willits center for the arts: melodee scofield

I received my first camera when I was probably 9 years old, but had been exposed to photography since the day I was born. My dad had a photography business "on the side" as well as a darkroom in the house. He was always taking photos of my four brothers and sisters and I so none of us were self-conscious in front of a camera. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad in the darkroom. Because of this influence, almost all of us kids grew up with an affinity for photography, some more than others.

I took photography classes in college and then had a darkroom when my children were very small. When my husband was in the Air Force and we were stationed in Korea, I used to take my eldest daughter with me to the base hobby shop and process film and develop photos while she slept in her stroller. Maybe it's because of this influence that she's now a very talented photographer herself!

I enjoy taking photographs of places we visit; my husband and I have been fortunate enough to travel, both in the States and internationally. A highlight for me was us being able to travel to Okinawa to visit our daughter, son-in-law and grandson. We drove all over the island and I took hundreds of pictures while there.

While I love taking photos of nature and scenery, I've found that I especially love photographing people. Children, especially, can be such founts of inspiration and surprise. I've learned over the years that photography is quite often a case of serendipity, a case of "making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things [they were] not in pursuit of." Because of this, I'm rarely without my camera.

I'm very grateful to my dad for this wonderful gift, this legacy, he gave to us.

Melodee Scofield website