Alice Pride Profile: Mary Tashjian

The hallway near Alice Hyde’s employee entrance on the hospital’s Ground Floor has a new look, complete with new décor – and if you’re wondering where the hospital found the collection of vibrant wildlife photography, look no further than Mary Tashjian.

Mary has served as a technician in our Operating Room since joining Alice Hyde in 2005. What you may not know is that she’s also an accomplished hobbyist photographer who has spent more than a decade capturing images of wildlife and nature throughout both the North Country and the Northeast, in places like Maine.

Mary can trace her affinity for photography back to the Polaroid camera she got for Christmas as a middle schooler. But it wasn’t until 2014, when she took senior photos for her daughter Jenna’s high school graduation, that the enduring interest turned into a more serious hobby.

An avid kayaker who explores bodies of water throughout the North Country with a group of close friends, Mary said photography and kayaking have, for her, always gone hand-in-hand: Being out on the water relaxes her. Capturing photographs that depict the natural beauty of the North Country’s animals and environments – and sharing the images with friends, family and others --  just brings her joy.

“I like kayaking and getting outside – it’s stress relief,” she said. “About ten years ago, we started going out as a group and just talking about those things you can’t bring home to your family.”

The group’s travels not only gave Mary more opportunities to capture photos of animals – bald eagles, ducks, fawns and much more – in their natural habitats, it prompted her and a few others to begin volunteering at the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation in Saranac Lake. The kayakers provide the Center with updates on loon sightings, nesting and births each season – in addition to watching for birds that may be injured or tangled with fishing lines.

While most of her photography is done solo, Mary said she always takes time to stop and share newly-captured photos with others who are enjoying the areas she kayaks.

“Most of the time, I’m alone when I see these things,” said Mary. “It’s nice to show them some photos and talk to them about the camera I’m using, things like that.”