Betsy Cullen divines beauty in the world around us

Betsy Cullen is a fine art and commercial photographer based in Boston, Mass. She photographs people, places and beach balls throughout the United States and abroad, and has received numerous honors, including an award in How Magazine’s annual competition as well as gold and silver awards in the American Society of Media Photographers’ “Big Picture Show” and Boston’s Art Director’s Show. Cullen recently spoke with The Wire about her work, currently on exhibit at TaraPeck in Portsmouth.

Your prints have a soft, evocative feel. Can you explain how the infrared film and iris printing technique help you achieve this effect?
I have always loved the dreamy, soulful look of infrared film. After experimenting with an array of printing techniques I found the subtle texture of this watercolor paper worked well with the subject matter of my infrared images. It’s my hope that, although this body of work is made with infrared film, the viewer sees and responds to the image and not to the technique. I want them to be drawn into the landscape.

You works have a very distinct style. How did you discover it?
The way I frame a photograph or when I hit the shutter isn’t a conscious thing. I don’t plan a photograph before it happens; I’m just there to record it. Even the beach ball series is about where they happen to fall at the moment. I think my work represents a consistent voice more than a style. These images are just the way I see. They represent who I am.

And how did you come to photography?
I worked my way through business school and bought a camera. I just had a gut feeling I could work as a photographer. I’ve been working as a commercial photographer for 20 years, and fine art work only for the last three or four years. I was offered a show in a restaurant, and I sold a huge amount of work over the year and a half that it was up. Following that, I was offered shows at Fidelity and Emerson College, so I started shooting more to build a body of work. It’s had its own momentum. I haven’t had to go out to get a lot of attention for my work, it just came my way. I’ve been lucky that people have just responded to the images and chose to collect them.

What do you hope viewers will find in your photographs?
I hope that my images trigger an emotional response in the viewer. The nicest compliments I receive are from collectors who buy a piece or two and tell me that months later they still see new things in the work. A lot of my images have paths or portals. It’s not what that path means to me that’s important. It’s what that path elicits in the viewer. Some respond to my work because it’s dreamy or romantic or optimistic; others are drawn to the strong graphic elements. When one of my pieces makes someone feel thoughtful or reflective or just plain happy, I’ve succeeded.

Many of your photographs were shot in beautiful European gardens and ruins. What’s your favorite place to photograph at home in New England?
I usually make these images when I have the opportunity to travel and step outside of the usual pressures of life. I have been thinking of exploring more locations closer to home. Sometimes we fail to see the beauty that’s right in front of us. We look elsewhere for it. I’m always drawn to venues that offer either water or gardens.


Betsy Cullen
at TaraPeck
39 Ceres St., Portsmouth
603-433-4131
Hours are Thursday through Monday noon-6 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment