2016 Walsh University Digital Photojournalism Students to Be Featured in MassMu Studio M

Friday  |  April 1, 2016  |  16:25 PM

News Release:  Walsh University Digital Photojournalism Students to Be Featured in MassMu Studio M

Sixteen students enrolled in Walsh University digital photojournalism classes have examined the work of renowned photojournalists from the perspectives of artistic style, technique, history, and ethical issues surrounding photojournalism. Their project will culminate when they collaborate with the Massillon Museum to host the tenth annual Image to Image exhibition in the Museum’s Studio M.  

When the exhibition opens on Friday, April 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the public is invited to meet the photographers, view their work, and enjoy refreshments in the Fred F. Silk Community Room of the Massillon Museum. The party is free and open to all; no reservations are necessary. 

Sponsors for the opening include: Walsh University Communication Department and Holmes Laboratory.

Image to Image:  A Comparative Study of Past and Present Photojournalists’ Images, Styles, and Shooting Techniques will feature the work of students in Professor Lee Horrisberger’s digital photography class. It will illustrate that the power of the image is not in the camera, but in the hands of the photographer.

Advanced students Ingrid Chovan, Tyler Dowd, Christian Manns, and Seth Nichols, will participate as will first-time students Carson Bogdanovich, Amanda Bresnahan, Kaci Bucklew, Zaccery Carter, Teresa Klimek, Michael Madden, Dallas Makowski, Alejandro Meza, Brooke Morgan, Ronnie Stokes, Elise Watkins, and Jamie Woodburn. 

Among the photojournalists they have chosen to emulate are Berenice Abbott, Harry Benson, Elliott Erwitt, Glen Friedman, Annie Leibovitz, Neil Leifer, Sally Mann, Mary Mark, Bruce Murray, Gordon Parks, Eliot Porter, and W. Eugene Smith. The advanced students will examine ethical issues facing the modern photojournalist. The ethical issues included using Photoshop to correct or change an image; placing death on the front page of the newspaper; manipulating women’s body images for more appeal; and is it required for a photojournalist to get involved in a situation that may endanger a subject’s health or wellbeing, or is it the photojournalist’s job to stay behind the camera and not be intrusive into the scene.

Students have used cameras, computers, and photographic equipment from Walsh’s Communication Department to imitate the photography style, lighting, and content of photojournalists of their choosing. Students have learned the mechanical side of producing a photograph and now understand that it is equally important that a photograph be composed artistically to make an impact on its audience. 

“The goal of the project is to demonstrate the impact that style and technique have on artistic content, and also to immerse the students in the historical and social context of the photojournalists’ work,” Horrisberger said. “Students have learned that news is visual, and that storytelling through images can have an impact on society. By taking part in this project, these students have a better understanding of how photography, specifically photojournalism, works within the larger social tapestry.”

Each student’s work will be printed, matted, and hung along with his or her selected photojournalist’s work. Each piece will contain bibliographic notes and detail how the student’s work was created. Students will be involved in the marketing of the event and will be on hand during the exhibition opening to receive firsthand feedback on their work.

Alexandra Nicholis Coon, executive director of the Massillon Museum, and Emily Vigil, Studio M coordinator, will explain the importance of presentation by working with the professor, the students, and their finished photographs that will be hung in the Museum. Students will witness how the exhibition of artistic work, in this case photojournalism, can serve as a social, educational, and entertainment community resource.

The Studio M show may be seen through May 31 during regular Museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., except when the Silk Room has been reserved for private functions. A call to the Museum office can confirm that the exhibit is available for viewing—330-833-4061.

Studio M enhances the collaboration between the Museum and the community by showcasing the artistic talents of local, regional, and national artists.  The series of approximately five-week shows will continue throughout the year, selected by jurors from proposals submitted by artists.  Brochures containing guidelines and an application are available by contacting the Massillon Museum at 330-833-4061 or www.massillonmuseum.org.

The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East (Ohio Route 172) in the heart of downtown Massillon.  A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.