We met Lee Bass when she entered the 2016 call for entry. Her work is included in the show INPrint at Photo Methode. We are pleased to share her work.

Would you please tell us a little about yourself?
I am a 65-year-old woman who has worn many different hats in my life. I am a mother of two incredible daughters and a grandmother of a granddaughter. Married over 40 years. I am a falconer, I worked for the University of Mn. rehabilitating raptors. I have collage training in horticulture but received my BFA in fiber arts and painting.

How did you get started photography?
My husband who grew up in his fathers darkroom gave me a point and shoot in 2007. I thought to myself I can make photos and just started.

Where did you get your photographic training? 
I taught myself, took a few workshops and have sought out help from photographers whose work I liked. I found that photographers are more when gracious to answers questions and help solve problems.

Did you have a mentor?
I did seek out a mentor, and it was an incredible experience. George DeWolfe was this gentle hand on my shoulder. I don’t know how to explain it, I made lots and lots of photographs, he looked at each one but we never talked about them. He would say “Lee read this or look at this painter I think this will speak to you.” Or he would say “life is a mud puddle” can you show me? Or he would laugh and say “Oh Lee, we all stand on the shoulders of others” I am your shoulders today tomorrow you will be someones shoulders.” He is a wise and gentle soul who let me follow my own path and said always use a tripod!!!!!!!

If you could spend a day with any other photographer or artist living or passed who would it be?
It’s a toss-up between William B. Post, photographer and Ivan Shishkin, painter.

What hangs on your own walls?
Art made by family, friends and others. Sticks, branches with wasp hives hanging off them, lots of dead stuff, plants, feathers, bones. Old metal and art from indigenous peoples what ever catches my eye…right now I have a whole wall of fall leaves I collected this spring . . . they have more character after a Minnesota winter (husband just laughs at this).

Would you share with us an image (not your own) that has stayed with you over time and why?
Salgado’s, “Salt of the Earth” this image speaks of all the peoples we don’t even see or think about for whom we depend on for our daily lives.

What image of yours would you say taught you an important lesson?
I feel that each image I make tells me something about myself, my skills, and my world . . . for better or worse. But if you ask for one it was a little image of trees that I accidentally over printed with another image, well that said anything goes or at least worth looking at. That photography not only documents but it can be anything you want it to be . . . the sky is the limit?

What equipment have you found essential in the making of your work?
Jon Cone inks, love the seven shades of black!

Whats on the horizon ?
If I only knew!
Lee Bass will have 12 of her images at the Griffin Museum April 6th in conjunction withVoice of the Woods, Koichiro Kurita .

Thank you Lee for sharing your work and words with us.
To learn more about the work of Lee Bass please visit her site and Lee Bass.