Beth Erickson visits CCOA Women's Club

Beth Erickson, Publisher and Chief Editor of the Canton Citizen

"From Photographer to Newspaper Publisher: A Personal Journey”

By Agnes Hagan

It was our monthly meeting, an informal gathering of the CCOA Woman’s Club, but after a few minutes it felt more like we were having a cup of tea with our neighbor.   Beth Erickson is an award winning photographer and graduate of Bridgewater State College with a BA in history.  In her early years, Beth Erickson worked as a photographer for the Canton Journal. Later, she spoke of the challenges as a mother of five, and as a prospective editor/publisher of the Canton Citizen Newspaper, prioritizing and multi-tasking between family and business.

The new proposed Senior Center on Pleasant Street was a hot topic with the CCOA Woman's Club. Comments and suggestions went back and forth across the room. Beth suggested – put your thoughts in a letter - send them to the newspaper.

When asked, "Of the photos you have taken – “What was your favorite or most challenging photo?” “The Viaduct” In preparation:  timing of the train, adequate light, and good reflection in the water. When everything was aligned perfectly a dragonfly appeared between the image of the train and the lens of her camera. Eventually, she did get the shot that she wanted. As a young woman she was developing in her own dark room built by her husband - working with light and shadow to develop and create. Similar special effects, like vignetting, created the contrast on the underside of the viaducts' archways.

There’s something magical about watching your first photograph develop – going from a blank white sheet, to shadows, and finally that first image… 

Beth also talked about “The shot not taken”. She encountered a traffic jam as she was driving down the road - there was a serious accident up ahead. Although she had a camera and film she did not take the shot, she drove away, choosing not to record this tragic event.   This was one of many difficult decisions she made over the years about what to publish in a local newspaper where readers were friends and neighbors

There are tough choices and sometimes it’s a personal choice to leave the lens cap “ON”. The news media brings us stories that we need to hear, not always good news, but fortunately for us many do so with a kind heart.