The photography group!
Lake Superior South Shoreline
In mid-June I had the opportunity through my STEP Signature Project to explore a creative passion of mine that I had not previously devoted much time to out of fear of not knowing where to start – photography. Using my STEP fellowship, I went on a four-day photography workshop along the South Shore of Lake Superior. Within the workshop, I learned the basics of using my camera and Lightroom Classic, from creating a vision for a composition to adjusting ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to editing the lighting during processing. I was also gifted a set of neutral density filters as part of the workshop, which I learned how to use, and some discount codes for prints and photography equipment so I can expand my growing collection of photo tools based on recommendations I received from the instructors.
I would consider this project to be a very transformational experience for me. My main goal that I hoped to achieve by the end of it was to feel more comfortable and confident using my camera and navigating different settings on it, and I feel I accomplished that. I have always loved taking photos on my phone, and I feel I am somewhat of an expert at that because of how often I do it. However, I really wanted to take my photography to another level and learn more about the artistry behind it. While before I was scared to touch my camera that I had gotten as a high school graduation present, I am now eager to shoot more and more. It is like photography was a puzzle, with all the pieces flipped upside down before, and now, they’ve been turned around so that I can finally start piecing the picture together. Further, I wanted to choose a project that would not only push me to delve into one of my artistic interests, but also something that would encourage me to step outside of my comfort zone. I am not an outdoorsy person. I had never really hiked or camped before, and I had never been to the Northwoods in upper Wisconsin and Michigan. Being born and raised in the Midwest, I have wanted to go to one of the Great Lakes, but my family isn’t very inclined to go hiking out in nature either. Although I am still not convinced the 75 plus mosquito bites I got (despite wearing TONS of bug spray) was worth making hiking a frequent hobby of mine, the beautiful views from the trip have certainly persuaded me to seek out more ways to get in touch with nature and spend time outdoors.
One of my favorite waterfalls we saw!
From a different angle!
The weather we experienced throughout the project was perfect – not rainy, not too hot, not too cold, not too windy. All the fresh air was rejuvenating, and the hiking felt adventurous. There were many locations we visited that required complete off-roading. As a type-A person, going off the beaten path isn’t something I do often, and certainly not literally, but in this workshop, we did. Safety was always a priority, and the instructors were very familiar with the areas we were traveling to, but it still required me to have a lot of trust in them. Traveling 4-5 hours from home by myself to the Northwoods with a group of strangers I’d never met before when I have very limited experience in nature was a bit of a risky move for me, but I suppose my bravery was rewarded by the kind and insightful company of everyone else at the workshop.
A cute hidden gem we adventured to!
A details shot!
On that note, beyond the photography skills I developed on this trip, I am also extremely grateful for the group I interacted with throughout the project. There were two instructors and three other people taking the workshop. This allowed for a lot of personalized attention from the instructors, but also feedback from peers who were beginners in the field of photography, like me. One of the most interesting parts of the dynamic between the group of us was that I was by far the youngest. Everyone else was over 55, meanwhile I am only 20 years old. When we had a group dinner on the last night, we were all showing photos of our pets and families, and they all had children (or even grandchildren!) around my age or older. I had anticipated that my age demographic was a little out of the norm for workshops like this but was still nervous about what it would be like prior to the trip. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I felt very comfortable within the group, my nerves reassured by our shared interest in photography and learning. They all mentioned how they appreciated my youthful energy and perspective, and in turn, I welcomed their wisdom and knowledge from their wider breadth of life experiences.
Colorful kayaks we saw on the beach at sunset!
It is because of my interactions with the other group members that I realized just how crucial intergenerational relationships can be outside of one’s family. Although I find all my relationships with my similar-aged peers in college to be extremely valuable and meaningful, I did not put as much thought into the value of my relationships with people in different age groups than myself before. I think it is beautiful how people in very different stages of life can offer so much to each other in a reciprocal manner. There was a pair of two women on the trip who were friends that decided to take the workshop together. One is a social worker and the other is a K-12 art teacher. By the end of the project, they were calling me their honorary “photography daughter,” and they were my “photography moms.” The art teacher offered me her email and said to reach out to her anytime if I ever had any questions about teaching or lesson plans or the like. It was really encouraging to see a fellow educator pursuing their interests outside of the classroom, and to hear her advice of utilizing the summer break as time to recharge and reset since the profession can be so effort-consuming and exhausting.
Me and my “photography moms.”
I remember at the start of my STEP journey that I was stressed about finding a project that would be worthwhile to me. Now, having completed it, I am so happy I made the choice I did. Photography is a lifelong skill and artform that I can use in multiple facets of my life. As a future educator, I will have summers off to focus on travel photography from the places I visit and vacation to, or maybe I’ll branch out to portrait photography and start my own business doing senior, graduation, and family shoots as a summer side hustle. I also hope to be a mom one day, and I would absolutely love to take photos of my kids at all of their events and activities, like my mom did for my sister and I growing up. What I love most about photography is how it can take a moment and capture it, freezing it in place and in memory forever. Years from now, the details of this project may slip from my mind, but I can always return to the photographs I took and be in awe of the sights of my home state again and again.
An abstract photo I took of a lake full of dead trees!
Some wild cows and donkeys we saw on the side of the road!
A really cool, huge piece of driftwood!
A pathway to a location called “The Lake of the Clouds”
A waterfall we saw from a suspended bridge!
A rock formation that looks like a face to me!
Sunrise!
Sunset!
Birch trees are my favorite!
Another waterfall!
Yet another waterfall… you can see the swirls of the water in this one!
Throughout the week, we also met with several panels. I met with a panel of literary agents, and talked to distinguished young adult authors who went into detail about their experiences in the publishing world. Hearing success stories about people who have been through similar situations that I have been through was encouraging and made me a little less nervous about the entire camp in general.
