Students and parents gathered Thursday at Sage Moon Originals Art Gallery in downtown Loveland to browse photos of the city of Boulder, Poudre Canyon, Endo Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park and more.
The photos were part of the sixth annual Fine Art Photography exhibit of Gifted and Talented students from Thompson School District middle schools.
The prints were a culmination of work completed with artist-in-residence Bob Campagna since Jan. 20.
This year’s group was a mix of newcomers and return students.
With the wide variety of knowledge about print film, how quickly students pick up the subject is a relative term, Campagna said.
“You have some students who are very fast about it.,” he said. “Some are very cautious because in this digital age, working in a dark room is a mystery. You have different levels. The appreciated component is when a student will ask me questions. There’s always a constant dialogue. The best thing that happens too is when a student comes back for a second or third workshop then they start to get it.”
Jake Schwarz, a seventh-grader at Bill Reed Middle School, and Jaycelin Rogers, an eighth-grader at Bill Reed, were return students this year.
“The first time I thought it would be interesting,” Schwarz said. “I really liked it so I wanted to take it again. I want to do it again if have the opportunity.”
Schwarz said the best parts of the workshop are the photography outings and work in the dark room.
“I like it because when you print it out you can change it in ways,” he said. “You can blend pictures together. On mine, I burnt the sky, so the clouds come out better. There are more techniques you can use.”
Rogers, a LISA student, said she likes the workshops because she can express herself.
“I just really liked how everything turned out and being able to develop them myself and going out and bring able to take pictures myself,” she said. “A lot of people say they would like it better if it’s digital and I think it’s better shooting with the older film and stuff and being able to use black and white. I think it gives it more detail and more like hands on experience.” In her third workshop with Campagna, Rogers already has sold several prints and now is thinking about photography as a career.
“I would have never thought about it before taking the workshops,” she said.
Shellie Gutierrez, Roger’s mother, said the LISA program has been wonderful for her daughter.
“We are very proud, doting parents,” Gutierrez said. “I think the LISA program has just been great. That’s what opened up all the doors for her to be able to do this. I can’t say enough about this program.”
Although Rogers won’t be attending Mountain View High School for the LISA program, Rogers said she will continue photography classes at Loveland High School.
Campagna has taught more than 20 workshops in the Thompson School District since 2000 and has taught about 600 students in that time.
“One can always hope,” Campagna said about his students one day becoming photography teachers. “I don’t know if I can predict it, but I can hope it.”
The students’ photography will remain on display through Saturday at Sage Moon Originals Art Gallery, 116 E. Fourth St.