunity to tell a different story – to take the viewer on a fresh adventure. The Lucies honorable mentions publicly highlight her ability to achieve those goals.

The black-tie celebration pays homage to master photographers and up and coming talent. The Lucies recognize accomplishments in fine art and documentary photography, and other categories, such as fashion, advertising and sports. There were approximately 18,000 submissions, representing 104 countries.

“These awards exemplify a new direction for me professionally. They separate me from the commercial and the ordinary,” she said. “The images represent a component of my evolution and are a reflection of the oeuvre of my work. These awards recognize my unique vision, artistry, interpretation, and distinctive quality.”

The Lucies honorable mentions not only acknowledge the versatility and value of her work, but also serve as a further testament to the consistency of her photography. In 2011, Yater received a 2^nd-place and Merit of Excellence honor from the Black and White Spider Awards in London for First A Woman, as well as a nomination in the Fine Art category for I left my trike at Uncle Lem’s…that was 40 years ago. In 2010, she received two additional Lucies honorable mentions; and, in 2009, she beat out over 600 photographs to win one of two merit awards at Palm Beach Photographic Center for First A Woman.

Yater photographed Good Morning America’s Love at Times Square, and her work appears on magazine covers, in international magazines, advertising and print work illustrations, on national and international book jackets, in fine arts exhibitions and has received numerous national and international awards.

Throughout her decades-long career, Yater has photographed women and children in organic and natural settings. The quality of her work is pure. From children in mud puddles to evocative feminine form and gesture, Yater peels back the layers of life, unveiling The Art of the Moment.

For thumbnail images of the award-winning photos: marthannayater.com

A Teen's Lesson in Sustainable Agriculture

Volunteering at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut, was a life changing experience for 19-year-old Sarah Curless, a sophomore majoring in animal science at Cornell University.

Over several summers, Curless learned to garden, make cheeses and care for animals at the abbey, which advanced her college career interests, but also exposed a typical kid from suburbia to a new world.

“When I first came to the abbey, I think it was the first time I had been that close to a cow, except maybe at a county fair,” she says. “It was kind of scary learning to milk an animal so big that you knew it could hurt you if it bumped you wrong.”

Curless, who was up at 5:30 a.m. to milk cows, was struck by the hard work and dedication of the nuns at the abbey. She says the experience "...made me realize that in farming and in life sometimes you have to work at a problem for a long time and think outside the box to find the answer you need.”

Marthanna Yater's insightful, organic images capture the heart of the Abbey of Regina Laudis (see the full gallery here) by telling the story of hard work, simplicity, and the relationship between the Earth and its caretakers.   -- by Carol McGarrahan

Marthanna Yater Wins Big At Black and White Spider Awards - London

Marthanna Yater’s breathtaking image, First A Woman, has received 2^nd Place and a Merit of Excellence from the prestigious international Black and White Spider Awards.  This distinction is considered an endorsement from the most trusted authorities in art and photography today.  Marthanna’s image, First A Woman, received the honor in the Nude category.  Marthanna also received a nomination in the Fine Art Category for her work, I left my trike at Uncle Lem’s…that was 40 years ago.  

The Black and White Spider awards are judged by an elite group of industry experts including London’s Tate Gallery, Sotheby’s, Magnum Photos, Bonhams of London, The Armory Show, and a variety of other esteemed judges. Recognition by the Spider Awards is considered the industry’s most exalted honor.

Celebrating its 7th year, the Black and White Spider Awards is the leading international award honoring black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers in a prestigious annual competition and globally webcast event, reaching photo fans in over 154 countries. 

First A Woman

I left my trike at Uncle Lem's...that was 40 years ago

IPA Lucie Awards - and the Award Goes To...

Marthanna!  We are excited to announce that two of Marthanna’s breathtaking images have received Honorable Mentions from the prestigious International Photography Lucie Awards competition.  Her work, First A Woman, received the honor in the Fine Art – Nude Pro category, and her Earth Woman Fire was recognized in the Fine Art – Other Pro grouping.

The 2010 IPA Lucie Awards received nearly 15,000 submissions from 103 countries across the globe. IPA is a sister-effort of the Lucie Foundation, where the top three winners are announced at the annual Lucie Awards gala ceremony in New York's Lincoln Center and given the coveted Lucie statuette. The Foundation’s mission is to honor master photographers, to discover new and emerging talent and to promote the appreciation of photography.  

The awards are judged by industry experts including those from National Geographic, Saatchi & Saatchi, Esquire Magazine, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Tate Britain, and BBC Worldwide.  Recognition by the IPA is one of the industry's premier tributes. 

You can see the entire Honorable Mention gallery, including Marthanna’s images here.

Earth Woman Fire

First A Woman

Waiting for Emma

There is nothing like those last days before a new baby comes into this world.  The precious moments  to enjoy things as they are and the delightful anticipation of what will be.  Before Katherine welcomed her new daughter into the world, Marthanna captured her with big brother Max and big sister Eleanor as they awaited the arrival of Emma Kate.

Introducing Annie

Many of you will remember meeting Ali and Scout.  Well, now they have both been joined by a new sister.  Welcome, Annie!  Marthanna recently traveled back to Connecticut to photograph the expanding family.

Adorable Annie.

Much better.

Angelic Ali.

Ali is rethinking this whole "big sister thing."

Marthanna's website has been newly updated with exciting new work.  Visit www.marthannayaterphotography.com or click here.