The work of Washtenaw Community College photography students was “In Transit” around Washtenaw County throughout the month of September.
The “In Transit” exhibit was created through a partnership between the Ann Arbor Art Center, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority’s TheRide and WCC. It was driven by funding from Toyota.
While the main exhibit of more than 70 photographs at the Ann Arbor Art Center concluded on September 30, a “pop up” location at City Gallery in Ann Arbor City Hall runs through November 3. Select images are also displayed inside the fleet of TheRide buses.
A compilation of four distinct photography shows, each curated by a different WCC instructor, the “In Transit” exhibit awarded prizes to the photographs judged to be the best in each show, and an overall best of show winner.
BLACK AND WHITE
The “In Transit” exhibition title is most relevant to the this show curated by instructor Terry Abrams. Students in last winter’s Black and White Digital Imaging (PHO 129) class were tasked with producing images that relate to their concept of bus transportation in Ann Arbor. “Students rode on buses, photographed bus stops, visited the AAATA bus depot for behind-the-scenes images and created photographs without buses, but using the light and subjects that may evoke the light of journey that one may experience as a result of using bus transportation,” Abrams wrote in his curator statement.
Exhibit Best of Show: “Founding Infrastructure” by Jeffrey Singleton; Show winner: “Advice” by Jeannette Woltmann.
DISCOVERIES
This selection of work from Photography I students was curated by Jennifer Baker. “Students discover the ability of camera angle to change one’s perspective, the power of light to transform, and the pure joy of the instantaneous capture of an image,” Baker writes. “This body of work represents the best of these inquisitive endeavors.”
Winner: “Turning Point” by Anne Marie Shields.
WCC CAMPUS LIFE
The “Campus Life Project” has been an end-of-semester assignment for Environmental Portraiture (PHO 216) students since 2007, generating a deep archive of publication-worthy images from which instructor Don Werthmann curated his favorites. Teams of students combine and take on the roles of photographer, lighting technician and location manager to illustrate one aspect of WCC campus life.
Winner: “WCC Metal Fabrication Department” by Robert Conradi (photographer), Laura Adams (lighting technician) and Jennifer Patselas (location manager).
COMPOSITE BASED PHOTOGRAPHY
Instructor Morgan Barrie notes that photography students are drawn to making composite images, which are constructed from two or more photos, but “it’s surprisingly hard to get it right.” This selection of student work Barrie curated demonstrates those that got it right through proper forethought, commitment and technical prowess.
Winner: “Flower of Life” by Misty Lynn Bergeron.
Learn more about the Digital Media Arts department at WCC.