Photo of family cat, Mick, by Kyle Weatherly. Scroll down for more of his photography...
For the Weatherly family, photography is more than just a hobby for their adult son, Kyle, who is 28 years old and on the autism spectrum. It has become a family affair where his parents, Katie and Glenn, each play a role in enjoying this creative past time together. Armed with cameras, all of three of them regularly head outdoors seeking hidden treasures hiding in the realm of nature to capture with their cameras. Later, Glenn improves upon Kyle's photos using his skills with the computer program, Photoshop.
"Always interested in wildlife and the outdoors, Kyle became intrigued with photography during COVID as a way to keep busy," his mother, Katie, explains.
From their backyard and pets to a family cabin or state parks, they search for interesting shots that will capture the attention of others when they share their work at craft shows or other sales venues.
Kyle profits from the positive feedback that showing or selling his work provides him. Learning to sit and wait for just the right shot, his mother explains, has also been a good experience for him especially when he's rewarded by getting just the right view. Kyle uses a NIKON camera with an automatic focus because it's user-friendly.
"I enjoy looking for subject matter with him because he sees things so differently than I do, " Katie says. "He has pushed me to improve my own skill level because of his unique perspective."
Kyle adds, "What I like best about photography is it is a way for me to be outside with nature. It is calming and soothing."
He also notes that he enjoys encountering different types of wildlife found while on a nature walk adding that he doesn't have any one specific favorite subject matter -- he likes them all.
Over the years, they have learned that butterflies and photos in full color sell well especially at a consignment shop in Geneva, IL where Kyle's work appears at Winding Deepath, 316 Franklin Street. And, due to Kyle's interpersonal and communication challenges, the Weatherly's have learned that the consignment approach to selling his photos works best. They've also taken advantage of placing his work on a variety of merchandise from candles and coasters to coffee mugs and key chains.
Sounding very much like parents of a child of any age, both Katie and Glenn agree that photography has been a great motivator for their son to get outside, engage with nature, and away from television!
For more information about this family, email: weatherlyartstudio@yahoo.com
Seney river frog.
Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly.
Photo by Kyle.
Photo by Kyle.