When learning about Debbie Noble’s life before she became synonymous with her camera, it’s easy to understand how she evolved into the beloved community photographer she is today. No stranger to tangibly capturing the joy of life’s beautiful moments, Noble spent years developing an eye for composition through creating scrapbooks for herself and others.
“Scrapbooking isn’t just fun,” the local photographer said. “It’s also important—family history and shared memories matter.” As her children grew up and left the house, Noble began pointing her camera away from her family and toward her community. Her gift to the Coastal Bend keeps on giving, as she has documented just about every major event in the area over the last 10 years.
Kylie Cooper: How would you describe your style of photography?
Debbie Noble: I’m at my best at a festival or event, taking candid shots of people performing, presenting, creating and interacting. To create context, I take shots of the city, landscape or surroundings. The setting helps tell the whole story. So, I would call myself a candid event photographer—a storyteller.
KC: How did the people and events of our community become your niche/focus?
DN: I was the stereotypical soccer mom, photographing 13 years and two kids’ worth of soccer games and practices. Once my daughters graduated and went off to college, I just pretended the whole world was my soccer game to photograph. The more events I found and shot, the more people I met, and things just kept going from there.
KC: How do you approach strangers? What do you say to them? Or do you simply watch, capture and move on?
DN: Being a 60-year-old soccer mom/grandmother-looking person, I’m lucky to appear non-threatening. Many people see the camera in my hands and ask me to take their pictures. If I’m noticeably close by, (especially with children) I might ask, “Will you be my lemonade models?” or, “You guys look great, can I take your picture?” If they’re far away or engrossed in what they’re doing, I shoot the candid with my long zoom lens and move on.
KC: Your work signifies this idea that there is beauty in everyday life. Does this ring true for you?
DN: Absolutely! I know photography is an art form, but I don’t really think of myself as an artist. I’ve always thought of myself as finding art, not creating it. Real life is made up of so many little moments of beauty and truth. I simply try to capture those moments as they happen.
KC: What or who inspires your work? What keeps you going?
DN: All the different creative and dedicated people/groups in our city who work hard to bring us music, shows, education, contests and festivals. They provide so many opportunities for this community. The least we can do is participate so we might learn, enjoy, experience, celebrate and find inspiration in our own lives.
KC: What are the most rewarding aspects of being a photographer?
DN: Sometimes it’s like Christmas when I get home and go through the photos I just shot at an event—I can’t wait to see what I got and I’m always excited (sometimes surprised) to find great captures. It’s internally rewarding when I really like what I find. And so externally rewarding when other people are happy, whether it’s a photo of them or just seeing the best parts of their city.
KC: What does photography mean to you?
DN: I remember learning from a woman raised in generational poverty that they never had family photos (or any heirlooms for that matter) because they were constantly being evicted or moving to find work. Photography gives such an important sense of community and even a sense of self that she and her family (and others like them) never really got to experience.
Specifically, photography for me is a way of saying everyone deserves to be remembered and celebrated. It’s a way of capturing someone in a moment in time and telling them, “You are worthy. I see you.”
KC: What do you hope your photography brings to this community?
DN: JOY. My social media accounts are public and open for anyone to follow. My accounts (especially Facebook) are filled with photos of local creators and cooks, producers and performers, entertainers, artists, entrepreneurs and everyday people who make up our community. I love capturing our cultural history and want to remind everyone that this is a thriving, vibrant and constantly evolving community with so much to see and do.
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