Donna Winters (dwinters)

Be Bold. Be Free. Be Truthful. These words by Brenda Ueland in her classic book If You Want to Write describe what I strive for in my photography. The camera offers the way to cultivate courage and take the chance to freely express something important - an inner quality that may not be immediately seen. Whether it is the gracefulness of a bird in flight or the invisible becoming visible through the mist of the rising sun, the resulting images are mysteries revealing themselves in something tangible. For me, every day with the camera is a treasure hunt filled with the anticipation of what is to be found. My goal is not to simply document a subject or event nor is it to strive for technical perfection, but to spark the imagination of the viewer. My subjects are varied as I tend to photograph what peaks my interest as I explore with my camera. Birds take center stage in the Feathered Portraits project. With this project my desire is that the viewer will be compelled to stop, look, and listen to the amazing creatures with whom we share time and space. Hopefully, with increased awareness and appreciation, encouragement of and participation in habitat preservation and conservation efforts will ensue. I am often drawn to high contrast images and consequently some other projects consist of monochrome images. Projects such as Mist and Fog represent mysteries in landscapes and draw the viewer into unknown territory devoid of color. I am a lover of print. The manifestation of the image as it comes to life on the printed page is described by Ansel Adams perfectly (paraphrased): “the [digital file] is the score, and the print is the performance”.

Donna Winters is an award winning photographer living in Dublin, Ohio. She has been honing her powers of observation through the lens of the camera for many years. After a career in finance and health/wellness, she created and owned a successful yoga studio in Columbus, OH. Her education in the biological sciences and post graduate work in anatomy/physiology helped fuel her intense curiosity. She has blended her photography skills with that curiosity and observation skill to create the perfect combination of her passions. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Bexley Library, Bexley OH and is part of the WideOpen: Excellence in Photography 2019 biennial international exhibition produced by The Dairy Barn Arts Center located in Athens, Ohio. In addition she has received numerous awards in various juried competitions including 1st place Dublin Area Art League in both 2018 and 2019. Her images were accepted into the Ohio State Fair juried art exhibit in 2018 and 2022. Since 2018 she has served as president of Westbridge Camera Club located in Columbus, OH.