Barbara Ansede enjoys all art forms, but has always had a passion for photography. She attended the Maine Photographic Workshops in 1995. This was her first experience studying the human figure and working with models. One of the most important lessons Barbara learned from this learning experience was how to show the relationship between a subject matter and it’s environment .This is a lesson that she has learned to develop through the years, with a variety of different subjects. During her studies at Salve Regina College, Barbara studied many art forms. She attended all the photography classes and decided to make a career in the field. She continued her studies at Hallmark Institute of Photography and received her professional photography certification in 2000.

While running her own business, Barbara worked for a well-known water color painter, Sarita Garner. During the process of working on many projects together, this artist taught her how to view photography from the perspective of a painter, and Barbara learned new ways to work with color by making necessary changes within the image. Over the years, Sarita continues to be a brilliant teacher as well as a friend. She has been a source of inspiration, and because of her advice over the years, Barbara will always continue to find new ways of enhancing her photography.

While Barbara works with a variety of subjects her latest series of photographs places primary focus on her butterfly images. Looking closely, one can observe how the images have been digitally manipulated to look like water color paintings. This is one of Barbara’s favorite styles, as it emphasizes the butterflies’ colors, shapes, and patterns within the image while offering a different perspective and a new way of viewing images. Photographing butterflies remains to be her favorite subject.

Currently, she exhibits her photography in a variety of group shows. Her work has been on display at “Minding the Body Spa” in Point Pleasant, NJ and at the Middletown Library. Two associations she belongs to are the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury and the Monmouth Art Alliance.