Looking Back

   When I say that I have a passion for photography, I truly mean it!  I studied traditional and digital photography for four years at West Virginia University.  Looking back now, I realize that it was such an amazing opportunity being able to learn the nitty gritty behind traditional black and white photography that most photographers never have the chance to experience.  The first time that I witnessed my image come to life in the dark room I was hooked!  There is something so magical and romantic about the whole dark room experience and developing your own prints (except for the times when its extremely late and you are the only one in the "dark" room, then its a little scary lol ).  Don't get me wrong the digital camera is an amazing tool that has revolutionized  photographic production, but my first love will always be silver gelatin prints. 
   During my last two years at school we were taught several alternative photographic process that opened up a whole new world for me.  We made our own pin hole cameras, used Polaroid transfers and lifts, spreadable emulsions that could turn almost any surface into a photograph.....it was AMAZING!  I get excited just talking about it :)  Photography is my art, it is so much more than just "pointing and clicking," for me its about creating and finding the unique in life.  Now that I am a wedding photographer, it is my goal to some day be able to combine my love for traditional black and white and alternative photographic techniques with my digital work.
    These photos are part of a project that I finished my Senior year in school.  They are silver gelatin prints that where taken with a pin hole camera that I created specifically for this project.  This series was called "The New Jerusalem."  They were inspired by the biblical verse in Revelation that describes the new heaven and new earth after judgment day.  My idea was to create images that visually described this event of old worlds fading and new worlds beginning.  

Rev 21:1
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away..."