Old School

I know next-to-nothing about photography.  Ironic, considering I am a photography major, huh?  I originally bought a Nikon d3000 camera, so I could take clearer reference shots for work in traditional media.  Somehow, I ended up declaring a second major in photography just months later.  Whoops! :p

Just when I was getting the hang of my techy new camera, I learned that Miami University's "Beginning Photography" students first had to go "old school" and explore film photography.  Luckily, my dad had a dusty old 35 mm Canon SLR, complete with a standard, wide angle, and macro lens.

The first few days (okay... weeks) of class, I hated it.  The darkroom, the smell, the clothe-staining chemicals—it was awful.  However, I've grown to enjoy film photography as much, if not more, than digital.  Once I got past the trauma of ruining my first five rolls of film, I started to notice the "painterly" quality of film photos.  That is, they never quite capture reality; there is always a bit of the artist lingering behind.  And as I consider the countless moments of history captured on film or  in early daguerreotype photographs, I think that idea is pretty cool.

Admittedly, photography class is still my greatest area of struggle and my lowest grade this semester.  But it's the one class I anticipate without fail, so I think I'll keep at it.:-)

Anyway, here are a few of my photos from this year.  I don't know how many paychecks I spent on film and paper, but it was worth it.

I snapped this picture after a seemingly-fruitless photo shoot with my dog, a stubborn thirteen-year-old dachshund who does not enjoy modeling.  I developed this picture on a whim, not imagining it could possibly turn out, but I quite like it.:-)

There is an Anglican convent near my house, and the sisters were so kind to let me take their photos for a portrait project.  Plus, they invited me to Friday Evensong and supper, as well as to Sunday Mass and breakfast.  And they let me play with their dog.:-)

This was one of my first film photographs, taken at a lake on an alpaca farm near in Millville, Ohio.

That’s all for today.:-)  If you have stumbled upon my little blog, please feel free to drop me a message—I’d love to hear from you!

~Kate

Expedition to Art School

Rocking impatiently on my back-yard swing, I clutched at a dilapidated piece of paper, a Crayola rose scribbled upon it.  I was proud of my rose.  But that afternoon, Mom had said earlier, I'd be going to art class.  My toddler's heart could barely contain such excitement.

"You'll learn how to draw all sorts of flowers," my mother explained. "And if you get really good, you'll almost be able to smell them, too!"

From then on, art became my favorite subject.  I covered all of the house's scrap paper with hand-drawn stories.  My grandma and I would spend hours crafting books filled with the scribbled masterpieces of my four-year-old mind.  No, I was not the best artist, but I surely was a happy one.

A teeny me, working hard to finish a portrait of Barney the Dinosaur (left).  Some drawings from a productive day spent doodling with Grandma (right).  Can you guess which one is hers?:p

Now, as I look back on these old memories, I feel so blessed to be attending Miami University's School of Creative Arts.  It's amazing to study my most beloved hobby all day, while also learning how to pass on that love to younger artists—today's portraitists of "Barney" and "Bob the Builder," but perhaps tomorrow's Michelangelo's and Vermeer's.

My mom was right about the flowers.  I did, indeed, learn how to draw all different kinds—daisies, daffodils, lilies, and—still my favorite—roses.  And sometimes I can almost smell then.