Praise for Carolyn Bates' Photography
Excerpts from a letter regarding the book of her garden Six Chimneys. She won the idea by buying a raffle ticket at the Flynn Garden Tour where we raised over $20,000 for children's classes held at the Flynn Center.
"Your book arrived a few days ago...I was struck not only by the amazing color in the photos but particularly how they illustrated what an "artist's eye" you have with a camera. The colors are so lush and the composition is just exquisite. And thank you for including a shot of our Pamela!
It must have been a real job of work to cull through all of the pictures you took, decide which you wanted to include and then format the book. You did succeed brilliantly.
We both feel so fortunate that we got to be there lucky recipients of your very generous donation to the Flynn Garden tour. We'll treasure our book forever and will certainly get the word out to all we know about your exceptional work.
Thank you so much, Carolyn, for all the time and trouble you took to create our beautiful book. We are most grateful."
- Bonnie Reid Martin, October 12, 2009
"I think that’s the prettiest Early Homes cover ever!"
- Lori Viator
Regarding Early Homes Magazine cover for Winter 2009
"...I love that shot, it came out great!"
- Brad Dousevic
Regarding a Photograph of View of Lake in Penthouse for VT Mag house story
"You were simply fantastic yesterday! Not only were Newton's pictures really great but he loved handling the equipment for the setup and takedown. He loves doing stuff like that! Thanks again for fitting us in on such short notice. He is handing his pics in this am. They are really great! Thanks."
- Linda Hausermann
"I love the picture of the bed with the covers all strewn about, for some reason that makes it look like home...."
- By someone who decided that this was the right B&B for her to stay at, because of this photo.
Photo for One Of A Kind Bed & Breakfast
"...People cannot say enough wonderful things about the pics on my website. Including those who are not able to find availability."
-Maggie Sherman, One Of A Kind Bed & Breakfast
As a professional actor, I have a couple decades’ worth of experience getting my picture taken. And as the daughter of an Ansel Adams-type landscape photographer, I have a lifetime’s experience posing for a guy who could make a pile of rocks look sexy, but make a sexy person look like a pile of rocks.
The best advice I ever got about living on the lens side of the camera came from the first headshot photographer I ever worked with – a guy in Seattle named Gary who said, “The camera always lies. You just have to get it to lie in your direction.”
It’s true! We all know it is. And we all know that the camera usually lies in the wrong direction. How many times have you looked at a photo and said, “I couldn’t possibly look like that! Could I???”
The challenge is in trying to distill a living, breathing, dynamic, ever-changing human being down to a single image which best represents the fullest essence of who they are. How do you do that? How do you communicate the richness, depth, and brilliance of a person in what amounts to a glance? How do you lie in exactly the right direction?
I have no idea. But Carolyn Bates does. Somehow, she’s got the perfect combination of technical know-how, artistic vision, and psychological insight. She can set up the conditions for your best self to come forward. And then, when that best self does show up – in a moment which lasts no longer than the width of a hair – Carolyn can capture it beautifully.
Is she lying? Or is she just telling the most inspiring version of the truth? Give her a try and find out.
-Kathryn Blume, Creative Roustabout
Read more about Kathryn
- The Spot, thespotvt.com
"You did such a fabulous job setting up these shots! My porch has never looked so beautiful thanks to the composition of the pictures. Thank you so much for taking such care."
-Lucy, owner of the 1880's historic house and porch
"Nice web site! I really started taking a look at it and it's easy to navigate, the images look wonderful and I love that residential interior with the water in the background well done!"
- Steve Whittaker, Photographer
"Carolyn, very nice collection of work in an easy to understand and navigable website..."
- Peter Montanti, Architectural Photography by Peter Montanti"Nice site. Very easy to navigate and great images!...You live in one of my favorite places in the world! I loved kayaking on Lake Champlain. I love the images of New England on your site."
- Joe Hilliard, Hilliard Photographics"I don't think I've enjoyed ten minutes looking at a photography website for a long time. I've enjoyed yours for that 10 mins!
As PH says 'Nice to put a face to the legend that is CB!' "
"Nice pics. Wow, good job."
- David Fossiano, Contractor
- Tucker Fossiano, Owner of Beacon Hill Builders (originally posted on Facebook)
The photos that Carolyn took of the The Sheburne Country Store will be featured
in 2011 in Vermont Magazine.
- Steve, Shelburne Country Store
- Hanne Williams
"Thank you for the ADORABLE Christmas Card, I love it!"
- Katie Wilhite, Small Dog Electronics (smalldog.com)
"Wow... stunning! Really showcases the beauty and diversity of your work. A total success!"
- Lou Krieg
"You are a one woman promo wiz for Vermont!"
- Jim Cavanaugh (originally posted on facebook)
"WOW!!! What a beautiful web site!"
- Michael, writer from Taunton Press
"WOWY KAZOWY!...We shot the kitchen, the great room looking towards the fireplace, the dining room, master bath 2 (armando's bath), a portrait of us in front of the outside fireplace, and a night-time exterior shot. The photographs are spectacular. ..."
- Linda Lacroix, Partner, Aspen Construction Services, Corp. www.aspenvermont.com
"Thumbs up.....beautiful work !!!"
- Tija Cross
"love, love, love the open aired shot with the fireplace!""
- Tonya West, originally posted on facebook
"The angle is perfect. I want to walk in and take a nice warm bath."
- Mary Claire Carroll, photographer, originally posted on facebook
"What a great photo --> should be a magazine cover"
- Comment originally posted on facebook
Comment made about Carolyn's Postcard Designs
"These are awesome! How fun! you just made my day - I love to see an accomplished photographer like you, who says they learned so much from me....feels good! :) thank you! Your site is great btw!"
- Suzette Allen, Portrait Photographer, Photoshop Guru and Teacher
"Thank you so much for the lovely photo plaque of Huletts Landing! It's a great photo and it really captures the essence of one of my favorite growing up places!"
- Anne, Elliot House B&B owner
"I LOVE that photo! ... Thank you for all of your hard work!!"
- KK Harvey
"Just went in on your facebook page. You are everywhere! It is so nice to see someone who is in her "element." You seem to just love everything you shoot. What energy...and you are right back to where you started with your Nikon/Photojournalism style and it shows! Nice pic of me at the Heisler event. I like the one of you against the column in B&W. Those boathouses are amazing- love the design and colors. "
- Gary, Gary Hall Photography (www.GaryHallPhoto.com)
"This was hilariously cute, Carolyn! Grace and I loved it!"
- John McMurry
"YOU so ROCK!!!!!!!! I’m making one my facebook profile and putting it on my blog (credited of course!!!) Thanks, Caroline. Always great to see you out. Your smile makes my day!!!!"
- Karen Pike, Karen Pike Photography
