Amy Hart: The images I treasure most are the ones that look more like paintings than photographs and are created without effort—just magic and the fine art of paying attention. It’s pure poetry when it happens. I rarely have the chance to share such images with the world; I’m often too busy taking zillions of shots as a professional photographer to have the time to share the images I capture in the quieter moments.
I’m deeply grateful to Kathie Collins and Paul Reali for the opportunity to collaborate on this edition of Litmosphere. This project has allowed me to revisit sets of images that have never been seen prior to this publication and, for a moment, prioritize poetry over production. It’s been an honor to curate this collection by reading through each of the written pieces and allowing my mind’s eye to peruse my personal archives to find an image that resonates—and fits together in the cohesive conversation of this evocative literary collection. I wish I could have tea with each one of the writers—your work is vivid and inspiring. Thank you for sharing your unique landscape of the world.
It’s been a balm to sink back into the person who got me into photography in the first place: a creative artist who looks at the world and sees astounding beauty, imagining it all as a watercolor painting—a little hazy, dreamy, and quiet. Thank you for this opportunity to share the poetry of imagery.
“Everywhere the beauty gives itself away.” – Antonia Pozzi
Amy Hart has lived and worked in many areas of the country, directed film projects in Africa, and had her award-winning documentary film shown in more than 100 festivals around the world. She is the Creative Photographic Director at UNC Charlotte and the owner of Amy Hart Studios. She spent extended chapters in Northern California and New York and was the official photographer for the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square seven years in a row, capturing such icons as Taylor Swift, Post Malone, BTS, Mariah Carey, Sting, and many others. She earned her BA at Bennington College and her MA at Queens University. She has taught at NYU and now teaches an Honors course at UNC Charlotte called Exploring Global Perspectives Through Inquiry. Online: amyhartcreative.com
