PORTLAND, Maine — You’d think that Nina Fuller wouldn’t be nervous about an upcoming show of her work. After all, she’s been a professional photographer for decades whose work has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, and many other outlets. And yet, she’s got some jitters.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking,” she said. “Putting your work up on the wall sort of exposes you. And you wonder, ‘What if it’s awful?’”
That should not be a concern, but Fuller admits she’s her own toughest critic. On her farm in Hollis, she takes photographs of the many animals that live there, especially the sheep and, in the spring, the newborn lambs. “This is what I like to do best,” she said.
The pictures are arresting. They're black and white, showing sheep huddled in her old wooden barn or standing outside, sometimes being lashed by falling snow. The detail and artistry of the photos will make you look at these animals in a way you likely haven’t before.
There is something calming about the images, a quality Fuller attributes in part to the timeless quality of a sheep breed that has not changed in thousands of years. That calm is palpable. “I hope when people look at my photographs, they have a sense of peace," she said.
Note: The show featuring Nina Fuller’s photography opens May 2 at the Portland Art Gallery at 154 Middle Street in Portland.