Behind the Lens With Photographer Kelly Sinclair

Kelly Sinclair’s arresting black-and-white photographic work celebrates the intersection where nature, women and time commune, amplifying a unique and complex beauty. In Kelly’s series entitled Celebration of Silver and Full Bloom-In Our Fifties, we are invited to meet diverse, mature women with nuanced complexity and authenticity. Her images reveal women who allow themselves to be fully witnessed– not as distorted, youth-obsessed cultural projections but as they are, with their mapped faces, tenderness and wilds. These are women of the Hudson Valley you either already know or may feel the call to hike in the woods with and hear their rich stories because of the ways they are embracing life’s powerful shifts unapologetically. There is an unmasking and acceptance in their direct gazes and undyed locks, an inner beauty that emerges with the lack of makeup or perfection-grasping augmentation. Strong hands meet water, bark, soil, light and metal. 

Even in Kelly’s series entitled Mandalas or Overlook Mountain, where women’s forms are absent, one can recognize an ineffable honoring of the feminine, a surrender to time and rebirth through nature’s elements, coiled snakes, flowers at different stages of life, always a quiet stillness and depth. All her images seem to remind the viewer of the urgency to live true to ourselves while paying better attention to the natural world. And through our inevitable progression towards death, a simultaneous reminder of the importance of our presence and unique expression is unequivocal and authentic. 

May we all find acceptance of life’s changes and rhythms, the wisdom in nature’s cycles, and our own inner beauty and truth so that we may better serve the world.

Want to know more about Kelly? Read our Exclusive Interview…

INSIDE+OUT: Where are you originally from, and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?

Kelly Sinclair: My mom and I moved up from Brooklyn when I was four. She is originally from Highland, NY, but after she left Pratt Institute, she followed some friends Upstate to West Hurley and ended up working in Woodstock, NY.

INSIDE+OUT: Where are you originally from, and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?

Kelly Sinclair: My mom and I moved up from Brooklyn when I was four. She is originally from Highland, NY, but after she left Pratt Institute, she followed some friends Upstate to West Hurley and ended up working in Woodstock, NY.

What inspired you to become a photographer, and what was your journey?

My mom studied photography in college and spent a lot of her time capturing moments with friends and family. She introduced me to black-and-white film photography at a young age. She turned me on to Dorothea Lange, Ruth Orkin, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Diane Arbus. Growing up, we had a darkroom at home, and as a teenager, I spent countless hours developing film and printing photographs and later studied photography in college.

Tell us about your work. As an artist, what is the message you wish to convey and how do you choose a body of work or subject matter to focus on? 

I photograph what moves me but I also strive to convey the deep sense of connection I feel to the land and/or my subjects. While I’ve focused on nature photography for a while, I’ve recently rediscovered my love for portrait photography. Lately, I’ve been particularly drawn to capturing the beauty, complexity, and strength of women as we age, exploring how our experiences shape us over time. 

Celebration of Silver

Letting my hair go silver is:

liberating and an act of self-acceptance
I got lucky – If I had to pick a color for my hair this would be it
an act of rebellion
accepting impermanence
courageous
natural
no big deal
a way of staying true to who I am
freedom!
goes better with my complexion
emancipating
an acceptance of all phases of the journey of life
just easy
a way to celebrate the person I have grown to be
a connection to the natural cycles of life
a celebration of my crone years
liberating, empowering and badass!

Almost all my color has grown out now, and I love it!
Being a part of your project has enhanced my ability to fully embrace it and wear it with pride
so liberating, natural and trouble-free
very freeing
letting my hair go silver is a way to age gracefully,
a time saver & money saver
my badge of honor
is much easier than coloring it, I didn’t even give it a thought
a challenge to be stunningly honest, to transform not only my hair but also my sense of self, to accept the person within
Going silver means being clear and proud and defiant about who I am,
showing the world that older women are beautiful and powerful and sexy.
Ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby. Authentic women, not hiding
who we are or where we are in the cycle of life, wear our silver
hair with pride, it represents the wisdom gained through the years.
Let our silver shine!

You currently have a show at the James Cox Gallery, Overlook Mountain.  Aside from the obvious, what inspired that body of work?

Overlook Mountain has a deep personal significance to me. This particular project began during the pandemic when I started climbing the mountain weekly. Along with capturing its beauty, I also documented the trash that other hikers left behind; plastic water bottles and other beverage containers, cigarette butts (surprising how many people puff and huff and puff up that trail!), dog waste bags (stop doing that people!), and lost items of clothing. I chose to focus on the beauty for the exhibit, but you can see the ugliness and traces of carelessness left behind on my website. After I photographed the trash, I picked it up. I encourage everyone to pick up trash on their walks in nature.

Tell us about the art scene in Upstate NY. Which galleries do you most frequent and which artists inspire you the most? 

The art scene in Upstate New York is thriving, with so many galleries it’s hard to name them all. Locally, I love visiting The Kleinert and the WAAM in Woodstock, the James Cox Gallery in Willow, and Queen of Rogues, a small but vibrant gallery in Glenford. Each offers a unique perspective and showcases the immense creative talent in the area.

What makes living in the Hudson Valley special for you? 

For me, so much of it is about the land; the Catskill Mountains, the forests, the streams, the rich diversity of plants and wildlife. There’s a deep sense of abundance here, though it’s something we can never take for granted. Beyond the natural beauty, the Hudson Valley is alive with art, music, and an incredible community of creative people, which makes it an inspiring place to live.

You run a shop in Woodstock, NY, with your husband, Mike DuBois, who is also an artist. Tell us about Happy Life Productions. Do you both feature your artwork there?

Our shop in town is more than just a gift shop and clothing boutique; it’s also an art gallery: Happy Life Productions. We feature my photography, Mike’s artwork, and pieces by other amazing artists, both local and international. We’re passionate about supporting the community, so we carry local crafts and at least half of our products are dyed and printed by companies in nearby Saugerties and Kingston. It’s a curated collection of wonderful items; come visit!

What local business should we know about? 

Have you checked out Herbal Woodstock, the new women-run dispensary in town, yet?? Peace, Love, and Cupcakes is right next door to us, Ever Records, Three Turtle Doves, Leisure Syndicate and the Tinker Taco Lab are across the way from us. 

What is missing in the area that you wish we had?

More attention to preserving the natural environment. Less growth, we need to slow things down. Provide affordable housing. Our adult children can’t afford to live here.

Who or what inspires you personally?

Jane Goodall, Jane Fonda, Greta Thunberg; anyone publicly speaking out against the Trump administration, those who speak up for the Earth and have compassion for all sentient beings.

Tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to know.

I feel most at home in the woods. I’m (perhaps foolishly) not afraid of bears (famous last words).

What do you do for fun? What are some of your favorite ways to unwind and unplug when you are not in the shop or taking photos?

I love foraging for mushrooms and wild edible plants and making my own medicine. 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? 

Does being a mermaid count as a superpower? I think it should.

What is your current state of mind?

Bleak. But we have to keep focusing on beauty and goodness and helping each other; there’s really no other way. 

Follow Kelly Sinclair Photography 

Website | Facebook | Instagram

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