Hello, 

My name is Shane Clough and I partook in the Total Photography Process – Oregon and Washington STEP trip. For this project, myself and 12 other OSU students traveled to Portland, Oregon where we began a 7-day journey through some of the most unique scenery Oregon and Washington have to offer. Under the guidance of STEP mentor Pat Whittington and professional photographer Tony Small, we were taught how to capture and edit high quality photographs that reflected our personal creativity. By the end of the trip, I had thousands of unique raw images and a selection of edited photographs that I presented to our mentors and fellow students on the trip.

I have to admit that this experience had a much greater impact on my life than I had expected. I mentioned in my STEP Proposal that this trip would be the farthest I have ever been away from home. I can’t reflect on this experience without first sharing my amazement that I was able to travel across the country and explore areas completely unique to anything I have ever seen before. When talking about a changed world view, getting to see the difference in the culture and wilderness between the Midwest and West Coast really expanded my views on sustainable living and coexisting with the natural environment. As per the overall theme of the trip, I also learned a whole lot about nature photography and portraiture. I had very little camera  experience before the trip and so I learned a great deal from Pat and Tony about setting up my camera to capture the highest quality images for the various sceneries we visited. This experience also led to a lot of introspection and serious thought on how I face new challenges in my life. It ended up being quite the spiritual endeavor as I battled the fear and anxiety of travelling via plane for the first time.

The difference in culture of the west coast was very apparent as you could see it in the architecture and urban design of the cities. As a proponent for sustainability, especially in infrastructure as a civil engineer, I took special notice how the transit systems differed in Portland compared to Columbus. For starters, the first thing I did in Portland was travel with a few others on the trip from the hotel into the downtown area using the Light Rail System. This transit system was not something I’ve seen before in Ohio and it seemed more efficient than the bus system we have in Columbus. Secondly, I also noticed that Oregon was a lot more bike friendly than Ohio with more and wider designated bike lanes or paths. I got to experience these personally when we biked 3 miles from our hotel outside Bend, Oregon into their downtown area. The lodge had bikes free of charge for us to use and we took a very well-made scenic path straight into town. The ride there was a breeze going downhill, but unexpected rain made the uphill battle back to the lodge a memorable experience. Finally, I noticed the architecture of homes in Oregon was very unique and sustainably designed. I saw many houses with solar panel roofing and lumber facades, which felt reminiscent of the forest in which the houses were adjacent to. I enjoyed this aspect of west coast culture not only for its aesthetics, but for the environmental awareness as well.

Now that I have had this experience, I feel like I am no longer just some guy with a camera, but I truly feel like I can call myself an amateur photographer. I had purchased my camera a few weeks before the trip and went out a couple times to practice with it around campus, but it wasn’t until I started talking with Tony Small that I realized how little I actually knew about photography. The first night on the trip, I went down to the lobby with another student and we got more personalized demonstrations on our cameras capabilities. I had just been using the preset modes of the camera such as landscape, flash off, portrait, etc. but Tony emphasized that his goal was to teach us to manually set our cameras for more personalized settings. I learned how to change aperture, exposure, frame rate, definition, and much more all at a moments notice so that I could capture the best picture possible as I changed the subject of my lens. Tony also taught us how to use Adobe Lightroom, which has honestly become one of my favorite applications on my phone. It is such a rewarding experience to now with ease be able to alter the mood and perspective of a photo to fit the narrative I want to present. 

Quite possibly the most influential experience of the trip though was actually the flight there and back. I have had a fear of heights for my entire life and so it was a huge step for me to travel in the air for 4 hours at an altitude 2 miles above the ground. You could almost say that my fear was at its highest point. Luckily, I did not have to do it alone. On one hand, I took a class with another student on the trip the prior semester so she was kind enough to let me stay with her and fly out of Columbus together. On the other, I found myself gripping tightly to my Bible for most of the flight and praying God would ease my fears by getting us there safely. I found myself with a lot of questions as I saw what is often considered mundane and honestly a nuisance to others nearly paralyze me with fear. I sat on the plane for hours far too afraid to stand up, rest my eyes, or even listen to music so I had nothing to do but talk with God. I wrestled with why I was so afraid and what the future held for me. When talking about the topic of self-reflection, truthfully those plane rides contained some of the most honest and crucial introspection I have ever had. 

So the big question is:  How was I transformed by this experience?

Firstly, my ride in Bend, Oregon has highly motivated me to consider finding housing biking distance from my future jobsite. The bike ride felt almost therapeutic and the exercise will not only keep me healthy, but help me save money as gas as well. I have already had more experience with rail systems as I now take the D.C. Metro system to my internship every day while I am in Virginia for the summer. Honestly, the trip has put in my heart a newfound desire to live out on the West Coast where I can appreciate a way of life very different from here in the Midwest. Secondly, I am extremely excited to continue practicing photography in my daily life. I have already been going out and taking new pictures of our nation’s capitol each weekend while I am in Washington D.C. for the summer. What also excites me about this newfound skill is how I can use it to benefit others in my life. From my experience in engineering, many of us are not the most outgoing individuals and so going to take photographs is not something we commonly do. However, now I feel I have the means to take my friends out and teach them not only to appreciate views of nature, but also photographs of themselves. It is my plan to take senior pictures for free for all my friends so that they can have high quality images of themselves to share with their friends and families. This trip has helped me to realize how meaningful it can be to have tangible memories you can hold onto for a lifetime. Finally, this experience had me face to face with one of my greatest fears, my own mortality. How I find myself transformed is with a much stronger confidence and trust in God that He will see me through my fears and that I am never alone no matter how far I go. I am beyond grateful to OSU for giving me this opportunity to expand my world and I praise God for the journey He brought me on.

‘Peak’ Photography

Waiikeena Falls

Crater Lake

Sport Mode

1. The main focal point of our trip to Oregon and Washington was to learn how to capture the raw beauty of what those two states had to offer with the lens of our camera. We were encouraged to explore the terrain around us and experiment with different shots, angles, focal points, lighting, and subjects. We spent the week becoming better photographers, deeper appreciators of nature, stronger creators, and closer friends.

2. This trip was undeniably the most diverse week of my entire life. Not only was I traveling around the Pacific Northwest with a group of strangers, but I was also seeing landscapes I never could have even imagined. For one, I feel that I learned there really is a whole lot outside of my little bubbled view of the world. I have always in a way looked down on those who say “I can’t wait to get out of Ohio” because I have always felt like they just haven’t learned to appreciate where they’re currently at in the way that I have. However, I now also really understand the value of getting out of my comfort zone and exploring the world in a whole new way. I think I was the naïve one that became complacent. I didn’t realize just how much was out there that I was missing out on. Not only did I see the most beautiful landscapes I have ever experienced, but I witnessed so many different ways of life and learned how to fully immerse myself in all that is taking place around me. I learned to feel comfortable with constant change, in a group of strangers, in places I couldn’t be more unfamiliar with, and now I cannot wait to experience that lifestyle more.

In addition to this, a big transformation that I saw in myself over the duration of my time in Oregon was that of my photography skills. Going into the trip, I had never switched a camera from auto to manual before simply because I did not know the first thing about it. I had also purchased a new camera for the trip and had not had the opportunity to really play around with ityet. The first few days of our trip I felt really apprehensive to try new settings on my camera because I knew my shots were not coming out well and it was really frustrating to me. However, as the week continued I realized that the more I switched things up and just kept shooting, I was learning what settings I liked and did not like as well as what worked best for capturing what time of shot. I felt myself gaining more confidence in my abilities with every single new location we shot at and that was an incredible feeling. By the end of the week, I had numerous pictures I was genuinely proud of and equally as blown away by my own skill. It was very empowering to look back over the week’s work and be able to visibly see my photography improving. My pictures were properly focused, beautifully color-corrected, and in many of them, the framing I was able to create truly made for something special. I know that even now after the trip has ended, I still have a whole lot to learn. However, I feel much more confident in my abilities with a camera and know that I can learn pretty much any technique I put my mind and time into.

3. Although I am unsure that there was a single event that really helped me transform, I do think that getting to experience so many different settings in such a short amount of time is what really helped me improve. Each day of our entire week-long trip, we traveled to roughly three to five locations every day and were given a fair amount of time to explore and capture all we could in any way we so wished. We were given some guidance at the beginning of each excursion by the photography professional, Mr. Tony Small, but were also encouraged to go and make the pictures our own. Having this freedom with no real expectations from us is what I believe gave me the real opportunity to grow. With no image in my head of what I was supposed to be capturing, I had the ability to make a shot whatever I wanted to be and when they turned out well, I felt incredibly accomplished. It was challenging to switch up our locations every few hours after we started to get in a groove of what we were shooting, but I think that also was important. This fast-paced shooting style helped the entire group learn to adapt to whatever was in front of us which is really important when wanting to become a skilled photographer.

The experience that I felt I grew the most in as a photographer was at the tail end of our trip when we traveled to Crater Lake and then onto Smith Rock the following afternoon. I would consider our first night at Crater Lake to be one of my favorite moments of the entire trip. After seeing Crater Lake i the evening, we still had some daylight so Mr. Small took us to photograph massive herds of cows all spread out in the most beautiful valley. Taking pictures of animals is probably my favorite of all subjects and the landscapes that week were so out of my comfort zone that it was really challenging for me. What made this evening stand out was that I was finally working with a subject matter that felt comfortable and familiar to me, yet it was a whole new experience because I had never photographed animals before with as much knowledge and skill as I now currently have. I was able to get shots I could have only ever dreamed of because I was viewing my subject in a whole new light and could capture it exactly how I wanted to. Additionally, Mr. Small happened to grow up around cows so he was able to interact with them in ways he knew would get fun reactions out of them which made for some really interesting and exciting photos. That evening I took my favorite photograph of the entire trip, a young calf peering at me from behind a fence post with the perfect vignette created by a seatbelt from the van we drove drawing focus right to his expressive face.

The other big growth moment for me while at Crater Lake was the following morning. Our group woke up at 5 am and drove up the mountain to a 15℉ shoot of the sunrise over Crater Lake. While it was foggy when we first got up there and the massive lake was not in sight, as the sun rose over the mountains, it cleared up the fog for a few brief moments and the view was just breathtaking. It was our first opportunity to see almost all the way across the lake. This was where I took my second favorite photo of the trip, which I liked because it was so different from the calf picture but still stunning in its own way. The sun had completely lit the fog up orange and the fluffy snow still looked pristine. Contrasting against the vibrant orange sky, the dark silhouette of the pines drew your eye to the sky’s gradient from orange to periwinkle. A few hours after taking that picture, we were in Smith Rock. For contrast, Crater Lake was below freezing and the snowpack was well over my head. We were bundled up in about four layers each, and by noon we were all down to one layer as Smith Rock was about 75℉ and a desert. The jagged mountains were red and the foliage on the ground resembled tumbleweeds. The trees looked charred in some places. Although many of us were feeling slightly ill from the altitude and extreme temperature change, this adjustment in just a few hours meant we really had to be adaptive to fully capture the vastly different landscape we now needed to photograph. I was excited for the challenge as the entire week I felt like I was learning more and more how to be ready for whatever was thrown my way.

4.  I am already seeing why this trip was important for me and how the timing of it could not have been any better. The day before I left, I got my first full time job in the field I have based my major around. The day after I landed, training for my new job began. Since landing, I have felt like the world is spinning twice as fast. Working full time then taking multiple summer classes as soon as I get home has been a lot to juggle on top of trying to meet up with friends and still enjoy my last summer before the “real world” starts. However, I feel like I have learned to adapt a lot quicker to new situations since coming home and I feel more confident in myself and my abilities even though I am constantly in situations that are entirely new to me. I have no problem now going from work mode to school mode because I was constantly switching my perspective and working out the issues at hand while trying to photograph the multitude of different settings and subjects on my trip. I also feel much more confident in myself now and fully believe in the “fake it ‘til you make it” concept. While I am not at all afraid to ask for help as we were encouraged to do so on our trip, I also have learned more about myself in the sense that I am not afraid to figure things out on my own and in turn am oftentimes prouder of myself afterwards anyways because I was entirely self-sufficient just as I had to be on our trip. Just seeing the incredible pictures, I was able to capture on my own boosted my confidence so much which has not dropped since coming home.

At my new job, I work at a halfway house for men on probation and I teach group classes with cognitive behavior therapy. At first, I was intimidated beyond belief and did not know if I could do it. However, I kept reminding myself of just how intimidated I was on my trip when we first began and I felt like everyone around me was so experienced and I did not know nearly as much as them. But, I stuck it out and by the end, I was taking just as good, if not better photos than them. This has been the same kind of experience just in a new setting. A handful of my coworkers have worked in corrections longer than I have been alive and I felt at first as if I was being thrown to the wolves. I did not have the experience that they have. That does not mean, however, that I could not adapt quickly and do the same exact kind of work they do if I just keep trying. Mistakes have been made for sure just as they were made many times on my trip, however, I have to keep reminding myself to have confidence in myself and my work will come out beautifully, just as many of my photographs did.

1. For my STEP project, I participated in the Total Photography Process: Oregon and Washington program. This program served as a creative and artistic endeavor in which I honed my landscape photography skills by taking photos of the diverse landscapes of Oregon and Washington. Additionally, Tony Small, the program’s main instructor, taught me how to properly edit my photos using tools like Adobe Lightroom Classic.

2. During this project, I learned a lot about taking and editing photos, which in turn has helped me develop a growth mindset towards my work in photography. A growth mindset believes that skills are malleable and that expending effort can help improve these skills. Additionally, this minset encourages lifelong learning and embraces challenges and criticism as ways to grow. Prior to participating in this STEP project, I would describe my mentality towards photography as a perfectionist mindset, as my goal would always be the “perfect” photo: one that perfectly replicated my artistic vision. Such a mentality would often leave me frustrated over the fact that my photos often did not meet my frankly unreasonable criteria for being the “perfect” photo. However, my participation in this program has helped me realize that photography and photo editing is a process in which you are constantly learning new things and there is always room to improve. Throughout this project, my work and the constructive feedback of fellow Ohio State students helped me develop a growth-oriented mindset, think outside the box, and grow as a photographer.

3. One way that I developed a growth mindset towards photography was by adapting to problems and thinking outside of the box. Early in the project, I discovered that the ball on the top of my new tripod was stuck in place and would not allow me to angle or turn my camera while on the tripod. Despite this stress-inducing challenge, I was able to adapt by increasing my ISO, which would help me rely less on my tripod, especially when taking photos in low lighting. Any issues with brightness caused by the increase in ISO could then be fixed later using tools like Adobe Lightroom Classic (though there were only a few of photos in total that even needed to be adjusted later in Lightroom Classic). Another small setback I faced during the project was the fact that the group of fourteen people that I was with would often accidentally get in the way of each other’s cameras, especially at the marquee sites, like the numerous waterfalls we visited. At first, I would get frustrated while I waited for a clear shot, however I realized that I could be spending this time more productively by experimenting with different shots, whether it would be a bird on a branch or moss on a tree. Therefore, I practiced taking pictures of both far away subjects and subjects that are close-up while I waited to get clear shots of a star attraction. This experience demonstrates my use of a growth mindset because when faced with these two different situations, I was able to come up with productive solutions that helped me grow as a photographer. Rather than take the time to try and set up my broken tripod, I tried to minimize tripod use to only the situations when I would need it the most. Rather than simply sit and wait to take photos at places like Multnomah Falls, I would look for potential shots that would challenge my abilities while I waited. In both cases, quick thinking helped me continue to improve my photography.

Another way I developed a growth mindset through this STEP project was learning how to edit my photos on Adobe Lightroom Classic. Prior to this project, I had never utilized photo editing software. Initially, I assumed that I would struggle to work with Lightroom, as I have struggled with other computer programs, like ARC GIS, which I use in my geography major. When I initially worked with Lightroom to edit my photos, my perfectionism led me to become frustrated, as I was not able edit my photos to match my imagination. Initially, I assumed that my struggles with Lightroom Classic were simply due to the fact that I was not good at working with software like that. However, after realizing how I was getting frustrated for no good reason, I tried to look at the broader picture to understand what was making me upset. In doing so, I noticed how my belief that I was inherently bad at working with tools like photo editing software was causing most of my frustrations, as it suggested that I would never be able to edit my photos the ways I wanted to. As a result, I decided to change how I thought about my photo editing skills. Rather than thinking of myself as inherently bad at working with tools like Lightroom Classic, I thought of myself as inexperienced. Therefore, if I wanted to edit my photos like I had wanted to, I would need to gain experience through trial and error and through the advice of others who already had more experience with these types of software. This helped me better understand the software I was working with, allowing me to make the software do what I wanted. My experience with photo editing software demonstrates a growth mindset, as over time I came to accept the notion that I was not inherently bad with tools like Adobe Lightroom Classic, but rather inexperienced. Additionally, I accepted the fact that I was able to improve my ability of through time and concerted effort.

One final way this project helped me develop a growth mindset was by having each student present our work to our peers in a “world café” presentation. A world café presentation involves each student presenting their work to another student one-on-one. After one student presents their work, the other student would provide constructive criticism, then the two students would find a new partner to work with. When I presented my work, the suggestions I received from the other students on how I could improve my photos provided me with a new perspective of some of my favorite photos from the project and inspired me to go back and further edit my photos. This demonstrates how this project helped me adopted a growth mindset, as rather than simply brush off the other students’ critiques, I embraced the feedback as an opportunity to learn and improve my skills. By embracing this feedback, I learned how to use new tools in Adobe Lightroom Classic and gained a newfound appreciation of my photos.

4. Overall, my participation in the Total Photography Process workshop allowed me to change my perspective on photography through the adoption of a growth mindset towards my work. Since the growth mindset emphasizes lifelong learning to help improve skills, my next step is to continue to hone my skills as a photographer. Additionally, another future step is to examine what other aspects of my life could benefit from applying a growth mindset to them as well. One place I could apply this growth mindset to is my academics. Often, I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to working on my schoolwork. This STEP project has provided me the mental tools to succeed in school without worrying about every detail being perfect. For example, a growth mindset would help me acknowledge that I am able to grow as a learner in parts of my classes that I struggle with. Additionally, a growth mindset may also allow me to gain new perspectives when I hit a roadblock when writing an essay. Such a change would allow me to feel much less stressed during the school year and would likely help me better appreciate and retain the information I learn in classes over the long-term.

Panther Falls, Washington.
After feedback from my peers suggesting that I initially ought to make this image brighter and try to find a way to make the green moss in the image pop, I spent a good period of time working with Adobe Lightroom Classic and its features, like one that adjsuted exposure and one that adjusted color vibrancy for each individual color.

The Lodge at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

A Bench Framed by Branches at Multnomah Falls, Oregon
One of my “experiments” focusing on a far away bench and nearby branches

1.My STEP Signature Project was the Total Photography Process in Oregon and Washington. I traveled with a small group of students, a faculty member, and a professional photographer to learn how to use a DSLR camera to take photos of amazing landscapes across the Pacific Northwest. I also learned how to edit my photos using software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.  

2. My understanding of myself was transformed during this trip. For one, I realized that I enjoy traveling regardless of who I am with. I did not know any of the other students before the trip (we saw each other during group meetings over Zoom beforehand but did not get the chance to interact). I was a little nervous at first, but by the end of the second day, I felt like I had already become friends with everyone. This made traveling much more enjoyable. I also realized that I genuinely enjoy being in nature. We hiked through ancient forests and along rugged coasts to capture breathtaking photos of waterfalls, cliffs, and more. I was genuinely happy in these environments and enjoyed every moment.

Similarly, my view of the world transformed. I have lived near a big city my entire life, so immersing myself in a more rural landscape was eye-opening. Spending so much time outdoors made me appreciate nature and all its beauty. I have always been a supporter of sustainability and conservation, but seeing these wonderful landscapes for myself makes me even more motivated to try and preserve them for generations to come.   

3. One activity that helped with my personal transformation took place the first night of the trip. We had a group dinner at the hotel we were staying at and sat around a huge table. We all introduced ourselves formally to the group, but after introductions, our conversations flowed very naturally. We talked about a variety of things, from our majors at OSU, our hobbies/interests, our previous travel experiences, etc. I was immediately reassured by this dinner because everyone was so friendly and kind. I knew we would have no problem getting along.   

Another activity that helped with my personal transformation was towards the end of the trip. I and 5 other students took a walk from our hotel to a nearby park to take pictures of the sunset (the rest of the group was editing photos back at the hotel). Once we got there, we realized that there was so much to explore. We climbed boulders on the side of the river and hiked up sand dunes that overlooked the small town we were staying in. We were out there for more than two hours! Once we got back, we ordered Domino’s Pizza and sat in the lobby. We ate our pizza, joked around, and reflected on the past couple of days. I genuinely connected with the other students and felt a sense of belonging. Once strangers, now friends.  

An activity that led to the transformation of my worldview was hiking through the forest to Panther Falls. There was technically a trail, but it was rough in some spots and required a lot of balance towards the end (it was very muddy and slippery). As we hiked towards the bottom of the falls, I frequently found myself stopping just so I could look around. As I looked, I tried to pay attention to every detail: the wind blowing through the trees, the birds energetically chirping from above, and the water roaring down the cliffside. Everything was vibrant and full of lush greenery (thanks to the ever-present rain). Overall, I felt very calm and relaxed, and I could not wipe the smile off my face. I was in awe of nature and its beauty.   

4. These transformations are significant for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I want to travel the world. As I said in my proposal, it has always been a personal goal of mine. I love exploring unfamiliar places and experiencing everything the world has to offer. Knowing that I am comfortable traveling with anyone (even strangers) is reassuring because I will no longer let it deter me from doing so. Another reason is that I was finally able to step away from the hustle and bustle of my everyday life and enjoy the great outdoors. As I mentioned in my proposal, I wanted to use this trip as an opportunity to ground myself and connect with nature. Spending most of the trip hiking in forests and walking along rugged coastlines allowed me to do so, and I will never forget how happy and relaxed I felt when I was immersed in these environments. Finally, I realized how important it is for me to make eco-friendly choices. Our world is constantly trying to develop new products, services, neighborhoods, cities, etc., but not all developments are good for the environment. We must find a balance. I will continue to support sustainability and conservation efforts so we can preserve these amazing landscapes for future generations. 

1.My STEP Signature Project was a Creative/Artistic Endeavor titled Total Photography Process – Oregon & Washington. This project involved traveling across the Pacific Northwest to experience different locations and taking photos of the journey and many destinations along the way. During the trip I was able to use both a digital camera as well as a film camera to capture my images. 

2.While writing the proposal for my STEP Signature Project, I knew that in order to travel by myself so far from home and meet up with a group of strangers in a new place that it would take a lot of strength to overcome the overwhelming anxiety that I would feel from the journey. This trip across the other side of the U.S. would be my first experience like this where I was  traveling alone and meeting so many new people in an unknown place, but I saw it as an opportunity to take control of the anxiety that affects my life. Although I cannot completely get rid of my anxiety, after completing this trip I feel way more comfortable traveling alone and meeting new people in an unfamiliar environment. Becoming more comfortable and less anxious with new and unfamiliar experiences will be very useful in the upcoming months as I approach graduation and go off into the real world on my own. There will be countless new experiences throughout the rest of my life as well, so completing this STEP Signature Project has given me greater confidence in my understanding of myself to be able to conquer anything. In addition, I was able to explore my creativity and discover how to improve my photography skills and express myself through artistry.

3.The first stage of anxiety that I had to overcome began with the plane rides. I can count the number of flights that I have been on in my life on less than one hand, so I was very unfamiliar with how the process went which of course only fueled my anxiety. The flight to Portland from Columbus that I purchased had a short layover in Atlanta of which I was also very worried would cause me to miss the connecting flight to Portland. Thankfully the whole trip on the way to Portland was successful with no issues. Everyone that I encountered on my journey was super kind which made me feel much calmer and safer. Once the whole week had passed and it was time to go home, I was feeling much more confident in boarding the planes for my trip back. I was even able to sit at the airport terminal with my newly made friends to keep my anxiety from looming over me. I even felt comfortable enough to sleep on the flight back, which I was not even close to being able to do on the way to Portland. Going through this experience of flying alone greatly helped to calm my anxiety and I will feel much more confident in the future because of it.

Another essential part of the trip was learning from an experienced professional photographer on how to improve our technical photography skills. Pat Whittington was the OSU professor leading the trip and has had a lot of experience with photography, but we also had Tony Small, a professional photographer with even more experience, who also accompanied us on the trip. Both Pat and Tony helped us to become comfortable with using our cameras and also learning how to edit the photos we took. They would assist students with camera settings if needed, and also would help us to find the best shots at each location. The latter part helped me especially to not miss any of the amazing views that we were visiting, because they were familiar with each place and could guide us in the right direction. I have not had much editing experience either, so being able to ask for personal help with Lightroom and Photoshop whenever I needed it was very beneficial to my learning. I think that the photos I took can speak for themselves, but thanks to Pat and Tony’s expertise I was able to learn a lot about photography.

Lastly, the part of the trip that I will remember the most was making a ton of new friends from my peers that I had never met before. One of the hardest things for me socially with my anxiety is meeting new people and making new friends, but even by the end of the first day in Oregon I already felt super comfortable around everyone who was a part of the trip. On the first day I arrived everyone reached out to each other and we went together to explore downtown Portland and immediately started getting along great. I was worried that I would be too shy because of my anxiety but since we all had a love for photography it was easy to start up a conversation. By the end of the week I felt a really strong bond between all of us and this shared experience, and it serves as a reminder that even with social anxiety it is still easy to make new friends.

4.As I briefly mentioned before, this upcoming academic year will be my final one at The Ohio State University before I graduate. That is why this transformation is so valuable to me, because I will once again begin a new chapter of my life and personal growth once I graduate. New chapters of life come along with many new and unfamiliar experiences, which typically are very challenging because I can easily become overwhelmed with anxiety. This trip will forever stick with me because of the great memories and new friendships I made. Whenever I have to go through something by myself and I am worried about how it will go, I know that I will think back to how well this trip went and feel better. 

In addition to the newfound mental fortitude I gained, I also was able to practice and improve upon my technical photography skills on this trip. Even from a very young age I have enjoyed the art of photography, and now through this experience I have been able to start developing a specific style and technique to my photos. Personally, I think that making use of documentary photography and capturing people experiencing life speaks to the human experience. So this is the style that I try to emulate, because I think that people can feel more emotion in a photo by seeing other people in it. Now that I have learned a lot more about basic settings and then the post production effects I can use to create the mood that I want, I am much more confident in the art I create. Beyond what I’ve learned and experienced through this trip, I am excited to continue to pursue photography and further develop my personal art style.

Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls

For my STEP project, I attended a four-day, three-night photography workshop called “Wild Mustangs of Adobe Valley” which was through the Art of Seeing. We focused on photographing the wild mustangs as well as the landscapes as we camped and rode through Adobe Valley in California and into Nevada. There were also lectures by Ken Lee on the art of photography each night.

Flying across the country to spend 4 days camping with 10 strangers was completely outside of my comfort zone. I doubted my own abilities to thrive in a situation like this one, but I was able to overcome my fears and participate in the photography workshop. I had little experience with camping and assumed that it was something I wouldn’t handle well, but I ended up enjoying the time in nature away from daily stressors. I now want to plan more photography trips outdoors— this trip was extremely relaxing and eye-opening to my own ability to adapt to new situations.

When I first arrived at the workshop, I was hesitant as several people bustled around to set up camp. After a quick introduction, I began to talk to one of the other photographers from Seattle. I quickly warmed up to her as we talked about our jobs, cameras, and horses. After introductions, I started talking to more and more of the participants, who were all much older than me. It was easier for me to start a conversation with a stranger than I had expected thanks to some of our obvious connections: traveling, cameras, and horses. Doing so helped me increase my self-confidence. Throughout the four days, I continued to develop relationships with the other photographers whom I hope to stay in contact with in the future. I now have a better understanding of myself and my ability to fit in.

I was most apprehensive about camping for three nights, far away from any civilization. The first night, we stayed in tents amidst the sage brush right next to the fields of Adobe Valley where the wild mustangs roamed. Staying there allowed us to see the horses at sunset that night and sunrise the next morning, granting us the opportunity to photograph them in different lighting each time. We then rode a few hours away to Pizona which became our base camp in the hills for the next two days. I quickly realized the convenience of staying in the environment where you are taking photos rather than leaving and coming back each day. Falling asleep under the stars at night and waking up to the birds chirping every morning made me notice little details and appreciate things I may have otherwise missed. Because of my experiences, I grew to like camping by the end of the trip in spite of my assumptions.

It was my interactions with the other participants, however, that truly solidified my change in view of the world. During meals or when sitting around the campfire during free time, they would share stories about trips they had gone on and the amazing things they had experienced because of their travels. From swimming with sharks and driving alongside lions to observing a morning prayer session in a Buddhist monastery, the photographers were able to partake in these beautiful moments that other people might miss. Doing so may require going outside of your comfort zone, but it is certainly worth it for the experience.

Professionally, my goal is to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy and start a career as a physical therapist. It is important for me to have self-confidence and exhibit leadership when treating my future patients. Furthermore, the ability to interact and form relationships with all kinds of people will allow me to provide them with the best care. Personally, being open to new experiences will allow me to expand my horizons and take part in experiences I might otherwise miss out on. In the future, I would like to plan more trips either with a group of other photographers like this workshop or with friends to further my relationships and experience new things.

My STEP signature project involved participating in a week-long cooking Bootcamp at The Chopping Block in Chicago, IL. During the week, I worked with different spices, proteins, and techniques. I refined my knife skills, understanding of spice/flavor composition, and plating through different recipes. On the last day, I prepared my recipes and shared my cooking with the other members of the class.

Before embarking on the cooking class journey, I believed I was a solid home cook. This cooking class transformed me into a home chef in knife skills, kitchen basics, and patience. Regarding Knife skills, I learned from head Chef Lisa how to walk with, clean, and use different types of knives. Since the knives are very sharp, one can easily cut themselves (several people did), and if you learn the right way, it is nearly impossible. Pre-cooking class, I would have my fingers perpendicular to the blade. Now I use the relaxed claw to keep my fingers parallel. Using a knife properly gives me confidence in the kitchen and makes me a little less worried when using top-of-the-line knives. Another area of transformation was kitchen basics. There are several aspects of home cooking many people don’t realize, such as proper vegetable roast temperatures or differences in salts, but this class made me realize that those simple things make a huge difference in food quality. Since the class, I have made killer roasted potatoes and carrots at temperatures that will cook the veggies through and provide nice browning (without burning them). I am proud that I was able to see instantaneous results. That leads me to my final point on patience. During the class, Chef Lisa talked about how “stirring is not cooking.” We had to stand back and hold off on our temptations to mix the food. I did not know that by constantly stirring, the food never heats up or browns. This transformed me into a patient home chef.

The Chopping Block is known for its world-renown chef team. Three chefs profoundly impacted my culinary class, including Head Chef Lisa, Chef Drake, and Chef David. Each of these chefs brought different expertise to the kitchen that helped transform me into a home chef.

Chef Lisa was an amazing mentor. Her energy and passion for teaching others inspired me to step outside my comfort zone and try foods I was not used to eating. More importantly, Chef Lisa was there at every step of the way, providing instructions and feedback on the techniques we had just been taught. This helped me learn the new skills faster and ensured I was learning. On the final day of the class, we prepared our recipes. Chef Lisa came over to my station and tried my shrimp stock. She said I had done an amazing job and was extremely impressed with the number of dishes I could whip up with the number of ingredients I had. I felt honored to hear this compliment from the Head Chef; it gave me the confidence I needed to use the new skills at home.

Chef David was the second chef who had a major role in my cooking transformation. I often found myself wanting more examples. Chef David pushed me to try it on my own, providing verbal feedback rather than hands-on feedback. This made me slow down and focus on the demonstrations. It also helped build confidence and trust in me while in the kitchen. Chef David also focused a lot on “Always Be tasting,” which meant we would taste the food at every step in the process. This allowed us to judge saltiness and flavor development and understand the unique flavors each ingredient added to the dish. I did not do this before the cooking class, and something I have incorporated into my cooking since then.

Finally, my favorite chef was Chef Drake. Chef Drake specializes in Asian Cuisine, my absolute favorite to eat and cook. I had a strong connection with Chef Drake; he would spend extra time at my cooking station talking about Asian flavors, sauces, and spices. It was interesting to share my love for Asian cuisine with a chef who could help elevate my understanding of flavors. Chef Drake helped me make a spring roll dipping sauce on the last day. I did not have a recipe for this element of the dish, so we brainstormed and started building flavors. Our sauce was amazing! Chef Drake and Chef Lisa were extremely impressed, and Chef Drake even used some of the sauce for his lunch. After the class, I went to my local Asian grocery store and bought all of the ingredients we used for the sauce. Chef Drake made the cooking boot camp worthwhile, and I am excited to share my culinary adventures in the future with him.

The Chopping Block Culinary boot camp 1 provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience that transformed me from a home cook to a home chef. This transformation will play a huge part in my life as I strongly believe cooking and food unite communities and brings people together. I hope to host Sunday dinner every week and cook a lovely feast for my family. More importantly, my Jewish religion revolves around food and family. I hope to use the cooking skills I learned to make holiday meals. In addition, this STEP experience will help me build a strong neighborhood community and make me the fan-favorite for friends and family gatherings. I hope to continue my culinary Bootcamp with The Chopping Block boot camp two and their sushi-making class.

Throughout the final week of May 2022, a dozen Ohio State students traveled with Dr. Pat Whittington and professional photographer Tony Small throughout Oregon and Washington. We experienced the never-ending diversity and beauty of the Pacific Northwest as we photographed the beaches, the waterfalls within the forests, and the mountainous areas; these locations included Crater Lake National Park, Multnomah Falls, and Cannon Beach. In the evenings, we edited our photos with advice and guidance from both Tony Small and Dr. Whittington. 

This STEP Signature Project really opened my eyes to much about myself and the world. Photography has always been a personal interest of mine, dating all the way back to middle school when I used my iPhone camera to take pictures of wildflowers in my backyard or the trees at the park; I joined yearbook my sophomore year of high school and stayed on board until I graduated. I never thought I could really take better photos than what I could manage with my phone camera, so I did not try to use anything better. Once I came to Ohio State, I took a role doing videography and learned how to use more proper equipment, including Canon cameras, ND filters, and various lenses. However, I still did not feel like I could do much with it on my own for photography purposes.

Upon my acceptance to the STEP trip, I knew I would need a professional camera, so I purchased one about eight months prior to this experience. I did not do much with it other than learn the basics of how to operate the camera; it was not until I was in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, that I was truly inspired to use this proper camera to take photos that were higher quality with a much better composition than what one can achieve with a phone. This photography experience also pushed me quite a ways out of my comfort zone with the hiking, climbing, and wildly varying weather (all with expensive equipment on my back!), and I am now confident and brave enough to do more challenging physical activity in order to get the photos I want. This directly translates to my day-to-day life as well — now, I have faith in myself to do more activities outside of my normal routine, the confidence to say “yes” to more opportunities and adventures, and the self-trust to do what I know I am capable of during once-in-a-lifetime moments.

As aforementioned, this STEP Photography Experience was led by professional photographer Tony Small and Ohio State faculty member Dr. Pat Whittington. These two were especially influential in my personal growth throughout this experience through leading by example and always being up for the next adventure. On this trip, we went to some pretty spectacular places from the ocean to the mountains, and many of these locations had some great photographing opportunities that were a little physically challenging to get to. The old adage “the harder the climb, the better the view” certainly rang true here, but my fear of heights and lack of confidence in my hiking and climbing abilities was something I thought would get in the way. However, I saw all of my peers as well as Mr. Small and Dr. Whittington making their way to these locations, and that demonstrated to me that I could do it too. It was the push that I needed in order to get to these locations myself, and guess what? I lived to tell the tale! 

In addition to gaining confidence in myself, these excursions into various parts of the Oregon and Washington wilderness also taught me to say “yes” to more adventures, try new things, and be a more rounded person. There was an instance in which some of my peers wanted to stay back and edit photos, and others wanted to go try a sunset shoot; normally, I would take the easy route and start editing my pictures, as editing is a process I already know a bit about, but I did the sunset shoot instead. I thought to myself, “I’m only here on this trip once — who knows if I’ll ever be back here again? I can edit any time,” and said yes to the adventure. We ended up taking some decent photos as the sun set over the Yaquina Bay and hiked up the Bay Jetty to another viewpoint with a gorgeous view as the sun fell below the horizon. 

Something else that will always stick with me is the lesson I learned that I should not always be satisfied with the “easy” or the “typical” shot that most people get. Throughout this trip, myself and my peers all went off the beaten path at times to more unconventional places, all in the hopes of getting a stellar and original photograph. Most of the time, we achieved just that and did not regret the detour. One instance that stands out to me looking back is one of the places we went to, Tumalo Falls near Bend, Oregon. There were a few different lookouts for visitors to see the falls created by those who maintain the area, and we all went to those locations first and got some good photos. As we were all heading towards the vans to pack up, Tony Small comes from the woods and tells us there is an amazing spot for waterfall photos down near the river that we should all come to get a look at. Getting there was a little bit of a challenge (it was very rocky and muddy since it was beside the falls and creek), but it was fully worth the effort. It was a tangible, real-life example that going off the beaten path and taking the harder route can have a big payoff if you just give it a try.

These lessons learned feed into a larger personal transformation overall. I grew up really poor in a very small town, so I never had any trips to go places as a kid and was never challenged to do a whole lot of personal growth. I have come out of my shell a bit since coming to Ohio State, but COVID really set me back when I had to go back to my hometown in spring 2020 and stay with family for months on end. This STEP Photography Experience did not only teach me about camera operation, professional equipment utilization, and editing techniques; it also taught me so much about myself. This trip contained a lot of firsts for me (first time visiting both Oregon and Washington, first time in a national park, I was pretty inexperienced with flying, the list goes on), and with all of these life experiences came a decent amount of growth and change of perspective.

I gained so much confidence from this trip via the technical and physical challenges that were required to obtain amazing photographs, none of which I had previously. This was so valuable to me as both a person and as someone who loves photography, because now I have the full faith and ability to continue these journeys, both personal and professional. Because of the STEP Photography trip to Oregon and Washington, I now see the value in myself and in taking on challenges, in saying “yes” to exciting things even when it is not on the itinerary or in the plans. Additionally, I already have a few people interested in photography sessions after seeing my work from this STEP Photography experience, which is very exciting for me! While I do not see myself doing this as a full-time career (but who knows!), it is wonderful to me that there is a potential for more professional opportunities related to photography in my future.

Taken at Multnomah Falls in Oregon. It is the tallest waterfall in the state and is part of the Columbia River Gorge.

This collage is of a seal sleeping on a rock next to Yaquina Head Lighthouse, near Newport, OR.

For my STEP project, I was lucky enough to travel with 12 other OSU students, an OSU faculty member and a professional photographer to travel across the beautiful state of Oregon and have endless photo opportunities. We had an eight-day trip planned to see a variety of state parks, waterfalls, gardens and Oregon’s one national park, Crater Lake. Throughout the trip, we got to work with the photographer and each other to improve our photography and photo editing skills.

One self-realization I had while on the trip was how much more capable I am than I often give myself credit for. I did a lot of things that would have been so far out of my comfort zone just a few years ago. And while I was still pushed outside my comfort zone at times, I successfully traveled across the country alone, spent a week with strangers, and took photos that I am actually proud of.

I was also just amazed at how much there was to see and how much beauty can be taken in from just one state within the U.S.. I have not gotten to travel much in recent years for obvious reasons, and this trip reminded me that travel is simply good for the soul. Being able to get out from the routine, what you normally see, do, eat, and explore somewhere new, and this time with new people, is truly refreshing. From the local restaurants to the scenic drives, I was exposed to so many new and beautiful things.

I have flown a handful of times, but never on my own, and certainly not to the other side of the country. It was an intimidating task, but I handled everything with no major issues. Additionally, as I landed in Portland, the woman in the seat next to asked some questions and we got to talking about my trip and she started the trip on an encouraging note as she genuinely excited for me to see all the pretty things Oregon has to offer.

I also had a lot of fun with the group of people I was with for the trip. I enjoyed getting to talk with the photographer about little connections we had and all the places he has been while I spent time being the navigator for his van. I also really enjoyed getting to know my roommate for the week and watching a stranger turn into a friend. I opened up a bit more in a shorter amount of time than I normally would have, and it certainly paid off. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the group got along, and enjoyed the moments and experiences we got to share together.

The actual experiences of driving around one state–staying in a new hotel every night, stopping randomly for restaurants or cool scenic overlooks along the way, seeing the ocean, the mountains and everything in between is something I will remember and talk about forever. Driving around Oregon is much different than driving around Ohio, and I am grateful for the opportunity to see so much of a beautiful area with other OSU students.

These changes in thinking and experiences are incredibly valuable in my life. It is experiences like these that contiune to push me further outside of my comfort zone and encourage me to keep taking some risks and try new things. This includes traveling to new places, but also so many other things. I feel more independent, but also more open to meeting and interacting with strangers. I gained so much from this opportunity, and I hope I will be able to participate in similar things in the future. I had nothing but success with this trip, and I know I made 12 year old Rachael proud. I can’t wait to see what adventure comes next, and the photos I will continue to collect from my travels.