Vendor’s Corner: Jody and Kelly Hildreth
The local Farmer’s Market, which takes place every Saturday morning on the Village Green, is a treat for all community members of Hamilton. Vendors run their own stands, selling a wide variety of goods from flowers to home goods. This event is a way for all people from near and far to come together and purchase original items they may not find otherwise. The market is a place where anyone, college student or Hamilton resident, can find something wonderful for themselves.
Jody and Kelly Hildreth, both local teachers from Waterville, have created their own stand. Following his love for photography, Jody has digitally developed hundreds of nature prints from all around the world. His photos feature serene images of landscapes and wildlife. Jody first got into the business of photography through his love of bird watching.
His bird-watching hobbies quickly grew into an appreciation for all nature. Spending two weeks in Yosemite National Park this past summer, Jody and Kelly captured miraculous images of mountains, bears and fish. Yosemite is just one of the dozens of places the pair has traveled to. They have also been to Alaska and the Carribean. Jody has also used his underwater camera to capture pictures of sea life such as turtles and flocks of fish.
One of the most rewarding parts of participating in the farmer’s market is the personal connections they make with their customers. Every print has a different meaning to each of their customers, and can be used for all purposes. For college students, the prints are a way to decorate a dorm room. Jody and Kelly also sell everyday goods, such as clocks and calendars, that are printed with their photos—which are great gifts for birthdays and holidays. Jody is most proud of the images he captured of the Lunar Eclipse in August of 2017.
Jody takes his love of photography and turns it into something he can share with the people around him. While the experiences resonate with the Hildreths, photography allows them to remember and give people their own meaning behind the work.
The Farmer’s Market runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. It will conclude on October 26, so there is still plenty of time to check out these images of all kinds.