My Project

I thought it would be beneficial to take a little time to explain my actual senior project and what it's going to entail. Everything I explain below is subject to change, but you'll get the main ideas.
The senior project has two basic components--the physical project and the 5 "disciplines."

My physical project:
I will be having a gallery showing of my work at The Sewickley Gallery & Frame Shop this upcoming April. I will be responsible for advertising & planning the show, as well as refreshments, decorations, etc. Over the next 7 months, I will work with Mrs. Ingram on preparing and perfecting images for the show. I'm hoping to be able to sell my photos and other products (cards/calendars/etc.) throughout the year as well. I'm really excited about this and I hope I will see all of you there! (I will know the official date for the show very soon...)

The Disciplines:
1. Math- I will work with Mrs. Ingram on preparing a budget for my "business." We will plan out all of my finances and I'll be making some sort of spreadsheet to hand in to our math teacher.
2. Science- I'm going to be reading a book on photography and studying the physics and science behind it. I will learn about aperture, exposure, lighting, you name it (all with Mrs. Ingram's assisstance of course.) I'm hoping to teach a class on the science of photography to the Chemistry class at our school.
3. History- I will be reading and researching the life and work of Dorothea Lang, a well known photographer during the Great Depression. I will write a paper summarizing her life and analyzing her work & the effect it had on society.
4. Biblical Ethics- I will be writing a paper addressing the issue of photography as an art form from a Biblical perspective. This one should be interesting... ;)
5. Literature- I will focus on photojournalism, specifically during a time of war. I will study the way photos can add to, change, or effect the way people read an article. I will {most likely} give a presentation to a literature class on the topic.

These disciplines are spread through out the year and I will be working with one of my teachers on each of them. I will have all the exact details ironed out once I propose my ideas to the staff and meet with them each personally.

I'm sure I'll be giving you updates on my project, and not just posting pictures, throughout the year. I'd love for any suggestions or input...I have to write my proposal speech this weekend and any response would be helpful! :)

ps. I'm writing this from the computer lab at my school and I just noticed that my photo, "Orange," is the desktop background on a computer across the room. That makes me happy. :)

What's in a Name?

Welcome to Pilgrim Photography!

I will be using this blog as a way to keep everyone updated on upcoming events, sharing exciting new things I'm learning about the art of photography, as well as promoting some of my work. I'm so excited to get started on my senior project and any other work the Lord calls me {and my camera} to!

As many of you know, I've spent the last few weeks agonizing over finding the perfect name for my photography business. The creative part of my brain wouldn't allow me to just settle for Jamie Stuart photography. I bounced around many ideas before deciding on, what I think is, the perfect name. Let me take a few minutes to explain the meaning behind the name...

Pilgrim Photography

Definition- "One who embarks on a quest for something held sacred."

Now, obviously this isn't the only definition pilgrim can have. I could be referring to the English separatists who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620 or someone who journeys to a religious shrine. But...I'm not. By this definition, I'm referring to myself, as well as everyone else who belongs to the body of Christ. We, as Christians, are on a quest. We are on a quest for godliness. For sanctification. For our eternal home in Heaven. And ultimately, for Jesus. Jesus is the one and ONLY thing we are called to hold sacred. He is our light and our salvation. My hope is that my work will be a visual testimony of my own quest for Jesus. I pray that with each picture, you will be able to see something new and exciting that the Lord has done in my life, and in turn encourage you on your own quest.

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage."
--Psalm 84:5--

I have set my own heart on this blessed pilgrimage and I invite you to join me on it!