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Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Matthew Carlin

May 142016

Photo copyright Matthew Carlin

My friends and I go to the skateparks around Flagstaff quite often. I don’t skate as much as they do but will bring a board just to fool around with. Regardless, I always bring my camera everywhere I go. Essentially my job within my friend group is to take pictures of them and make them look as cool as possible. It also helps build my portfolio and gain experience in many different circumstances. In this case, the setting sun cast shadows from the trees over most of the park. My main goal was to capture photos of them skating while overcoming the shadows and direct sunlight. I also wanted to experiment with the 8mm Rokinon fisheye lens while getting a good overall composition including stopped, but implied movement.

In order to prep for my shot, I set my sensitivity to 400 due to the shadows and fading light and adjusted the aperture on my lens to f/16 in order to get the background generally in focus and so it didn’t darken or lighten the composition too much. As a result of my higher sensitivity in daylight and my want to stop motion, I set my shutter at 1/1600 of a second. I was using one of the newer bodies I had just received, a Canon Rebel SL1 or 100D which uses a cropped sensor. Both of my friends were coming up and over a box at the same time so I positioned myself right on top of it inches to the right. this way I would get the line from the coping in the shot as well. There is a group of skaters at the end of the drawn out line of the coping that I had to manipulate slightly. I obviously couldn’t just yell at anyone in the park to do as I told them, if so I would have asked them to leave the shot. I asked them if they could move slightly to their left to align with the coping. This also provided a source of leading to the photograph. It was also important that I incorporated the sun into the image as well as the surrounding tree line. This was easy given I was using the fisheye which has an extremely wide field of view. I shot as soon as they were going to come up and over the ledge until they were out of frame. This gave me many options and choices to look at as far as body style, positioning, and distance closer and farther from the subjects. In the end this is the Image that I came up with, my lens being approximately 8 inches from where the first subject closed the box.

About the Photographer:

My name is Matthew Carlin. I am currently a Sophomore at Northern Arizona University as a double major in Graphic Design and Photography. I am originally from San Diego, California and have been interested in photography and filming since junior high school. My first camera was a GoPro and using it while surfing opened the door to what I want to do for the rest of my life. Today I enjoy shooting HDR, landscapes, people, and wildlife. I find that the best way to discover what you really love is to become experienced in as many fields as possible. Overall, I truly enjoy long exposure and Oceanscape photography.

To read more about the Northern Arizona University “Behind the Image: Guest Blogger” project on our blog, please read the introduction at youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/4th-annual-northern-arizona-university-behind-the-image-guest-blogger-project. Please take a minute to leave your thoughts and constructive comments in the Comment section below – Matthew would love to hear from you!

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Ramon Ramirez

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May 132016

Photo copyright Ramon Ramirez

As a photographer, I am constantly thinking about what I should do and where I should go to capture my next favorite image. I usually like to plan out my adventures of exploration ahead of time, but I broke that habit in the creation of this photograph by driving up Mt. Humphreys for no reason other than to see what kind of pictures I could get. Once I got as high up as I could drive, I got out of my car and scanned the area I was in. It was around five o’clock, so golden hour was about to start setting in.

The view I had was especially breath taking, which naturally led me to taking quite a few landscape shots. As much as I enjoy landscapes, I still prefer to take pictures with human subjects in them. Since I was alone, I had to use myself as a model for any picture I took where I wanted one. I spent about an hour and a half just walking around and taking different pictures as the sun gradually lowered.

After I felt satisfied with what I captured, I got in my car to start driving back home. Just before I was about to leave, a vision for another picture popped into my head. I put this idea into action by backing my car towards the scenic view I had and laying down in the back of my car. I then took my camera out once more to take a point of view shot. Once I captured that image, I knew for sure that I got what I came there for. The camera I used was a Canon 5d Mark II with a 50mm lens. I used an aperture of f/5, a shutter speed of 1/80 of a second, and an ISO of 100. I’ll admit that I am a sucker for the vintage film style, so in post processing I made it look like a worn picture by adding grain, lifting the shadows, and altering the colors with the help of some presets that I purchased. I was more than pleased with the end result. The picture says a little bit about the life I lead. I lay in my car carefree with the back hatch open as I enjoy the beautiful weather and take in the nature in front of me.

About the Photographer:

My name is Ramon Ramirez, and I am an 18 year old freshman attending Northern Arizona University majoring in visual communication and minoring in photography. I bring my camera with me whenever I do something other than every day activities. I have taken photo classes, done portraits for friends, and taken pictures at a wedding which all has helped me grow as a photographer. I prefer to photograph people in natural environments because it creates a sense of lifestyle. As far as process goes, I usually try and capture pictures with a foreground, middle ground, and background so that my images have depth to them. I also try to follow the guidelines of good composition for photography, such as simplicity and rule of thirds. My work is different than others because I create photojournalistic styled pictures that have a moody feeling attached to them. As an artist, I aspire to become a professional freelance photographer without compromising my style. My biggest inspiration is an old acquaintance of mine named Trey who has grown to become an exceptional photographer with the style that I have adopted myself.

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Kendra Horsfield

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May 132016

Photo copyright Kendra Horsfield

People often forget what nature truly looks like. Few areas still exist where animals are free to roam as they please without human interruption. Zion National Park is a serene habitation where humans can wander freely among wild animals without disrupting their environment. As a huge advocate for animal rights, I chose this picture to spread awareness of how animals should be left unbothered in their natural habitats. The absolute tranquility and beauty that Zion National Park embodies, was an inspiration in itself to capture images that would further share its stunning ambiance.

The deer at Zion National Park are fairly comfortable with the presence of humans; therefore finding a deer feeding was not a difficult feat. However, getting close enough to the deer to have a very focused and sharp shot proved to be rather troublesome. It took me a while to get as close as I could to the deer without scaring her off and ruining the picture. Once I did get close enough, there were only a couple of moments to take a good picture with the perfect frame of the deer eating up close and deer wandering in the background.

I took my camera everywhere with me on this camping trip, and while it was a hassle to carry while hiking extremely difficult paths; the pictures were all worth it. I witnessed the stunning scenery in every single part of the park, yet it still did not draw my attention in as much as the animals did. My entire life I have obsessed over wild animals, so you can only imagine the child-like excitement I possessed when I was around a ton of wild animals. The entire trip I envisioned a picture of a deer eating in the foreground with several other deer in the background, and it took me about 350 pictures and 4 days of trying before I finally captured the right moment.

In order to capture this image I had my camera set at an ISO of 800, a shutter speed at 1/80 and an f-stop of 4.8. I chose to set my aperture at a wide setting of 4.8 because I wanted the background of the image to be blurry, in order to set more focus on the subject. This shallow depth of field definitely draws more attention to the main deer and creates a more appealing picture. It was a very dark and gloomy day when I took this picture, so to keep an even exposure I bumped up the ISO to 800.

About the Photographer:

I am a Business Marketing and Photography Major at Northern Arizona University. I was raised in Southern California in a multi-cultured home. My interest for photography began in high school where I was under the instruction of an amazing teacher and photographer.

I am passionate about the outdoors and adventure, and I am known for making my own trails to explore new areas. My curiosity for the unknown and interest in rare and unique occasions, drives my yearn to be a photographer.

My friends often times ask me why I spend so much time trying to capture an image instead of just enjoying it in the moment, and my answer is simply because I love the moment so much I want to make it immortal. I hope that one day I can be a freelance photographer capturing special moments all over the world.

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Sydney Troxell

Guest Blogger, Making the Image 1 Response »

May 122016

Photo copyright Sydney Troxell

As I hiked along these heavenly creations, the crisp Utah air whisked atop my 1982 UCLA Rose Bowl windbreaker, feeling free as a bird with my best friends by my side and my camera barreling along with us, as if it were apart of me. I heard my name called from a distance and I looked up to find Jordan, my roommate, enveloped by this beautiful rock creation, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. In disbelief, I quickly grabbed my camera to hopefully capture what was before my eyes. Holding my Canon T5 18-55mm, sitting at 18mm with the ISO at 640, I brought my eye to see through the lens and bang there it was, my moment in time captured at 1/200 of a second. It’s the one photograph that I find the most satisfaction in amongst my gallery of photos. The effortless moments seem to reflect the most accurate depiction of what I see through my eyes.

Capturing the beauty of nature is a difficult feat. Becoming the eye of the beholder is something I strive for in my photography. Looking at a photograph should conjure up some sort of emotion or feeling within someone, which is why I chose this this image in particular. The dramatic beauty of this enormous structure was humbling. Witnessing something so much greater than myself made the essence of this picture worth its moment, now its memory. Pictures are so precious in life because that specific moment in time will essentially never happen that exact same way ever again. Wild to think about but so true in a sense. My trip to Moab, Utah would not have been the same without my handy dandy Canon by my side. Then there’s that sunspot. I will admit though I once had a negative outlook on it, now I do believe is what makes it unique, and in the moment. I decided not to alter the image from its original moment because I believe an organic shot is what gives a photo depth and tells a story in an instant. One look and you know the beginning, middle and end because of the emotion brought forth when we look at a photograph.

Writing about my picture has really made me come to realize that every picture taken should have a reason or purpose, because essentially anyone can take a photograph nowadays. Technology has broadened the horizons of channeling people’s inner artist and with this photo and that trip I really felt as though I did just this.

About the Photographer:

As for me I’m just a 19 year old girl with an optimistic soul. Photography has always been a passion of mine my whole life. I’ve always been capturing moments and sharing them with those around me. I enjoy bringing bliss into the lives of those around me and photos always seem to bring effortless happiness. From the gal who looks through the eye of the lens for most of my free time I truly encourage everyone to look up every once in a while and embrace the beautiful world around us because we miss a whole lot when we aren’t aware of our surroundings. Photography create moments, shares moments, and captures moments. It’s truly a beautiful thing and that is why I love what I do.

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Alyssa Tavison

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May 122016

Photo copyright Alyssa Tavison

I created this image because I wanted to create a nature portrait that captured the beauty of a person against the amazing nature scenery of Flagstaff, Arizona. Flagstaff has several places for optimal photo-shoots, but I chose to shoot this photo up on the popular Mars Hill that overlooks the Flagstaff city. Instead of shooting the parked where cars, we ventured into the Coconino National Forest by Lowell Observatory until we stumbled upon a great lookout spot with some fading sunshine. It was on the cliffs edge with enough wide open space that the light peaked through the trees in the background.

I wanted to make Hannah, the woman in my photo feel beautiful in these photographs when she viewed them. I think that everyone is beautiful and I want him or her to feel beautiful and that is the message I try to communicate through my photography.

To create this image I used a Canon EOS Rebel T5 camera. I had my camera set to ISO 100 with my aperture at 4.5 and my shutter speed was at 1/125 of a second. My focal length was set to 20mm and I was four feet away from Hannah. I used my favorite lens the Polaroid Studio Series .43x Super Wide Angle Lens MACRO 5258mm. I also used my external flash the Altura Flash APC1001 and had an orange filter on it. I used an orange filter on my flash because I wanted to create a beautiful sunset feel coupled with the actual sunset that was taking place. The sky was slightly blue but I also wanted a strong sun ray presence. I love the way the orange filter adds a glow to peoples skin. It really transforms someone’s complexion in a photo, instead of looking somewhat pale; they look sun kissed and vibrant.

After I captured this image I used post processing through Lightroom to enhance my photo to add even more drama to make it more stunning. I brought down the temperature of the photo and brought up the tint so the sky would appear bluer. I also brought down the exposure, contrast and highlights slightly because the sun was pretty intense at that moment. I boosted the whites and the shadows. I also boosted the clarity, vibrancy, and saturation to demonstrate all of the amazing color that the scene had to offer that wasn’t captured with my camera.

About the Photographer:

My name is Alyssa Tavison and I am a Photojournalism major and Photography minor. I first took an interest in photography when I was in high school. I got and old school film photo and fell in love and I have been shooting ever since. I enjoy shooting people because I find them fascinating and simply beautiful. I like to shoot people in a studio, nature, or on the streets. I find great interest in candid shots because I think that is where true beauty and reality lie. When I am shooting photos of people I try to talk to them and get them to be as natural as possible, so I don’t try to give them too much direction. I just try to ask them questions about themselves to try to evoke some emotion. I am very much inspired by people in general.

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Carissa Schattke

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May 112016

“Lauren” || Photo copyright Carissa Schattke

“Lauren”

Over the course of this semester there has been endless photo assignments that I am supposed to complete, and with that comes the rushed photos done right before the deadline because with being a student with a job and five other classes definitely gets hard. Although at the same time there are the photographs that you have been thinking about for a while and you know just exactly how you want to go about them and execute them well. With this photograph, I really wanted to do something simple, but at the same time create a photograph that speaks. What really pushed me to create this image was my desire to photograph a subject in natural light.

When it came time to actually doing the shoot, it was quite the feat. The room I chose to work in had shutters on the window, which in a way really helped control the light; this made things a lot easier because the lighting was all round even. The tough part was making sure that if I opened the shutters a little too much, it ended up placing sun lines all over her face, which were not ideal in this situation. On top of that, the walls were not in the sun so I ended up having to hang the sheet in front of the windows with poles.

On the odd chance that I choose portraiture; I like to make my subject feel as comfortable as possible, whether that is playing music or watching funny videos. With this case, I chose to show Lauren a video of me being caked in the face for my 19^th birthday and then a video of her being caked in the face with our friend Haley for their birthdays last year. Needless to say, the videos worked because she started laughing and smiling, all while remembering the good times that we had when we lived not even ten steps away from each other.

For this photograph, I used my Canon Rebel T5i and a Canon18-55mm lens set to f/6.3, an ISO of 200 and a shutter speed set to 1/25 of a second shot at 32mm focal length. Once I went into to post processing there was very little I did to the photograph. I changed the white balance to daylight and upped the exposure a little and lowered the contrast and upped the shadows and highlights just a smidge. After I edited the whole photo, I went in with a brush and I darkened and smoothed the background some just to have her stand out from the background.

About the Photographer:

My name is Carissa Schattke and I am a second year student at Northern Arizona University currently studying Strategic Communications with a Public Relations emphasis and also Photography. I have grown up around photography and come to appreciate it at a young age, especially with my grandfather being a professional photographer. He was the one who inspired me to become a photographer in the first place. I was the photo editor for my high school’s yearbook, which has offered me valuable insight. I prefer to shoot landscapes and nature more often than not, so shooting portraits is definitely new to me.

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Erica Colegrove

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May 112016

“Skull Savvy” || Photo copyright Erica Colegrove

“Skull Savvy”

Two Guns, Arizona, sends chills down my spine every time I think about my trip. It was a popular tourist stop along the famous Route 66, but now lies completely abandoned. In the 19th century, it was also the area of a major confrontation between the Navajo and the Apache. In any sense, being there alone was terrifying, but I had to go get some shots of it. Among the many pictures I left with, this shot promotes the exact feeling that I intended; which is a combination of mystery and terror. I am not exactly sure what this building used to be, but it is located to the right of the gas station as you head into Two Guns, (nowadays, it looks just like an old shack). Writing and graffiti covers everything in the area, but this skull really stood out to me. The air radiates some sort of dark presence.

Since I was too afraid to step into the shack alone, I decided to use the outer window as a frame around the dark doodle. Ironically, through the other side of the shack, a beautiful landscape of Northern Arizona is visible. The green and yellow hues of the plant life seem to balance out the dark and decrepit interior of the structure. A hint of blue from the sky peeps in through the corner of the far left window, which I think brings the entire color spectrum of the photo together.

I use a Canon Rebel t5i. I have always used Canon. I shot this particular photo with the 18-55mm kit lens. At the time it was one of three lenses that I had available, although now I have a few more from saving my money wisely. I use the lowest ISO possible, so this photo has an ISO of 100 with an aperture of f/7.1, shutter speed of 1/80 of a second and a focal length of 26.0 mm.

About the Photographer:

I realized my passion of photography from both my mother, and believe it or not, my ex. We spent a lot of time in my past relationship shooting together and I learned a lot despite not being together anymore. I regret nothing because we shared such an important role in each other’s growth as photographers. My mother is the person who pushed me to start in the first place, and who bought me my first camera body. Other than photography, I am a freelance charcoal artist. Art is incredibly important to me and always seems to find me wherever I am. In the future I want to think of a new way to incorporate both sides of my art into one, but for now I prefer to focus on one at a time. Within photography, my interest revolves around events such as concerts and also fashion photography. Although I do enjoy getting out into nature by myself when the idea of being around people overwhelms me. My ideal life would be as a paid photographer, traveling around the world to capture the essence of life. I am inspired by that goal alone, and hopefully one day will find myself doing just that.

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Nick Laessig

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May 102016

“Welcome Home” || Photo copyright Nick Laessig

“Welcome Home”

Real estate photography is often overlooked or not considered to be true photography, however, some of the biggest uses of commercial photography is that of architecture. I am driven by the desire to create an architectural image that cannot only sell the home but also leave a “wow” factor for my audience. I shot this image during one of my recent twilight shoots on a beautiful equestrian property. Shooting at the golden hour is unique and allows me to capture the strength and color in the sky while representing a very warm and welcoming feeling into the home. For me, it is important to pay close attention to detail and to create the best image by utilizing what is in front of me. There is very little change that I can do on my subject, therefore the angle at which I shoot is extremely important.

Shooting real estate photography has given me a chance to become better at the other genres of photography, mainly landscape and portraiture. I must view every shot and angle with a very critical eye, removing any unnecessary objects. Some days it’s only a tissue box or roll of paper towels, but other days it can be rearranging an entire living room in order to achieve a specific shot that will showcase the room at its finest. Before beginning real estate photography, I would just press the shutter button and edit anything I didn’t see in Photoshop later. However, for my landscape and portraiture photography I view each shot as if post processing is irrelevant and I strive to achieve the best image while I’m right there in front of it.

Most of the time I use exposure compensation to layer the sky and windows, instead of the common flash technique. I captured this image with my Canon T2i with a 10-20mm wide angle lens. I combined three different shots, at different shutter speeds, in order to create a strong and realistic-looking image. All three shots were at an aperture of 7.1 and an ISO of 100. It is important to be able to have great detail in the home and through the windows, while expressing the strength in the night sky. After I bring the images into Photoshop, I will enhance color, exposure, and clarity where it is necessary. My go-to tool that allows me to do this is the adjustment brush in the Camera Raw processor.

About the Photographer:

My name is Nick Laessig and I am currently studying Business Management at Northern Arizona University. I began photographing landscapes at just the age of 13 and by age 15 had established a business focused around real estate photography. Having shot over 300 homes in 10 different cities across Arizona, I understand the importance of commercial and architectural photography. I enjoy the business side just as much the photography and at the age of 18, I officially established my business as Nick Laessig Photography, LLC. Today, I offer daytime, twilight, and aerial photography as well as virtual tours for residential and luxury homes across Arizona.

Website: www.nicklaessig.com

Behind the Image: NAU Guest Blogger – Siobhan Webb

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May 102016

“Company by Computer Screen” || Photo copyright Siobhan Webb

“Company by Computer Screen”

I am drawn to humans and their complex genetic makeup. There are many vast natural beauties, and to me, the uniqueness behind each individual’s experiences and personal realities is truly amazing. Every day, I walk past hundreds of people on campus, each their own person with onion-like layers shaping their identity; and just like me, they all have their own community, goals, troubles, anxieties and so on. Each of us have a story to tell, a mood to convey or a perspective to share and yet sometimes we don’t have a platform to construct these messages. That is why, for me, photography is important. Humans are able to empathize and relate which creates a powerful sense of unity amongst a world of differences, and what better way to bring people together than through a single image. A single image such as the one I took the night of March 28, 2016.

Delirious giggles from lack of sleep bounced off the walls. My roommate, Rebecca, and I curled up on my twin sized mattress, side by side. It was late. The time was roughly half past midnight to be exact. We began wandering the Internet. Our fingers opened tab after tab and bounced from sites that ranged from Facebook to Tumblr to Spotify. Our mouths rambled unfiltered thoughts. My roommate knows my anxiety is worst at night; she knows I won’t sleep, so she provides some company for me. As I got up from bed, the room was dark and I stumbled trying to find my way to the bathroom. Right before I turned the main light on, I noticed the light of the computer screen illuminating on Rebecca’s tired face. Immediately, inspiration overtook me. This moment was raw, this moment was real, and this moment captured an indescribable, yet very relatable mood, that is: the reality of college at night. The reality that takes place when partying isn’t going on. The somber reality that takes place on sober nights.

My urge to go to the bathroom was gone. I turned on one of our secondary lights and raced to my camera bag. My roommate, very confused by the sudden burst of urgency, asked what the hell I was doing. I ripped off my puffy comforter speckled with black and white poke-a-dots and told her to stay put. After living with me for a few months, my random jolts of manic creativity didn’t phase her. As I pulled out my Canon EOS 6D and attached my 50mm f/1.4 lens, I instructed her to go back to messing around on her computer. The fact we are close alleviates an otherwise awkward situation. I expose her to my camera so often that being in front of the lens is not such a pressured experience anymore. She was comfortable. She was natural. Everything was dark, the only light source being Rebecca’s computer screen. I snapped test shots and adjusted my settings accordingly. The computer screen wasn’t enough light, so I turned the vanity light on around the corner. Perfect. My ISO was set to 2500, with an aperture of f/1.4 and shutter speed at 1/250 of a second. My intent was to create rich contrast with her fair complexion against the dark background to convert the image to black and white. After trying multiple angles, I was content.

I turned the lights on and grabbed my computer. At close to one in the morning, Rebecca’s eyes were heavy and she returned to her own bed while I edited the shot. With a simple black and white conversion, along with a couple histogram adjustments, I completed the image. I turned off the lights and got under my blankets. I was tired but mentally awake from the rush of capturing a perfect moment.

About The Photographer:

I picked up photography in 8^th grade. I am drawn to forms of expression, like art and writing, but photography revealed this overwhelming sense of passion in me. Over the years, I have had my own gallery feature at Borelli Design in North Park, San Diego; I have volunteered at several local community events; I have had my work displayed on National Women’s Running website and; I have continued my small business with the addition of a few jobs interning for local photographers.

I am now a Sophomore at Northern Arizona University where I am majoring in photography and minoring in Graphic Design. I love photographing people. In the future, I hope to work in the fashion industry or become a photo-journalist.

4th Annual Northern Arizona University “Behind the Image: Guest Blogger” Project

Guest Blogger, Making the Image 46 Responses »

May 092016

Introducing the 48 NAU students who will act as Guest Bloggers on this blog starting tomorrow through early June (their photographs appearing in alphabetical order here):
First row (left to right): Miguel Alvarez, Erika Berry, Matthew Carlin, David Carballido-Jeans, Erica Colegrove, Cassandra Coyle, Mariah Doka, Faouzi Eletel
Second row (left to right):Kyle Erwin, Emily Frankel, Emily Gaudet, Darian Gibbs, Riah Grams, Nikki Hand, Jake Herbig, Kendra Horsfield
Third row (left to right): Erika I’Anson, Kaylee Johnson, Laura Jones, Francesca Kent, Danny Kimball, Cole King, Amelia Krieg, Jeff Kunkel
Fourth row (left to right): Nick Laessig, Hannah Laurie, Kelly Lienhard, Maxim Mascolo, Wendel Navenma, Andrew Ormonde, Michelle Raigoza, Ramon Ramirez
Fifth row (left to right): Jacquelyn Reimer, Ariana Ruiz, Katie Sawyer, Carissa Schattke, Ashlee Shifflet, Taylor Slevin, Kiely Sutton, Alyssa Tavison
Sixth row (left to right): Jessie Tofaute, Sydney Troxell, Jessica Vazquez, Megan Vey, Tyler Walker, Siobhan Webb, Jarrick Wenslow, Dakota Wolfe

The annual “Behind the Image: Guest Blogger” project by the Northern Arizona University (NAU) photography students is back in its 4th–and best–year!

Four years ago, I partnered with my good friend, fellow photographer, and NAU photography instructor, Amy Horn, to offer her intermediate photography students an opportunity to turn their school studies into real-world, practical experience. Thirty-five students participated in this inaugural project (to see their entries, select Guest Blogger and Making the Image categories from the right side of this screen). After receiving many positive comments from both the students and this audience, Amy and I teamed up again, where 24 students participated in our sophomore effort. In our third year, we saw 39 excited guest bloggers “show and tell” their work!

This year, I’m proud to introduce the 48 NAU photography student guest bloggers – bringing the total number of students who have participated up to 146 over the last four years!

On March 29, 2016, I stopped Amy’s Intermediate Photography (PHO200) classes to share my “Clowns, Snowballs, and Boats: Surviving as a Freelance Photographer” presentation and to share details about the “Behind the Image: Guest Blogger” assignment. The students received instruction to select a single image they created during this semester–and were excited enough about it to tell the story in 800-words (or less) about why and how they made their image. We encouraged them to share what process they used to create it, what inspired them to make the photograph, and the technical information for the resulting photograph. To help our blog readers get to know them better, we also requested a 100-word bio.

Their photographs and words will be shared exactly as they submitted (i.e., I’ve done no editing of their work). Some are blogging for the very first time! I hope you enjoy the diverse perspectives, creativity, and personal stories each student will present in their own post.

Even though my blog and personal photography focuses primarily on the Great Outdoors, the students were given free range to pursue their own interests beyond nature if they desired. No matter our own individual domains, I feel strongly that we can refine our own style and work by reviewing and evaluating any type of photography – and get lots of new ideas!

If you feel so inclined, please show your support for these learning student photographers by leaving your thoughts and any constructive comments you might have for them in the Comment section for each blog post. To not only provide your encouragement and perspectives to developing talent, but also to help you polish your own style, as you review the image and write-ups, ask yourself, “What do you like about the image? What might you improve? Do you have any similar experiences with this subject, technique, or approach?”

As I often share in my workshops and presentations (and the Austin Kleon book suggests), “Steal like an artist!” How can you apply what you like to your own work in a different situation? Share with us all your ideas!

Without further ado, starting tomorrow morning, please join me in welcoming the 2016 NAU Intermediate Photography students “Behind the Image” photographs and stories!

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