Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammi McElroy.
Tammi, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was living in New York City and working as a real estate agent. I’d be on the Upper East Side, in an apartment on the 41st floor staring out the window. Or in Hell’s Kitchen on the roof deck of a new luxury building, gazing at the skyline — I’d be in awe of the view. You don’t see much of the sky from the streets of Manhattan. I still remember how dizzy I would get in a high-rise condo with floor-to-ceiling windows my first few weeks as an agent.
It was 2002, the internet was still fairly new and the iPhone had yet to be invented. I had dabbled in photography for years and I was one of the only agents who carried a camera. I started taking photos of the views and posting them with the photos of the apartments I listed on my company’s website. Because I specialized in relocation, I started posting street scenes as well to give a sense of what it would be like to live in a particular neighborhood.
Photography – and later video – became a way for me to help my clients visualize living in Manhattan. It wasn’t until over a decade later when I moved back to Boston—the city where I grew up — that I became somewhat passionate about the art of taking a photo. I’d say Instagram has a lot to do with that, and the fact that Boston is such a beautiful and walkable city.
On February 5, 2016, I posted my first photo on Instagram. It was snowing and I took a photo of a Beaux Arts limestone condominium on Commonwealth Avenue framed by snow-covered branches. A couple of weeks later I was cutting through the Public Garden and I saw a white squirrel; I shot a quick video and I posted it. Before long, the cherry blossoms were in bloom and I was hooked on sharing the beauty that surrounded me. The next thing I knew a year had gone by and I had posted a photo a day, accomplishing Instagram’s informal, “365-day challenge.” Since then, I’ve been recognized by @IGersBoston, a prominent Instagram community of talented photographers. On three separate occasions, @IGersBoston has selected one of my photos for their daily evening feature on Boston 25 News.
Boston has a very vibrant and supportive Instagram community. We go on photo walks, we organize meetups and contests, and we learn from each other. For example, I used to shoot with my mobile device because it is much easier to upload to the Instagram app. But I noticed that the photographers I admire most use real cameras; I do now as well. I cringe when I look back at photos I posted on Instagram in the beginning but most of them are still posted on my profile. I learn something nearly every day from watching my friends; they’re so talented and they keep me inspired.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Boston is such a pretty city; it’s easy to be drawn to photography. In a photo, a neighborhood intersection is an eye-catching backdrop of someone walking home in the rain, and a bike left out in the snow. I just like sharing the city’s beauty. It’s everywhere. I also love to showcase the architecture of the city; the historic Victorian row houses and the fantastic new luxury high-rise buildings — sometimes in the same photo. I see similarities in Boston and Manhattan neighborhoods. For example, the South End reminds me of the Upper West Side, Bay Village reminds me of the West Village, and the Leather District reminds me of NoHo. But in Boston, when I shoot from the street it’s easier to capture a view that includes the sky.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
A photo can convey a powerful and emotional story. When there is a march, a parade, a holiday celebration, and when we honor our fallen soldiers I find it empowering for artists to visually share their take on how one community either protests or celebrates a day that is possibly being recognized around the globe.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Instagram is the best way to see my work. I have two accounts: @tammimcelroy and @tammimcelroy.re
@tammimcelroy is my photography account. I often post neighborhood photos on my real estate account as well.
Contact Info:
- Address: Compass 126 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116
- Email: tammi.mcelroy@compass.com
- Phone: 781-780-1900
- Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/boston/tammi-mcelroy/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammimcelroy/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/tammimcelroy.re/
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Image Credit:
Betsey Milne
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