From Alaska To Australia: Photographing The World

By Izzi Duprey

Jamaica Plain artist, Carla Osberg is a photographer who doesn't specialize. In her words, she "does it all."

When asked what kind of photography she does, her answer is "just about anything." This proves to be true after a walk through her home studio. There is everything from portraiture, to landscape, and even a little commercial work. She does however, have a real love for travel photography.

She has travelled all over the world, snapping photos from Alaska, all the way to Australia. When looking back on photographs from her trips, she recognizes, "I've had a very full life." The adventures she goes on are preserved forever in the stunning photographs. Osberg says, "My intention when I travel is to do photography." However, she will sometimes go somewhere and not take a single picture, but instead keep the memories as "pictures for the mind."

Carla started photography at the age of thirteen when her grandmother's neighbor gave her an old camera. She would go around, taking pictures of people she didn't even know, which was rather unusual at the time. Her mom wanted her to photograph the family, and she did, but Carla continued to find interest in taking photos of strangers. In junior high and high school, Carla stuck with photography; she had control of the darkrooms in the school, and became an expert in film photography.

As much as Osberg loved the film photography, since 2005 she has shot almost solely with digital. This year, on September 20th and 21st, Osberg is showing in the 21st annual Jamaica Plain Open Studios. She will be showing at her home and studio on 20 Cranston Street in Jamaica Plain.

JPOS is celebrating its 21st year as the premiere annual arts event in Jamaica Plain.  JPOS showcases 200 artists in 45 sites.  The event is open to the public and will take place September 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information and to preview artists' work, visit www.jpopenstudios.com.

JPOS is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, administered by the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events.

The writer is a volunteer with the Jamaica Plain Arts Council.