About Hookey

Hookey Hamilton: Professional Photography Services in St. Augustine, Florida

I was one of six children, nicknamed "Hookey" after my three older sisters were told the legend of an Indian princess, when my Mother was very pregnant with me. I was nick-named with a shortened version of the Indian princess' name a few weeks before I was even born. It was an artistic, talented family, and I believed that I must have been left on the doorstep by Indians, because I couldn't dance, draw, paint, and make music the way they could. I had an insatiable desire to express myself, but it usually led to getting into mischief, rather than producing art. It took me years to find my own way. In the meantime I graduated from college in Virginia, and ended up working in incredibly diverse fields; Radiobiology, College Teaching, Antiquarian Books, Plant Nurseries, and as a Corporate Child Care Director when my son was born and I wanted to have him with me. I ended up in Healthcare administration, of all things, but I had started photographing. It took over my life. When I met and fell in love with another artist trapped in healthcare, I felt I had finally found my place in life. We live in a 203 year old house on the bayfront in St. Augustine, and I am surrounded by beauty. I have my soul mate, I have my camera, and I love my life. I hope my photographs reveal it.

Artist's Statement

I have no earth-shaking mystical, convoluted, complicated, evolutionary reasons that I photograph; it is very straightforward and simple. I love beauty. I have to express it. I have to share it. I want you to get the same feeling of incredible joy that I get when I see something that takes my breath away. I don't feel I have to "make it" or create it in Photoshop; I want you to see it the way I did. I look for it everywhere I go, constantly.

All my life I have had this intense feeling that there was something I HAD to do, and when I started photographing, I knew I had found it. When I am taking photographs I often get so involved I forget to breathe, and I have to laugh at myself. It is exhilarating, and I love it. It is a wonderful way to live, looking for beauty, and I hope the end product will say to you, "Look at this! Look at what I saw!"

History

1st prize Winner of the 1st St. Augustine Lighthouse competition
Consistent award winner in Jacksonville Camera Club's Competitions
Winner of local photographic competitions
Photographer for book covers and book illustrations
Member, Professional Photographers' Society of North Florida
Member, Jacksonville Camera Club
Artist producing Fine Art Photography and photo cards sold to galleries, business offices, gift shops, hotels, bed and breakfasts, plant nurseries, restaurants and coffee shops, both in Florida and out of state.

		172 Avenida Menendez · St. Augustine, FL 32084 · 904-808-7074 · Send Email