The Meaning Behind the Lens: Learning Photography

This semester, I am taking a photography class. Having never worked with a professional camera, everything is entirely new to me. For our first project, we were assigned a self-portrait, but without showing our faces or bodies. It took me awhile to get creative and figure out an approach to this project. I ended up photographing some of my favorite things: I lined up my favorite books, my plants, a miniature statue of the Duomo from Florence, and my sunglasses. I took two photos, one from each side of my windowsill, and another of two framed postcards from Italy hanging above my bed. I also chose to taken these photos around golden hour, so everything was covered in warm lighting for my photos. These items reflect some of my favorite things about myself, as I love traveling, reading, nature, and fashion, which I hinted at by showcasing my sunglasses collection.

Our second project involved creating a zine, a small, flipbook-like collection of photos, that tells some sort of story. I focused on capturing my college house, photographing the front porch with its plush orange-striped couches, the wall decor, our bar cart, and the postcards and magnets on our fridge. I added Polaroid-style photos as well for a unique touch, giving the zine a more personal feel. I wanted it to feel like you were taking a tour of our house and seeing all the personal touches we added to make it our college home. 

For our third project, we were assigned to document a location with a historical significance. I chose the Pennsylvania Railroad station here in Ada. To highlight the history, I layered photos of the station from the early 1900s with my current photos of an area with a historical aspect to it. I decided to take photos of the Pennsylvania Railroad station here in Ada to show much, and how little, has changed over time. 

Our current project is a portrait assignment. I decided to photograph my old-year-old niece, capturing her playful spirit outdoors as she plays in the leaves and sunshine. I really enjoyed this project, getting to spend time with both my sister and niece, putting her in a cute outfit and, trying my best, to pose her in the sunlight when all she wants to do is roll around and play. Overall, this class has taught me so much about working with a camera and exploring my creative side. I am looking forward to the upcoming projects and would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to take a photography class!