How did you get started in photography?

My interest in photography began when I relocated to Montana in 2021. When my husband, Roger, and I first moved here, we immediately started exploring the state and its surrounding areas. We were visiting some of the most beautiful places that I had ever seen, and I wanted a way to collect these memories without accumulating more “stuff.” I wanted to do more than take pictures that lived on my phone forever, serving no real purpose other than occupying storage space. Roger surprised me with a Canon camera for my birthday that year, and I started taking community education photography courses taught by Jason Geer. I’ve learned so much through these classes and have joined an amazing network of local photography enthusiasts. We complete community projects together, go on excursions, and generally just encourage and motivate each

other. It’s a really positive space that I’m happy to be a part of.

We appreciate your wide variety of subjects, including landscapes, wild

and domestic animals, and people. Could you talk a bit about how you find

or decide on subjects or photography projects?

I’m still fairly new to photography. I think that my wide variety of subjects comes from the fact that I’m still exploring myself and my creativity, figuring out what I enjoy and don’t enjoy capturing. Our photography group also collaborates a lot and coordinates projects that we complete together. It’s probably fairly obvious from my photos that I love being outdoors, and I enjoy documenting nature through the changing seasons. I absolutely love capturing the personality of animals, though it can be challenging dealing with uncooperative and moving targets. I’m working on pushing myself out of my comfort zone to take more pictures of people, especially candid moments in public spaces. We’re fortunate to have some really great festivals and community events in Havre, and these provide great opportunities for capturing sweet and fun moments throughout our town. Any time I’m participating in an activity, whether it’s going on a hike or walking downtown for a festival, I make sure to have my camera with me; surprise opportunities for capturing moments are always presenting themselves.

We noticed some of your photographs are playful close-ups (a dog's nose,

a dandelion puff). Could you talk about your decisions in choosing a

specific angle or focus in your photographs?

By far, my favorite thing in photography is finding beauty in objects that aren’t traditionally seen as beautiful. My macro lens has really allowed me to do this by capturing incredibly fine details that are typically invisible to the naked eye. So many mundane things around us - like bugs, weeds, and cobwebs - are actually fascinating subjects with beautiful patterns, vibrant colors, and delicate structures. Every time I pick up this lens, I feel like I’m transported to a different world full of color, detail, and texture. I love sharing this perspective with others.

You also have color photographs and black-and-white photographs. Could

you talk us through your choices for whether to have a photograph be in

color or black-and-white?

I play a lot with silhouettes using black and white. I also love to showcase pops of color in

nature, especially in the springtime when the landscape is transforming. Keeping these things in mind, I do have an idea when I take a photo of what I want the final result to show. However, I like to sample my shots using both color and black-and-white edits, and sometimes I’m surprised with what I end up liking best. Color can obviously add a lot to an image, but sometimes it distracts from the fundamentals. Stripping it away puts focus on other important elements of the photo. We also spend a lot of time in Havre in the brown of winter, so playing around with black-and-white is a way to take great photos when there simply isn’t a lot of color available.

What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?

Start with what you have available to you. Even today’s cell phones can capture some amazing photos, and you don’t have to have the most expensive equipment to get started. There’s a great secondhand market for cameras and lenses; I’m always visiting thrift stores on the off chance that I find a hidden treasure. Take a community education class or even find a beginner’s course online. There are so many cost-effective resources available - the key is being willing to put in the work. I like to give myself structured assignments since that’s how I learn best. Completing a 52-week photo challenge or signing up for projects that have a deadline helps keep me on task and motivated. Take your camera off automatic and experiment in manual mode. Play around with one setting at a time, and notice how each change affects your image. Most importantly, be patient with yourself. I still take plenty of terrible photos, but I learn just as much from the duds as I do from the winners.

Jessica Antisdel is a hobby photographer based in Havre, Montana. Her passion for photography began after moving to Havre from St. Louis in 2021, when she was captivated by Montana’s breathtaking landscapes and diverse beauty. Inspired by her surroundings, Jessica loves spending her free time capturing nature through her lens. Jessica holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology and provides anesthesia services to the people of the Hi-Line at Northern Montana Hospital. Before her healthcare career,

she spent over two years in West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer and later traveled the world as a flight attendant. Photographs from these experiences remain among her most treasured possessions. Today, she continues to collect meaningful memories from her travels through photography. When she’s not in the operating room or behind the camera, Jessica enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, listening to live music, and biking around town. Her husband, Roger, and their dog, Gertrude, are her favorite adventure companions. She values lifelong learning and is grateful to Jason Geer for offering photography courses through the Havre Community Education Program. She also credits Emilee Luke and Mari Ann Skoyen for their friendship, guidance, and mentorship in photography.