Kylie Barela
The Stories of Our Trinkets
My name is Kylie Barela. I am a product photographer from Tucson, Arizona. I started photography in high school. I have always been an artistic person, so my parents encouraged me to try the photography classes, since they believed it was a subject I would like. The technical side of photography made me hesitant at first, but after my first class I was immediately hooked. My photography teacher inspired me so much that I decided I wanted to explore every aspect I could, hence why I became a photography major. Over the years, my style has developed into focusing on high contrast with visible details in highlights and shadows for a more dramatic look.
I love still-life and product photography because I enjoy finding different elements in life that can stimulate the imagination. The element of storytelling within photography has also greatly appealed to me. These led me to my capstone idea; a series of still life jewelry photographs that aim to tell a story using interesting props, setting, and composition. Overall, I aim for a more artistic feel rather than making it look realistic. In these photos, my focus was geared towards showing interesting detail, texture, and color. For composition, the jewelry is either surrounded by other props to develop a storytelling element, or a macro lens was used to enhance the hidden details within these tiny objects sitting around our homes. Seeing the small details real sharp that normally aren’t as visible to the naked eye makes the subject more interesting to look at. Dramatic lighting helps to create a high contrast between the highlights and shadows.
The imagination has always been a vital concept to me. It influences how we see the world. The possibilities of content I can create with photography through my imagination are what drew me to the craft in the first place. There is something wonderful in seeing the beauty and artistic value within everything. It is well known that art is meant to be a form of expression, including one’s perspective. Rather than seeing a simple decorated piece of metal, I see art and beauty. While it’s true the audience is being shown what I saw through the lens, they’re own perspectives will influence what they see. Not only am I showing my own perspective, I want to encourage others to share their perspectives while being open to how others see the many elements within our world.
