Artists' Photographs Featured in Campus Gallery
What’s New at MBU
After time away from Maranatha, it is fun to play a game of “Find What’s New on Campus.” This semester is no different. From The Den to the shiny, refurbished bell to new furniture in the coffee shop, changes abound. One of these additions is less noticeable, taking the form of four 20 x 30 inch photographs hanging on the wall by the bookstore.
Known as the Student Photography Gallery, these photographs represent some of the best work of four Maranatha graduates, Vickie Turner (’13), Nate Brewer (’14), Beth Landers (’16), and Jason Kincaid (’15). All of these students were involved in the photography program available at Maranatha, and the pictures were selected from their required portfolio project.
Featured Pieces
One of the featured pieces of the gallery is Mexican Mystery, a black and white photograph featuring a sombrero-wearing student. Beth Landers, the artist responsible for this piece, writes “I wanted to show the exquisite detail of the sombrero without other distractions in the photograph. Black and white achieved my goal and the pose of my . . . subject added a sense of unique mystery.”
These four graduates are not going to be the sole contributors to the gallery. Tim Mielke—a key player in bringing the gallery into being—affirms that former and current students who have completed the advanced photography classes and have put together a portfolio will also be featured in the display.
The photographs selected are also set to be changed two or three times per school year to show the full scope of possibilities involved in photography. If you have friends involved in the program, keep an eye on the gallery. You might see some of their work displayed along with information providing the details of the photograph.
Photography Advice from Faculty
Mielke wears several hats at Maranatha, including Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and photographer for the communications office. He teaches many of the Communications Arts Digital Media classes and is passionate about his craft and the students who are involved in the program.
He assures that the photos in the gallery display the wide range of skills a minor in photography can give a person, but committing to a minor is not necessary for learning the basics of photography.
Mielke urges anyone who is interested to take part in a lower level photography class. He recommends Elements of Photography for those who desires to hone their basic photography skills and increase their knowledge in the various techniques available to a photographer.
If you are a business major, Mielke suggests taking Visual Communications, which involves graphics and media layout and effectively integrating pictures with media.
The importance of Maranatha’s photography program comes from the skills it develops and the influence a person can have with those skills. For Mielke, photography consists of more than just pointing and clicking with a camera. It is a ministry that can be developed to further God’s Word and work. According to Mielke, photography is “not just about a camera” it is “the skill set behind it.” Once those skills are developed, the possibilities for ministry are endless.