Marylee Burman on how Nature Influences the way she Creates
Good photography can remind one why they fell in love with the craft. Because after all, most creators are also consumers. Feeling a little removed from my personal work, I took to the internet to connect to some awesome photography made by others. It was during this binge that I discovered the photographer Marylee Burman, her frames propelled me into a deep sense of adventure.
Ever feel like you want to run away from your immediate surroundings? Of course, not forever, only in the moments where you dream of being in a land far away from home. When you do, I encourage you to visit the print section of Burman’s website. Here you will find stunning images, edited in a way that magnifies nature’s beauty, whilst also adding more dramatic intensity to the scene.
Based in Seattle, Washington, Burman is no stranger to the great outdoors. In fact, the earth’s nature has been a central part of her life since childhood, it’s also at the core of the work she creates.
Burman agreed to speak with Them Frames so we can learn more about her, the photography she makes, and her experience with the recent boom of NFT photography.
Them Frames: What attracted you to NFT Photography?
Marylee Burman: Since a young age I’ve always considered myself an artist - I draw, paint, make music, and I’m generally attracted to anything creative. I started dabbling with digital photography in 2011, and started taking it more seriously in 2017, which was around the same time I was introduced to the blockchain after attending a conference in Switzerland. [The conference was] specific to private banking systems and crypto. In 2020 I was introduced to Clubhouse, where I started learning more about NFTs and it was so fascinating to me. I felt like a lot of my interests were coming full circle in this new space of crypto, art, and photography. So jumping in head first as an NFT photographer was an obvious path for me.
Them Frames: Tell us about your process when choosing images to mint as NFTs...
Marylee Burman: When I mint new work, I always think about how well the image will stand the test of time. I only want to mint my very best work, and nothing less. So naturally, it takes me a long time to mint new work. Patience and attention to detail are such a critical part of the process. Each image I mint is uniquely and deeply special to me. I find an image to be “mint-worthy” because it feels natural to share, it stands out as a beautiful memory, and it's easy to write about. When I find that I’m struggling for it to come together, I tend to question it and will pause until it feels right.
Them Frames: What has your experience been like on the NFT marketplace so far? Share the good and the bad.
Marylee Burman: It's been primarily a great experience. The community is welcoming, supporting, and inspiring. And the best part is that we are so early, that the best is yet to come! We get to play a huge role in defining the future of web3 and art. On the flip side, it can be exhausting. The combined pressures of wanting to stay in the loop, support others, and consistently mint new work leads to burnout. I like to remedy this by timeboxing my usage of social media, and putting it away when I start to feel burnout.
Them Frames: What helps you be at your creative best?
Marylee Burman: I’m at my creative best when I’m fully recharged, I have space (mental and physical) and I'm free of distraction. It also helps to have some inspiration or a challenging assignment to help me get into a good flow.
Them Frames: What do you think NFTs mean for the future of print photography?
Marylee Burman: I think that they’re two very different mediums that really don’t affect each other that much, and they have different customer bases. Print photography is broader, as many people want beautiful art to hang. NFTs are more specific and learn toward the collector's long-term investment in the artist, or the artist's value of their token in the NFT ecosystem. It all depends on the artist and there is no one answer for this, but that's my opinion. Another thought is that they play together in that you can give your NFT collectors a print as long as they aren’t anonymous.
Them Frames: There is a lot of nature and wildlife in your portfolio. How would you describe your relationship with the two and how does it influence the way you photograph?
Marylee Burman: I am the happiest and most peaceful when I'm in Nature. I grew up in a small mountain town and was always outdoors enjoying nature. I grew up riding horses and around a lot of animals so naturally, I tend to incorporate wildlife into some shots as well.
Nature and wildlife influence the way I photograph because it's all in natural light so I need to be prepared for changes and shifts in the weather. And with wildlife, you have to make sure to have respect for the animals and their space, while also ensuring you can get a crisp in-focus image. It's a lot different than indoor portraits and lifestyle photography.
Them Frames: You have visited some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. To pick one, where did you enjoy photographing the most?
Marylee Burman: Honestly, my favorite place to photograph is in my own backyard of the pacific northwest. I know the area so well, and I am able to see the same places in many different seasons and conditions. The images I get give me a feeling of home, which is comforting, but also because the landscapes are so beautiful here–they’re also something you’d want to hang on the wall or give as a gift.
Them Frames: Which image or series are you most proud of?
Marylee Burman: My favorite image is one of a couple of horses amongst the wildflowers in Iceland. Not only was that a very meaningful and special day for me, but it was also an unplanned shot capturing a serendipitous moment.
Them Frames: What's in your camera bag right now? Why does this work for you?
Marylee Burman: Right now, I have my Canon R5 mirrorless with my favorite lens - the RF24-70mm f2.8 along with my 15-35mm f2.8. Between these two lenses, I can get a lot of range, from a wide landscape to a portrait.
Them Frames: What are your current short-term and long-term goals in photography?
Marylee Burman: My camera is still pretty new to me. I upgraded from a Sony A7RIII to a Canon R5 (which I’ve learned is an unpopular option, but I’m really happy with my choice). So in the short term, I want to master my new gear and get back into my groove of being able to change menu settings on the fly. Long term, I want to focus on the craft, lean more into an editorial style, and continue to refine my editing style. I want people to see my images and immediately recognize them as mine.
You can enjoy more of Marylee Burman’s work by visiting her website, Instagram and Twitter.
