Beach Therapy

One of the amazing strengths of nature is its ability to continue to delight and soothe us even in the most troubled of times. Photographer Danielle Leef is a master at capturing all facets of natural beauty on the East End. Her work is often seen in local publications and has been exhibited at Ashawagh Hall, Guild Hall, and the Levitas Center for the Arts in Southampton. The Long Island native has a life-long appreciation of the diverse vistas of the South and North Fork with a stash of secret spots to capture stunning scenes.
“I like being in nature, be it on the beach or capturing the beauty of flowers or bringing my camera on a hike,” says Leef. “It lets me take my mind off other things. It’s a calming presence in my life.”

Leef is a self-taught photographer influenced by both her parents, her father who shot in black and white with his own dark room and her mother, who was a natural artist. Leef often experiments with different techniques using her Fuji camera. She comments, “This camera lets me see exposure changes in real time before taking the photo. Also, the effects of leaving the shutter open make the clouds more wispy and the water more silky. I also like to shoot with lower angles which create unique compositions. I want to take pictures pleasing to the eye and also explore more abstract work, challenging myself even more. I might use a fisheye lens, which distorts the image or even a glass ball for a reflection to create a different look.”
Her success is a combination of planning and sheer luck. To capture a full moon or the recent resurgence of the Milky Way, she brings a tripod. One time by chance, a seal was lounging on the beach during the full moon, creating a magical image picked up by the Press news group. Some of these media images will lead clients to Leef as well as her website, art exhibits, social media and her popular calendars. Outdoor art shows are another place she shares her work.
Friends of Leef are prepared for her spontaneous spirit. She recounts, “Whenever there is a rainbow and I’m in the house or the car I yell “rainbow,” and I take off to get that shot. There was this one time when I was already out the car door and down the hill before my friend could ask, ‘Where did Danielle go?’”
Being part of a local community of artists is also important to Leef. She is a member of the Southampton Artists Association which has quarterly exhibits at the Southampton Cultural Center. “It’s a very impressive collective,” says Leef, “We can network and get different ideas about techniques and places to photograph.”
In these times of uncertainty, her passion is even more precious to her. She explains, “It’s so worth it because I love walking on the beach, especially when no one is around. Sunrises and sunsets are my favorite times to enjoy this beautiful place I am lucky enough to call home. Sometimes you just have to say, ‘I am over stressed and I need some beach therapy.’”

For more info:
DanielleLeefPhotography.com