Mary at Plymouth Rock, Massechusetts.
It began with a Brownie Hawkeye camera…
I received my first camera as a gift for my tenth birthday. I fell in love with taking pictures. I worked at baby-sitting to earn money for film and flashbulbs. Gradually, I upgraded cameras as technology changed (Instamatic, anyone?). I continued to take photos to document my love of travel and seeing new places. As an adult, I took photos of my children as they grew. I documented my growing career path as a teacher and school administrator. I continued to sacrifice and save money for trips—especially as I began traveling overseas. I wanted to see the world!
A few years ago, I purchased my first professional camera. I expanded my skill set as I learned different settings and techniques for enhancing my images. It has traveled with me to some magnificent destinations.
Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage in Spain changed my life and inspired me to see the world as a pilgrim. An epiphany experience allowed me to see the extraordinary in the ordinary in the world around me. I took thousands of photos reflecting this reality. Whether a magnificent medieval cathedral or a hand-crafted door, there is beauty all around us if we have eyes to see.
I am delighted to share these images with you, and I hope they will connect with you in some way.
More about Mary
Mary Tuczakov is a self-taught photographer who enjoys capturing images that reflect the extraordinary in the ordinary things that surround us in our world. She is drawn toward images of nature and architecture in particular.
Mary received her first camera, a Brownie Hawkeye, for her tenth birthday. Thus began her obsession with capturing the world around her on film. She was raised in the American Southwest and has lived in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. She currently resides in Bryce Canyon Country in Southern Utah.
Mary received a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Her degree programs included adjunct coursework in the fine arts and culture. She spent 26 years in the education field, and fine arts were an integral part of her educational programs, impacting thousands of students in their elementary school experiences.
Mary continues to expand her photographic skill set through independent studies, webinars, and gallery mentors. Before she retired from her educational career, she walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. During that journey, it became apparent to her that she should pursue photography as a second career in retirement. Her award-winning artwork is displayed in galleries in Arizona and Nevada, and is available in art festivals and online through her website at https://MarysPilgrimSoulPhotography.com.