Photographer Jan Swart Is Inspired by Layers and Light
Photographer Jan Swart. Photo submitted.
When it comes to photography, Jan Swart is a bit of a late bloomer. The Two Harbors-based photographer, who is entirely self-taught, wasn’t drawn to the pastime until after her retirement.
“I really had no more than a normal interest in taking pictures until I retired in 2005,” she noted. “I saw the beautiful photos others took of sunrises and said to myself, ‘I can do that.’”
Since then, she has more than made up for lost time.
“One summer morning, I took some pictures of Lake Superior and was immediately hooked,” she explained. “After that, I started going out every day. It was so amazing and beautiful, so peaceful and quiet.”
"After The Rain is currently my best-selling. All the elements came together in the texture of clouds, water, sunrise and puddles on a bay on Lake Superior" Photo by Jan Swart
Swart earned her chops working as a freelance photographer for a time, snapping photos of whatever the local newspaper needed on any given day. She now specializes in Lake Superior sunrises and what she calls the “cityscapes of Duluth.”
This late-bloomer has since achieved much success in the world of photography. Among her accolades, she has received multiple certificates from Destination Duluth, recognizing the popularity of her images. And, she was even featured in the high-brow pages of Lake Superior Magazine in a lovely 2018 profile story highlighting her gorgeous photos.
She has also had the privilege of making an income doing what she loves. Swart successfully sells her images on her website and in a local gift shop.
“Photography has become the passion of my life,” Swart noted. “I knew instantly that this is what I’ve been led to do.”
Early Years
Swart was born and raised in Two Harbors and studied elementary education and economics at the College of St. Scholastica. After graduation, she moved to the Twin Cities and spent her entire career working in business.
Even back then, she remembers relying on the beauty of Lake Superior to help her power through the most difficult work days.
“I always had a picture of Lake Superior pinned on my cubicle wall,” she said. “I’d look at those waves during a particularly difficult day, and it was always soothing.”
Kaye E. Barker leaving the Port of Duluth, MN. Photo by Jan Swart
Later, when she began taking photos herself, Swart remembered this tidbit. During the pandemic, she purposely posted many of her soothing photos of Lake Superior, usually alongside an inspirational quote.
“I’ve always tried to uplift people with my photography, especially during the pandemic,” she explained. “It’s so rewarding when people comment, telling me that I’ve helped make their day more peaceful.”
After her 2005 retirement, Swart returned to her hometown of Two Harbors, where she remains.
Equipment
When purchasing her first camera, Swart had a convenient connection in the industry.
“My niece worked for a photography shop in Roseville and said she could get me the employee discount,” Swart said with a chuckle. “My first camera was a Canon PowerShot A-95.”
Jan Swart taking photos of the fall colors. Photo submitted.
After many years using her trusty Canon, in 2016, she decided to upgrade her equipment.
“My next camera was a little Sony pocket camera - a Sony RX 100-2. It was a really good option to bring to Duluth; it was small, and it had a good lens. It did incredible work before the light of dawn.”
Her next camera, which she still uses, is a Nikon D3400 digital camera. “Now, with this camera, I can do long-lens work,” she noted.
Locations
Swart enjoys taking most of her images fairly close to home. “I live three blocks away from Burlington Bay, so I take a lot of photos there,” she shared. “I also have a secret spot, along with a few other locations down the North Shore.”
But she also loves taking the short trek to Duluth. “I started going to Duluth to capture the sunrises in Canal Park. And since then, I’ve started shooting more and more on the central hillside.”
Jan enjoys taking photos of Central Hillside in her cityscapes series. Photo by Jan Swart
However, her best work comes when she relaxes and listens to her quiet inner voice. “I seem to have developed an instinct on where to go,” she explained.
“Of course, I look at the weather and the clouds, but I also have an internal instinct or inspiration. Whenever I follow this instinct, I do my best work.”
Swart’s favorite time to take photos is in the wee early morning hours. “I don’t set an alarm anymore,” she said. “I naturally wake up between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m.
“The thing that fascinates me most in photography is the light,” she added. “Especially in the early morning - I can’t believe how rich and deep those colors are. I especially love when the sunrise is bright orange.
“But I also love capturing layers, such as the view of downtown Duluth showing the buildings’ geometric layers. So, I would say that my two biggest inspirations are layers and light.”
Photo by Jan Swart
Professional Accomplishments
Since first picking up her camera, Swart has become quite a well-respected photographer. She sells her images on her Fine Art America page, jan-swart.pixels.com. Her work is also available at Two Harbors gift shop, Moose-cellaneous Gifts.
She was hired to take photos for the former local newspaper, The Two Harbors Chronicle, which she did from 2015-2018. “I took anything they needed around town. Schools, ships, trains, whatever. I learned so much by just taking thousands of pictures.”
She has been a featured photographer with Destination Duluth for about six years. Jerry Thoreson, DD’s Managing Director, saw some of Swart’s Lake Superior and Duluth-themed photos and approached her about sharing her images. Since then, Swart has been honored with three Destination Duluth certificates, recognizing the astonishing number of views her images have attracted.
Jan also enjoys taking photos of nature and wildlife. Photo by Jan Swart.
Swart was deeply touched when she was approached by the editor of Lake Superior Magazine, Konnie LeMay, about having her photos and a short profile featured in the magazine. This package was published in the August 2018 edition of the publication.
Personal
When Swart isn’t busy taking photos, she enjoys reading novels and spending time outdoors. But even her other interests seem to have a tie to photography.
“I never even thought about nature until I discovered photography,” she said. “And now I’m obsessed with being outside. I go out every sunny morning in the summertime. But I usually don’t go out in the extreme cold.”
Swart has two adult children, Kristine and Eric. She also has two grandchildren.
Goals
In the future, Swart has some big dreams yet to accomplish. “I’d like to do a photography book,” she said. “And my dream is to do a book of Duluth cityscapes. I’d also like to expand my business more into Duluth.”
"Building Blocks of Duluth, MN - I think it's popularity are the different colors and details of downtown Duluth." Photo by Jan Swart
She also wants to continue building a community of supportive photographers. “Before the pandemic, I met with several photographers regularly at the Caribou Coffee in Canal Park at sunrise. I’d like to get back into doing that.”
Swart is grateful to witness the celebration of female photographers in an industry that is still mostly male-dominant. “There aren’t that many women photographers yet in this area, compared to men,” she noted. “So, it’s really important to me that women photographers in this area are profiled - on Destination Duluth, and in newspapers and magazines.”
For more information, please visit jan-swart.pixels.com.
