Bold Photography Personal Statement

It was my freshman year of high school when I took Drawing A; I quickly learned that I had a skill that I had previously ignored and began embracing it. Sophomore year, though, was when I truly started using my art. It was during this year that I received a 4 on my AP-Studio Art portfolio, and won four awards at Scholastic Art and Writing in photography. Art gave me a feeling of accomplishment that I didn’t usually get in the rest of my academics, so I always tried my

Ever since my parents bought me my first camera, I’ve been hopelessly attached to it. Film was always something that intrigued me, and I spent most of middle school with a camera in my hand. That didn’t end when high school began. As I furthered my knowledge of film and photography throughout school, I found more opportunities to create something bigger than myself. Using my passion for film and photography, I aided with Tri-M Music Honors Societies community outreaches and events. I have been involved with Tri-M for three years and have held two officer positions, currently being the President. This organization helped me to decide my career path by giving me opportunities to create advertisements and analyze marketing strategies on a small

“Every time you dream at night, the dream has holes in it. You have to do something to fix those holes and make the dream become a reality,” my father often told me. Although I was very young when my dad passed away, he provided tremendous inspiration and encouragement to pursue my passions that continue to influence my life and my future endeavors. As a child, one of my favorite pastimes was acting; I would routinely act in videos with my friend while my dad filmed us. Later, I assumed responsibility for filming while my friend would act. I instantly fell in love with videography. I was enthralled with how videography could capture my point of view of the world, which prompted me to try photography. Once I began photography, I knew I wanted

I’m sitting at my computer, ignoring pages of economics homework and mugs of cold tea now strewn about my desk, as I search for a direction to go with my life. Such was was my predicament several months ago. It’s undeniable that I’m an artist, hard and true, for a pencil found its way into my hand as a child, and no desire of mine nor of the universe ever tempted it to pry away. Throughout my earliest years and memories, I maneuvered with graphite, paint, and crayon every adventure that I ever dreamt of pursuing. Oh, I was a resilient child, as well, who refused to take part in any art class at school or as an extracurricular for an abundance of years, as I was invariably convinced that I could learn all I wished on my own accord! Consequently,

I graduated from Hilliard Darby High School this past spring. My love for art began very young with my father who always made sure to encourage my creativity. I remember making coil pots with him during the summer and then painting them. In the ninth grade I took painting which I immediately became attached too. For the past four years I have continued to expand my abilities and strengthen skills with the help of my teacher Mrs. Kulick-Brown. From there I have completed several commissioned pieces for teachers and their families. Painting has taught me a lot about color and composition. During high school I also was involved in ceramics where I competed in the annual ‘Feats of Clay” competition. I love the focus and serenity I experience

We will try to make a photograph and it will not be a masterpiece – and often the harder we try the more it seems we are likely to fail. But those failures are the best teachers we can have. A success will only confirm we could do what we thought we are capable of.

In my own career as a photographer I also faced issues with finances and career pathways. I started out producing

Since I started being inundated with talk of college at the beginning of high school, my mom, aunt, friends, and even teachers have instructed me to follow a “traditional” postsecondary route like engineering, law, or medicine. There is more encouragement in the black community to go into those fields. Art was never perceived to be as worthwhile. With this photograph as the impetus of my passion for art, I dived more into this new world for the first time, not caring about the opinions of the people around me. I searched techniques, art-related careers, and different forms of expression. My brain soaked in this knowledge like a sponge. I took the initiative to find more information and learn as much as possible about photography. As I applied the new knowledge, I continued to create art. My mind visualized new projects I could do based on the weather, from the way I see the color of the sun coming down over the Chicago skyline, to accurately depicting black women in Chicago taking snapshots of reality that would otherwise be forgotten by the following month. Photography even became my diary, an outlet for when I want to take a break from the stress of trying to become a successful black woman. The words “never” and “impossible” do not exist in photography. “Maybe this is what I’m supposed to be doing”, I thought to myself, despite the voices pushing me toward a more lucrative

A girl, who had a dream, dropped out of high school and began her life-changing career as a commercial photographer without any former experience. She taught herself how to shoot photos and started teaching children’s art classes when she was 24 and stayed active as a photographer for nearly 70 years. This girl was Helen Levitt.

Once in high school, I put my all into my art. I started exploring different styles and types of art, like design. I applied my skills everywhere: from designing the yearbook for eight years straight to photographing for the Admissions team. I toyed with mediums like acrylic and watercolor as I deviated from the paper I used to use. As time passed, art became who I am: it was what I used to think and feel about the world and I’m compelled to create for

With the opportunity to join an ambitious, supportive, and dynamic group of similarly minded female peers as a Douglass woman, I plan to be BOLD during my time at Rutgers and take advantage of the leadership and professional resources that the DRC and the university offer.

I started collecting old fashion cameras at the age of twelve. I started collecting cameras because I liked the different styles and technology they came up with. When I was fifteen, I got a Nikon camera for my birthday from my grandparents. I captured images every day, I still use it, I use it for portraits and landscapes. I currently have eight different styles of cameras, including my favorite Fujifilm Polaroid. I always have a device on me that I can take pictures on. My Polaroid and Nikon are always in my car, and my phone is always with me.

While others claim that photography captures the inner soul of a person, or deliberately defines it as painting or writing with light, but in my case, it is just simply a newfound love hobby. I undeniably adore and look up to expert photographers I encounter down the road may it face-to-face or the other way around. In my heart, I silently desire that someday, with hard work, determination, and perseverance, I will become professional and famous as they are. Since my husband bought a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) as an anniversary gift, my penchant for photography commenced and ignited. Let me detail the essential truths behind my passion over photography.

As a photography major, it was never clear to me on why I had to take a drawing class. I dreaded each class because of the known fact that I didn’t possess the skills to be a good drawer. When speaking to friends and family, I would always complain to them saying, “I’m going to fail this class. I have no idea why I have to take these drawing classes.” As the quarter went on and the more I learned about the different drawing techniques such as the use of lighting to create interesting shadows or the use of color to create a sense mood and emotion, I began to realize the parallels that drawing and photography have.

A vision I’ve always had of myself years ahead of now is a wealthy business woman that owns an art academy, and is a world-wide well known artist. I will have graduated from a bachelor in fine arts from college, as well as a master in painting and business administration. My institution will give art education to people