January Show - Debra Hall Photography

The love of nature shines through clearly in Debra Hall’s photography.

On Friday, Jan. 4, the public is invited to view her photos at the Beloit Art Center, 520 E. Grand Ave. when her exhibit opens.

Hall retired after working many years in customer service jobs, owning her own business, working in manufacturing and more.

She’s always been interested in art, however.

“I’ve always loved art. I took it all through high school,” she said.

And when she owned her own business, she created cookbooks and banners.

“I always kept myself in the arts a little bit.”

Then in 2012, “I needed to destress,” she said.

She found a relaxing outlet and hobby through the camera lens.

In the beginning, with just a small digital camera, she took shots of an elk in Estes Park, Colorado, blew up the photo, framed it and hung it on a wall at her place of work. Three people wanted to buy it, she said.

That’s when she knew the hobby that became a passion was worth pursuing.

Thousands of photos later and now armed with a couple Canon cameras and a distance lens, Hall has continued to expand her subject matter. She also serves on the board of the Janesville Art League.

At the Jan. 4 opening, the exhibit will include photos of sunsets, landmarks, birds, fog scenes, winter scenes, manipulated photos and much more.

While photos will be for sale, Hall says she does photography simply because she enjoys it.

“I like to just snap, snap, snap, and get that one shot,” she said.

And she has exhibited her work in the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program. One piece is headed for the state contest, she said.

While some of her work is not local, many of her photos have been taken in her own backyard, in rural Clinton, she said.

The Jan. 4 opening will be held from 5-8 p.m. and is a reception for the photographer who will be available to answer questions and talk about her pieces.

The exhibit will remain at the Beloit Art Center through January.

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