June 2001

Photography of Alice Peterson

I spent the first seven years of my life in the heart of Africa, the Central African Republic, with my missionary parents.  In 1958, we moved to Cohasset and I graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1967.  I then received my B.S. degree in Nursing from Winona State University.  From 1977 until 1996, I worked as a missionary nurse in the Central African Republic in charge of the maternity unit at my mission hospital and later ran a dispensary.  In those days, a missionary needed good photographs and slides to report back to their supporters about their work.  So that is one of the reasons I became interested in photography.   I have not taken any photography classes but have learned by reading manuals, books and practicing tips that other photographers have given me.  I've always admired my father's black and white pictures of our family growing up, so recently with the encouragement from others, I have started to take black and whites.  In March,   I entered a black and white photo contest sponsored by Proex.  I also entered the hummingbirds this year in a contest by the magazine, Birds and Blooms.  For the last three years, I have entered work at the Itasca County Fair.  I enjoy taking pictures of a variety of subjects, but I often find myself drawn to the faces of people.   I like looking into their eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of their souls.  I like the challenge of trying to capture on paper what my eyes see.