My first year of art school: what I learned about myself
The art is a byproduct of the learning, yet it’s also the focal point.
When I applied for an MFA in Studio Art for photography last year I didn't think I’d get in. At the time, I considered myself a writer that dabbled in photography. I certainly didn’t consider myself an artist, especially since my initial drive to learn photography came from a practical place. I’ve worked as a freelance writer for twelve years. A few years in, I started to notice that some of the outlets I wrote for wanted a writer that could take photos. This was in 2014, back when Instagram was in its infancy and we were still getting used to having a phone camera in our pocket at all times. I bought an entry level DSLR from a friend and signed up for noncredit classes at my local community college. I quickly fell in love with photography and learned how to take better photographs through online tutorials and plenty of YouTube videos once I was done with class. While I still consider myself a relatively new photographer, I look back at some of those cringe worthy photos I made years ago and can’t believe how far I’ve come. I didn’t know if I’d ever figure out how to take my camera off auto and shoot manual, much less be enrolled in an MFA program.
I’ve always been a writer, ever since I made magazines in the second grade, but an artist? Pffft, not me…
