2020 NAU PHOTOGRAPHY CAPSTONE
PROFESSORS' NOTE
This year, 30 students completed work towards a BS in photography under the direction of Professors Amy Horn and Eric O’Connell. The capstone experience reflects a broad range of styles taught within this degree at Northern Arizona University. This year, Spring 2020, was unlike any other to-date, and possibly to come with the arrival of COVID-19. In lieu of a physical exhibition space, the class of 2020 would like to present this website as their final exhibition, built by Honors students Claire Sipos and Miles Rhoades. We, Eric O’Connell and Amy Horn are proud to present this fine and varied collection of work by a group of wonderful students! We are very proud of them all and hope you enjoy.
ABOUT THE SHOW
David Williams conjures up the great 20th century master, Yousuf Karsh, with his emulation of his portrait style, while Alastair Poll heads out in the Arizona outback to take us on a tour through train routes. Also in the landscape, Jenni Summers, uses couples’ portraits to depict a lonely world. Savannah McKinzie, & Maria Marsh, look at their families to tell stories about strong women and mother-daughter relationships respectively. Katie Kroeppler uses subjects to answer the question: what defines you as a person? Colorful pictures depict social norms through adornment by Sierra Olsen, while Stephanie McClean celebrates self-expression through alternate identities. Savi Klasen explores the delicious world of plant-based food photography. Emilio Ferrara shows off the comforts of home through real estate/architectural photography. Out in the natural world, Cassidy Coles captures natural layers and textures; Austin Sudweeks subtly shows the human impact on the modern landscape; Margaret Whittaker Reniker looks closer at our earth with macro photos of rocks and minerals, and Carynn Meyers studies the wild creatures we live with in a series of northern Arizona wildlife photos. Meanwhile, Shannon Swain looks at how we sometimes use animals with her wild-ride photos of the rodeo. Turning inward, Nicole Babler explores the darker emotions she experienced with cancer in her youth; Courtney Jorgenson & Shelby Sorensen explore hidden emotional worlds of depression and anxiety, and hidden illnesses and disabilities. Exploring the emotion and form of poetic words, Katherine Perry, gives us a cinematic experience of her inner emotions. Documentary photography is represented with works from Jayna Powers with her travel experience and connections made, while Marc Amaya documents the life and the passion of a man, his father-in-law, a migrant farmer in Arizona’s Chino Valley. James Muraki uses sports photography to express ‘do what you love,’ and Bess Valdez captures the moments of ‘game day.’ Technical expertise, lighting, motion and long exposure are used in Grace Oresman’s fantastical light painted, styled people in nature, while Tehlor Takahata was inspired by her personal growth through fitness and exercise. In the art of music photography and design, Shannon Cowan takes us on stage with powerful moments in music. Noticing how children process the world around them, Michaela Sullivan, gives kids cameras facilitating and curating a conversation about the future. Our website builders and curators, Claire Sipos deconstructs and warps the natural world to challenge the way landscapes are typically captured; while Miles Rhoades, uses compositing to make surreal comments on the built environment, the space he calls home. Ceci Polichetti documents the isolation and community among COVID mask wearing. Â
