As a longtime Riverdale resident, I enjoy street photography, of capturing life in public places. I like to chase light and shadows, to draw attention to colors and lines. I try to find the extraordinary in everyday occurrences that our eyes often miss.

My main passion is to take landscape photos, which I call LensScape photos using glass lensballs. My collection of glass balls and crystal glassware form a perfect recipe for creating jaw-dropping art against a stunning sunset. To see the way glass bends and refracts light is an awe-inspiring experience. I eagerly look forward to the day’s end to see what exquisite sunset will appear, and to discover what beauty my camera will capture. My lensballs are very sturdy but fragile, and they must be handled carefully. In direct sunlight they can act as a magnifying glass and must always be covered. Also I never look directly at the sun through the lensball as it will damage my eyes.

By studying sunsets, I’ve developed an understanding of sky patterns, the earth’s rotational impact on the sunset schedule, and whether a sunset will be spectacular or a dud. I’m learning about the limitations of cut glass, and how glassware such as a wine goblet can refract light differently if turned upside down. Every evening the process takes my breath away, and in it I’m finding my peace.

My lensball passion began with the 2020 pandemic. I was inspired to stay creative while isolated, so I took up photographing lensballs. With study and practice I have developed a definitive style that people find unique. They’ve expressed how my colorful creations emit a sense of calm, a moment of zen, compelling me to share the beauty I captured in nature. My vision is to see my artwork bring peace and comfort to an isolated world and breathe new calmness into places such as homes, schools, health spas, hotels, boardrooms and healthcare facilities. I appreciate any opportunity to share my artwork, and I’m honored to have had it displayed at exhibits such as the Yonkers Arts Gallery, the Blue Door Art Center, the Cecil County Arts Council Photo Show in Maryland, the Riverdale Public Library and the online Rockland Arts Festival gallery. More of my photos may be seen online here: www.flickr.com/photos/debscrystalsunsets/ or on Instagram @debs.lensscape.photo