RED LAKE -- Amy Newport is a nature photographer being revered in a new gallery at the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre.
The gallery was officially opened on July 22, but was also briefly open to the public over the Norseman Festival the weekend prior.
More than 50 people attended the opening; some family and friends coming from Dryden and Ear Falls to support Newport.
Newport moved to Red Lake from Newfoundland for a position as a geologist in 2007. She has had a passion for photography her whole life, stating that she remembers taking pictures of flowers in her mother’s backyard at a young age.
She started taking a more active interest in photography in high school when her class did a project taking pictures and developing them in a darkroom. Ten years ago, she officially started a Facebook page to showcase her work. She most enjoys photographing sunsets and nature, and though she doesn’t advertise it, she has done many portrait sessions as well. She has photographed weddings, families, newborns and even done pictures with Santa for her employers at Christmastime.
“Interactions with people is something I do enjoy, you get to have a little peep into their lives,” says Newport.
She got her start in the community by doing booths at tradeshows, displaying her art. She was blown away with how positively people responded to her work. She then began to sell some of her pieces.
In June, the director of the RLRHC approached Newport about showing her work in the temporary exhibit hall. The gallery will run until Oct. 15. With the quick turnaround between being approached about the exhibit and it’s opening a few weeks after, Newport borrowed some of her favourite’s pieces from some of her buyers to be able to showcase them.
Many of the photos are being auctioned, with the proceeds being donated to the RLRHC. She has had many of her own works for sale in the museum’s gift shop over the years. Her favourite piece in the gallery is the photo of the long sepia canoe, titled ‘Sunset on the Boreal’.
Newport has been a long-time supporter of the RLRHC. She joined the board of directors four years ago, and she has had a special interest in the preservation of Red Lake’s mining history. She has also spent a fair amount of time on Whitehorse Island photographing the historical cabin of prospector Clifford Harvey.
Newport works underground as a geologist for evolution, so she takes every opportunity to be outside. Nature photography is her passion. Whether it is going out in the cold winter nights to get the photos of the elusive northern lights, or going on her annual trip to Woodland Caribou Park with her friends and getting shots on the water.
Sunsets are still her ultimate favourite thing to capture.
“I am fortunate enough to live on the lake, and so I am always running out to take pictures of the sunset,” says Newport.
