Meet Martha Montiel | Artist / Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Martha Montiel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Martha, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Most people assume that taking a photo is the simple act of pointing a camera and shooting. What most people don’t realize is that the process of a successful photo shoot involves thinking about your composition, the style, the story you are trying to convey and the editing process. So, while a photo might take a few minutes, the whole process is much more involved. The editing process alone can often be the most time consuming. Often, after editing I will come back after a few days and revisit the photo to look at with fresh eyes and readjust the edit.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My passion is Nature & Landscape photography. When I am out in nature, hours will pass by without me noticing. It is not always the grand landscapes that grab my attention. It can be how the light is illuminating certain area of the landscape, the patterns that form as the light changes, the textures you see in nature and how intricate, delicate and perfect they are. I can spend hours composing an image and figuring out what is the story I want to tell about this place or how I want people to feel when they see my images. These days, you have to work hard to set yourself apart. To be honest, I am still trying to figure out how to differentiate my art from others. I photograph what grabs my attention and what I like, maybe not necessarily what people are looking for. I hope that the right people will identify with my art and appreciate it. If one person likes it, other than my mom, then I’ve done all right.
I am proud of all that I’ve been able to accomplish in a relatively short time. I never thought I’d have my art hanging at a gallery and people would be buying it. That makes me extremely happy and proud. I also like to photograph families and individuals and when they message me telling me telling me how much they love their photos, it makes me super happy. I am able to capture a memory they can hold on to forever.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As you probably noticed, I love the outdoors so part of my itinerary would be showing them some of the great hikes we have around here. I’d likely take them to Rocky Mountain National Park, Ouray, Telluride, the San Juan mountains or Crested Butte.. The possibilities are endless. If we were out in the Nederland area hiking, I would take them for lunch or dinner to Crosscut Pizzeria & Taphouse. I was happily impressed with their pizza.

Another stop would be Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs. Great beers, food and atmosphere.
We would definitely make a stop at Mount Princeton hot springs in Buena Vista.

Colorado has an almost endless number of great hikes and outdoor features as well as the best of city life that can be found in the Denver/Boulder metro areas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost would be my parents. They have had blind faith in me and my dreams. I remember when growing up and trying to figure out what to do my dad saying to me that it did not matter what kind of work I did as long as I was happy. Doing something I love would help me be successful because I would be happy to go to work instead of dreading it. My husband/partner has been extremely supportive of me pursuing my dreams. Lastly, I’ve had continued support from friends and family in helping me get off the ground.

Website: www.marthamontielphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthamontielphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marthamontielphotography