Poolesville resident Kathy Bassett posts daily scenic photos on her social media accounts not only to share the beauty of the natural world, but to create a moment of reflection for viewers to take a break for themselves.
Bassett has been posting photos consistently for around four years. While she originally started posting the occasional sunrise, her online presence has grown. She shares landscape photos on her private Instagram and Facebook accounts, and allows her newer Thread account to be open to everyone.
Currently, Bassett uploads five photos out of the 20 she captures each morning. She admits that she takes photos of anything that captures her eye, with her subject matter typically being a farm view located across the street from her home.
“I focus mostly on the simple wonders of the natural world, the vast array of clouds, brilliant sunrises and sunsets, daily life in the [agricultural] reserve,” said Bassett. “Even if I travel, I keep the subjects the same.”
Maggie Martin, photographer and Poolesville resident, has viewed Bassett’s posts since Bassett started posting back in Dec. 2021.
“Kathy’s photos are always the first thing I look forward to seeing when I open Facebook,” stated Martin. “From a photographer’s perspective, she has an excellent eye and does a lovely job finding the light.”
Bassett said that she enjoys using social media to share her art because it provides a quick and easy way for busy people to view her posts. Now that her posts have become more accessible, more viewers are able to easily view her photos.
“I think we are losing the empathy needed to stay kind, honest, thoughtful, giving humans,” reflected Bassett. “The colors I capture, the natural beauty, and thoughts I share are meant to give moments of hope and calm.”
In addition to her photos, Bassett includes motivational quotations for her viewers to read. Bassett described that while some of her quotations come from outside sources, she mainly comes up with what to say each morning before she posts. Whether it’s from a conversation or world events, she always finds something relevant for her viewers to contemplate based on what has recently been happening in her life.
“I like to see the world from her perspective and sometimes it feels like her quotes are just the thing I need to inspire my day,” said Martin.
Her inspiration for sharing these posts with the community stems from her personal goal of bringing people together.
“I hope with my quotes and photos, to inspire others to slow down, to bring us together as humans, maybe creating a dialogue, to allow us to see beauty, to not be alone in our fears and to give a bit of a respite from the craziness surrounding us,” stated Bassett.
Martin shared a similar sentiment regarding the purpose and use of photography.
“Photography is all about freezing a moment and within it a feeling, a version of yourself that only existed in that minute,” emphasized Martin. “I think the appeal of photography is its ability to leave a record for people we will never meet.”
Martin discussed the importance of balancing both technical skill and having an artistic eye when taking a photo with the purpose of capturing a moment in time. Martin reported that lighting, framing, depth of field, and focal points are all technical decisions that a photographer must make in the moment, along with the intention behind an artistic vision that should drive each shot.
“Seeing a beautiful photo triggers an immediate, multi-sensory response that combines emotional, physiological, and cognitive reactions,” said Bassett. “It often induces a sense of wonder, sparks joy or nostalgia, lowers stress by releasing oxytocin, and causes us to pause and reflect. It can transport us, telling a story that resonates personally.”
Martin believes that this resonation is so important, especially because no view can be recreated exactly again.
“Every moment of your life, every shift of light, every piece of landscape in front of you is a view you may never see again.”
Martin believes that it all boils down to the impact of photography. Bassett has used her posts to reveal the natural world that she has connected with. She hopes other members of Poolesville will take a moment to connect with and reflect on the world around them as well.
“Her photos are a great window into the many landscapes that make Poolesville a wonderful place to live,” concluded Martin.
