Daily Inspiration: Meet Sarah Ainsworth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Ainsworth.

Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2023, I was tagged on a Facebook post looking for a photographer for a local conservation group. I’ve worked in many genres of photography over the years, but my passion is for nature and landscape photography. Two ladies were starting a hyper-local conservancy group to educate people and restore habitat for the endangered El Segundo Blue butterfly. I’d never seen one of these dime-sized butterflies. They told me when and where to look, and put me in touch with an experienced biologist who gave me some tips. I took one of my kids with me down to the habitat at Dockweiler State Beach, and within 5 minutes, we’d found our first butterfly, and by the end of the week, I had dozens of images ready to use. Those images (and others I’ve taken in the years since) have been used to advertise educational tours of the habitat, to recruit volunteers for habitat restoration projects, and to inspire people to plant habitat in their own gardens. They have also been featured on the new Welcome to El Segundo sign at the entrance of the city, and in an exhibit at the El Segundo Public Library.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The butterflies have a short lifespan, and are only in adult form in the summer. The caterpillars also rely exclusively on Seacliff Buckwheat (eriogonum parvifolium) for food, so their habitat is very limited. You have to look for them in the right place and at the right time of the year. They are also tiny–the size of my thumbnail (or a dime)–and they move very quickly and erratically. In three seasons, I’ve yet to capture a clear photo of one in flight.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My art is primarily expressed through photos, but I find myself shifting more towards painting lately as the children’s schedules get in the way of travel. I spend a fair amount of time painting, sometimes using my own photos as references, sometimes creating fantasy landscapes in watercolor or acrylics. My passion is for nature and landscapes, but I also enjoy taking family portraits, especially when a milestone birthday is involved. Nothing can hold family memories like a portrait taken at an 80th birthday party! Product photography is a favorite too. I enjoy the break from motherhood I find in quiet studio time. For personal projects, I spend a lot of time hunkered down in my own garden, photographing the life there, or wandering around the Los Angeles coastline taking photos of lifeguard towers and surfers and seagulls.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My children matter most to me. Everything else is secondary. I’ve helped coach sports teams, I’ve been a leader for their Scouts units. As they grow up and become more self-sufficient, I expect I’ll spend more time focused on conservation work. I’d love to be an interpretive park ranger in the Redwoods when I (they) grow up. Right now, I keep “work” things simple. Local projects (including my own garden), and projects my kids can be involved in. Many of the scouts earn volunteer hours working on the Blue butterfly habitat projects. We’ve been really successful with the habitat expansions. Several groups along the coast are working on projects that will create a corridor from Santa Monica to PV, and I’m seeing butterflies in new places every year, including in my own garden (I was inspired to plant the host plants for Monarchs and Blues after my work with the conservancy). I’ve been able to capture bucket list shots of the butterflies, and help educate people on why they matter (and how to help them!).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahaphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahainsworthstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahAinsworthArt
• Other: https://www.sarahainsworthart.com/shop-art