Through the Frost
Jason Zahn
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Capturing the morphed forms of trees through glass coated with moisture didn't prove to be an easy challenge for Elizabeth Blair, professor of English at Southwest Minnesota State University. The camera's lens had difficulty focusing on the frost and raindrops and not on the trees behind. She submitted a collection of photos entitled "Window Dressings" in a photography competition.
"I gave it a wild shot and applied for the fellowship, which was open to any women nature photographers," said Blair, who enjoys photographing nature, especially wild orchids.
Her patience paid off when she was awarded the 2009 Nadine Blacklock Nature Photography Fellowship. She won a one-month residency at the 500 acre Blacklock Nature Sanctuary near Moose Lake, Minn. The property has a two-bedroom house along with a separate studio, said Blair.
Blair audited a digital photography class at SMSU with Jim Schwartz, professor of art this last fall semester. She was very pleased to learn many of the design principles behind photography.
"I've really appreciated Jim Schwartz's mentoring. He's very supportive of my photos," Blair said.
Now she specifically wants to learn more about the technical side of photography.
"My goal is to learn more about the technical parts of taking photographs," said Blair. "I want to spend time learning and practicing taking pictures."
She doesn't have any finite ideas of what she would like to photograph but she plans to photograph near the split rock lighthouse, lake superior, animals, trees, wild flowers and birds.
As part of her fellowship, she will have a mentor who will teach her more about using a camera to realize her artistic visions.
"I still need to learn how to make the picture that I see in my mind," said Blair. "It's been challenging to get the camera to do what I wanted."
After completing her fellowship, she hopes she will be even better equipped to continue an on-going personal project: photographing Minnesota's wild orchids for a book.
"I have photographed 25 of the 44 wild orchids in Minn. I hope to illustrate books with some of my own photos."
As part of SMSU's Fine Arts Celebration, some of Blair's photographs from "Window Dressings" will appear in the BA hallway today.
"I chose some that show a variety. All of the photos are trees viewed through frost, rain, etc.," she said. "I'm really interested in continuing to take pictures."
For more information about the artist fellowships offered by the Blacklock Nature Sanctuary, such as creative writing and performing arts, go to www.blacklockgallery.com.
"I gave it a wild shot and applied for the fellowship, which was open to any women nature photographers," said Blair, who enjoys photographing nature, especially wild orchids.
Her patience paid off when she was awarded the 2009 Nadine Blacklock Nature Photography Fellowship. She won a one-month residency at the 500 acre Blacklock Nature Sanctuary near Moose Lake, Minn. The property has a two-bedroom house along with a separate studio, said Blair.
Blair audited a digital photography class at SMSU with Jim Schwartz, professor of art this last fall semester. She was very pleased to learn many of the design principles behind photography.
"I've really appreciated Jim Schwartz's mentoring. He's very supportive of my photos," Blair said.
Now she specifically wants to learn more about the technical side of photography.
"My goal is to learn more about the technical parts of taking photographs," said Blair. "I want to spend time learning and practicing taking pictures."
She doesn't have any finite ideas of what she would like to photograph but she plans to photograph near the split rock lighthouse, lake superior, animals, trees, wild flowers and birds.
As part of her fellowship, she will have a mentor who will teach her more about using a camera to realize her artistic visions.
"I still need to learn how to make the picture that I see in my mind," said Blair. "It's been challenging to get the camera to do what I wanted."
After completing her fellowship, she hopes she will be even better equipped to continue an on-going personal project: photographing Minnesota's wild orchids for a book.
"I have photographed 25 of the 44 wild orchids in Minn. I hope to illustrate books with some of my own photos."
As part of SMSU's Fine Arts Celebration, some of Blair's photographs from "Window Dressings" will appear in the BA hallway today.
"I chose some that show a variety. All of the photos are trees viewed through frost, rain, etc.," she said. "I'm really interested in continuing to take pictures."
For more information about the artist fellowships offered by the Blacklock Nature Sanctuary, such as creative writing and performing arts, go to www.blacklockgallery.com.
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