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Clay Hedgehog vessel from Inner Mongolia. 3200 BC.

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The door of the Institut Océanographique in Paris, France, features a striking octopus sculpture.

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Julie Hamlin

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gal after my own heart

Virginia Woolf, from a diary entry featured in “A Passionate Apprentice,”

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UMKC Student Studio Intro Photo Fall 2024

Artist Statement:

At the beginning of this semester, my favorite photos to take were landscape shots. I didn’t have much technical skill or education in photography as I was coming into this class, but it’s been a hobby of mine for a long time. I like to try and capture the mundane in a new light, or spark some appreciation for ordinary scenes through the camera lens. That interest continued to grow and evolve throughout this semester in Art 105, but I also discovered new forms of photography and techniques I enjoy, too.

I took my first portrait photos during this class, and they became some of my favorite works I’ve ever made. I took portraits of my mom and dad, and their photos are almost like character studies to me. I see some of their lives and their personhood captured in their portraits, and I hope that some inkling of feeling that comes through others too—even though they’re looking at strangers. It’s hard to describe it without sounding incredibly cheesy, but I think these shots speak to that same sense of appreciation that I want to capture or communicate in my photography. One last element I started to really explore during class this semester was mood and atmosphere in my work. I’ve written about evoking appreciation and interest in my photography, but I’m also drawn to capturing scenes I find eerie or trying to create an uneasy mood. It starts from that same concept of photographing an ordinary scene, but then capturing that spark of interest through a sense of eeriness or by creating an unsettling atmosphere instead. It can be hard to build harmony between these themes of appreciation and beauty versus grimness and unease, but on the other hand, I think they complement each other in a way…that coexistence speaks to the reality of life.

Clay Van Walleghem | Flickr

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

As both an author and a student of film, I tend to view the world with a narrative eye. Photography allows me a lens through which to capture that narrative.

Things as mundane as an abandoned building, a series of streetlights, or toys on a shelf have always carried a cinematic weight to me. What stories lurk behind the glowing shades of a window? The ambience of a slow train, rattling through a nighttime crossing?

Ever since I was a kid, I've been obsessed with colors and lights and shadows. How they interract in different ways. The moods they create: SINISTER. SAD. JOYFUL. MYSTERIOUS. A language that everyone understands on that prehistoric, lizard-brain level. I can describe it with paint, I can describe it with words, but nothing feels as powerful or as primal or as ACCURATE as capturing those vibes with a camera and turning them around for the world to see. Sharing a feeling, a moment, and passing it on. Making it contagious. Watching it grow.

Unless I have specific inspiration, I rarely plan my photographs in advance. I don't have a studio or a fancy setup. I find myself drawn to the city's fringes, where structures crumble and nature has started to reclaim old warehouses and deserted bridges, or I look around my house or my neighborhood, and the ideas flow from there. Here is a pool of green light, here is a cool sign, here are the ghosts of an abandoned life, a forgotten world. The mood frames the image and the movie rolls in my brain and I let the camera take over from there.

And that's it! That's all. I'd rather have my work explain itself than dictate how it should make you feel... If I gotta do that, I've pretty much failed at my job.

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UMKC Student OL Intro Photo fall 2024

TITLE: MY SEMESTER IN PHOTOGRAPHY

When I first signed up for this class, I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into. I’d always thought photography was about pointing a camera and snapping a picture, but this semester showed me there’s so much more to it. At first, I was nervous—figuring out camera settings and composition felt overwhelming. But as I practiced, I started to enjoy the process. It was like I’d unlocked a new way of seeing the world.

I started noticing things I’d never paid attention to before: the way sunlight filters through leaves, how shadows stretch and bend, or how textures tell their own story. I found myself drawn to capturing little moments that felt ordinary but looked extraordinary through the lens.

One of my favorite experiences was being able to see my classmates work, they were able to inspire me to go out there and keep taking pictures.

Now that the class is wrapping up, I feel proud of what I’ve accomplished. Photography has become more than just an assignment—it’s a creative outlet I didn’t know I needed. I’m excited to keep experimenting and developing my style.

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UMKC Student OL Intro Photo Fall 2024

Fall 2024 Portfolio

I have always loved taking pictures but was very intimidated by cameras. I was constantly taking photos on my phone and was obsessed with catching every moment. Now, I get to do this on my Nikon, which I use regularly. I no longer use my camera strictly for assignments, but I feel confident using it to take pictures of everyday life. For example, I love taking my camera on a night out to catch the fun moments spent with my best friends.

I have had my camera for a decade. My dad was gifted it, but no one ever used it. By taking this course, I got the opportunity to wipe the dust off the camera and put it to good use. My Nikon was extremely easy to use, and I found that the auto settings were very reliable and got me the perfect shot (most of the time). I learned that it is amazing with the flash and that night pictures are unmatched. Once I got comfortable with it I taught my mom how to use it. She had always wanted to try it out but never had a reason to, so this class was the perfect learning opportunity.

I've included a diverse range of photos that I have taken over the past four months. Overall, I am happy with how my landscape photos turned out aesthetically. Despite them being appealing to the eye, I had the most fun taking portraits because it felt like I had more creative freedom and could play around with ideas shared between me and my friends. I also loved taking pictures of animals- preferably cats because they are better at staying still. Once you catch the right moment of stillness, they turn out adorable.

Before I wrap things up, I wanted to mention how photography has caused me to look at the world around me differently. You can take the most basic and minuscule things and make them into a great photo, which I think is beautiful. It doesn't take the most amazing/ flashy thing in front of you to get a good picture, it takes a good eye and a creative mind.

My Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/201252586@N05/albums

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UMKC Student OL Intro Photo fall 2024

Satisfying Paint Pallet

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

Artist Statement

In this class, I have found a new artistic voice through photography. I really enjoyed learning new techniques to make visually appealing photographs as well as manipulating lighting to produce different aesthetics. Every project in the class explored a different task or subject of photography, and I got to explore what I am drawn to photographing and what gives me inspiration.

My photography is soft and subtle, using artificial yellow indoor lighting, as well as the natural daylight outdoors to tell stories. I like creating moods in every photo. I am drawn to nature- trees, flowers, plants, and the sky. My photos of trees capture the entwining beauty of the branches and the colorful leaves as they connect to the tall trees. My photos of inanimate objects still portray the narrative of either dreams, still lifes and stillness, or an emotion. My photography can mean something different to everyone. I have a personal connection to trees, but someone else may feel a connection to another subject in my work. That is what makes photography and art in general so beautiful and powerful- its subjectiveness. In continuing my photography, I want to maybe further elevate my skills so I can incorporate them into my other passion, which is dance. As a dancer, I can explore dance photography and how to capture movement and the human body, as our gestures can often say so much.

(Go to tab on blog that says "Portfolio" to see my collection of my work)

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

Artist Statement

Photography has always been an escape outlet, to capture the world as I see it. Throughout the semester, I explored various techniques and styles to get that perfect photo. I stepped out of my comfort zone and experimented with these techniques like lighting and composition that truly challenged myself.

I now see everyday life much differently now and appreciate the small details. I pay more attention to things like lighting and imagining how I would photograph an object seen. I enjoy when the photo tells a story while still remaining simple. I have gained a better understanding of my camera's manual controls and look forward to practicing more to elevate my abilities. As I continue my photography journey, I am going to continue to create images that resonate and make sense to others. This class has allowed me to explore my creative abilities and I look forward to creating more that these skills through my eyes.

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo fall 2024

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UMKC Student OL Intro to Photo Fall 2024

dew *new photos*

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UMKC Student OL Intro Photo fall 2024

pets <3