Ten Gazette photographers gathered this week to share the stories behind some of their favorite shots. Some moments took careful planning and persistence, others appeared unexpectedly. The subjects include presidents, actresses, artists, nannies, birds, and lambs. Some photos bring back memories of long-lost eras or beloved childhood landscapes.

"Never go by the shot," Steve Myrick said. "It's never there again."

Other featured photographers were Alison Shaw, Peter Simon, Mark Alan Lovewell, Albert O. Fischer, Lanny McDowell, Maria Thibodeau, Jeanna Shepard, Timothy Johnson, and Alison L. Mead.

All of the photos were inclued in the Featherstone Center for the Arts exhibit Eyes of the Island: Vineyard Gazette Photography. The show is on display until Oct. 22.

 

Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton at Tabernacle, August 1993. Alison Shaw saw the first family again later that day at the Granary Gallery, where she was invited in after President Clinton asked questions about her work displayed at the gallery. – Alison Shaw
Janet (Nanny) Drummond, August 1990. Ms. Shaw couldn’t pass up this scene while she was driving to another assignment on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Ms. Drummond was a nanny to many Island children; the baby in the carriage is Mike Wallace’s grandchild. – Alison Shaw
Elizabethan Fair, Artworkers Guild, Vineyard Haven, Sept. 1, 1973. The Artworkers Guild used to gather in Vineyard Haven, at a building owned by James Taylor. “It was great to see everyone at work with their artistic creations,” Peter Simon said. The second year the guild decided to have a big fair. “This picture evokes the sort of hippie artistic work ethic that we all had.” – Peter Simon
No Nukes Concert, Allen Farm, September 1978. It was the beginning of the anti-nuclear power movement, Mr. Simon said. Singers included Alex, Hugh and Kate Taylor, Carly Simon, and John Hall. “This brings back that era, that golden era when we all loved each other and were joyous,” Mr. Simon said. – Peter Simon
Comet Hale Bopp over East Chop, March 1997. Mark Lovewell said he got up at 2 a.m. to try to get a picture of the comet, first at the Edgartown Light and then Ocean Park. “This was the last picture on the roll of film,” he said. The sun was starting to rise. – Mark Lovewell
American oystercatcher. This is a slightly unusual pose for this species, Lanny McDowell said. “The photo is cropped to give you an abstract painting.” – Lanny McDowell
Leucistic song sparrow. Song sparrows are usually brown and gray, but this bird has a lack of pigmentation called leucisim. “This is the whitest sparrow of any sparrow that you’re ever going to see, only because of this curious thing that happened in their DNA somewhere.” – Lanny McDowell
Keith Farm, November 2016. “This was my playground growing up,” Albert O. Fischer said. “I probably take pictures of this farm more than anything…I drive past it and I stop because the sun shines through and I get out and the cattle see me and come over. What I loved about this is I’m photographing memories.” – Albert O. Fischer
Stanley Larsen’s wheelhouse, February 2017. Mr. Fischer thought about cleaning up the cluttered area. “I looked at it, maybe if I move this, or that quahuag shell there…you know what, it’s perfect,” he said. “I’m not going to change a thing.” – Albert O. Fischer
Solstice fireworks at Ocean Park. “Everything I know about how to shoot fireworks I learned from Alison Shaw’s book,” Steve Myrick said. This is a composite of several fireworks. – Steve Myrick
Oak Bluffs fishing pier. “A lot of people think this is a painting,” Mr. Myrick said. “It’s one of my favorites.” – Steve Myrick
Oak Bluffs police babies, July 2017. Ms. Thibodeau decided to take a picture of the officers and their babies on the department steps. “It’s one of my more popular pictures that I’ve taken,” Maria Thibodeau said. “What’s not to love about policemen and cute babies?” – Maria Thibodeau
Amy Brenneman, July 2016. Jeanna Shepard said she likes to be close-up for portraits. “She has no make-up on, she had just been stretching and working out…it was the most fabulous light.” – Jeanna Shepard
Ken Vincent, June 2016. “He had his artwork out on the floor. I jumped up on a chair and took it.” – Jeanna Shepard
Opening of Alessandra Petlin Exhibit, A Gallery, August 2015. Ms. Petlin is a photographer and was showing some of her portraits. “I started to follow her around the A Gallery…and then this just happened. I was like this is it. Sometimes you have that eureka moment.” – Jeanna Shepard
Birds at Philbin Beach, January 2014. “When the wave broke the light shone through and gave it a transparent look,” Tim Johnson said. The flock of sandpipers kept coming back to the rock, giving him time to set up the shot. – Timothy Johnson
Gus Ben David 2nd, March 2013. Mr. Johnson visited the noted Island naturalist and falconer. “I asked him to take out his golden eagle, which he did. I didn’t really have to set it up at all…you can just see them looking at each other. The light fell on his eyes and th eagle’s face.” – Timothy Johnson
End of the day at Menemsha. Alison L. Mead said she likes to honor working scenes, especially in Menemsha. “To me it’s just so alive when I look at it,” she said. “I think it’s important to honor things, especially as things are changing.” – Alison L. Mead
Lamb at Farm Institute. “When you shoot animals you have to be sort of respectful of them. They’re shy and scared of you, so you have to gain their trust,” Ms. Mead said. “It shows the vulnerability. A very quiet, special moment.” – Alison L. Mead

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