Final Image 3

‘Years as a Spartan’

This photo was taken using the sky as the framing so Sparty is what you notice first.  I added the tree for perspective and visual interest so the picture wasn’t so stark; I believe the tree softens the photo.

It has taken me a number of years to obtain my degree because of family and work.  Since I’m graduating this Spring I wanted to capture my final semester on campus with something of importance to the University as well as a memory of my time here.  Sparty represents both strength, shown in his  muscles, height and structure as well as his vulnerability, his bare rib cage, lack of clothing and standing alone; both emotions I am feeling at this point in my life.

I shot this photo from just below the statue to give it a different perspective than straight on.  I stepped out of my safety zone of shooting the entire image square in the lens with symmetry usually being my goal.

Shooting Sparty was my attempt to capture a part of my life as a non-traditional student, a beginning to a new life and the end of my old life of a 25 year marriage and 23 year career as a crime victim advocate.   I would like to print and frame this image, along with the year of my graduation as a reminder of the hard work I put into achieving this goal.

Though I’ve seen photographs of Sparty over the years on campus, I can’t name the photographers who have taken them.  This perspective is my own personal view of the statue.  It is an emotional and historical photo for me because it represents a lifelong dream as well as the number of years and hard work and dedication I’ve put into obtaining my degree.