I started photographing in spring of 2007. I chose an "artsy" blow-off class when I was attending Purdue University and never realized the impact that one semester would have on the rest of my life. At the time, my major was Advertising but it just didn't feel right. I took this photography class, enjoyed it more than any other class in the history of classes and then made up my mind that I would not only switch majors but I would switch schools. I graduated Purdue early and then immediately started taking classes at Prairie State College with a focus on Photography. 

In my first year attending (2009), I heard that there was an award called "Photographer of the Year" which was the highest honor that the photography department could offer a student. It consisted of a series project, a written statement of that project, the student had to present their series in front of a panel of judges (which also happened to be professors at the College) and those judges also had the ability to ask questions to request further explanation. At the time, it was a very intimidating process however I knew that I needed to try. As a perfectionist, I knew that failure wasn't an option - The series had to be perfect, it had to be different, it needed a specific purpose and it needed to push me to another level in my work. I thought about what I could do from May until December. I needed the work to be complete and ready for a presentation by April. In late December, I heard about a beautiful abandoned building in Crown Point, IN that was owned by the Indiana Ballet Theatre (IBT). IBT was in the process of collecting funds and donors in an effort to restore the building, hoping to make the space an artist haven consisting of studios, a theater, offices space and a cafe. The name of the building would be The Classical Arts Centre. At that time, the building was sitting abandoned still and baby steps were being made to make this restoration complete. 

I contacted the CEO and founder of Indiana Ballet Theatre, Gloria Tuohy, and she allowed me to go inside the building to photograph it. From my perspective, it was a shot in the dark on what I could make of this building (mentally AND photographically) but the moment that I saw the first colorful wall, I knew that I found my project. I photographed the space for about three hours and then proceeded to edit the photos for the following three months. My project goal became very clear while I reviewed the images for the first time later that day. My single goal was to reveal the beauty of this building with hopes of inspiring donations, restoration and to shed light on the "what could be". 

There were so many challenges along the way that almost stopped my process entirely but I would not allow myself to quit. I found out only 1 week before my presentation that I needed to print out all of my own images in the lab and mat them all personally as well. This would not have been as much of a challenge had I not one week prior to that broken my right hand (yes I am a righty) which significantly changed the mobility of my fingers. I somehow got the prints and I somehow got the mat boards cut, assembled and pristine - Some could say it was hard work but I am inclined to believe that God was on my side and helped me throughout the whole process.

I struggled through the panel critique and knew afterwards that I could have done so much better. The judges did not have the opportunity to read my artist statement so they asked me to paraphrase it in a few sentences. Paraphrase a one page, single spaced statement? I had not prepared for this. I prepped an answer for every question that they could possibly ask me but I never thought about this one. I honestly thought I failed. By the end of my 10 minute presentation with the judges I walked out of my the room with my head down in shame and gave the situation to God. Yes I still had tears on that long ride home but the minute I got home, I had a quiet resolve not to worry about it anymore. 

The night of the Photography Banquet arrived. I had spend the last 2 weeks of school (from the presentation until the banquet) trying to read my success in the eyes of my professors, asking leading questions trying to understand what I could have done differently, wishing that they would put me out of my misery. There was no escaping this now. Each of the individuals that had entered Photographer of the Year for the 2010 school year were all on edge that night. I do not remember how many of us entered - I want to say it was 5 total. We all showed our work at the banquet that night, each of us getting a portion of the room for our images and artist statement. As I browsed everyone else's completed work, my confidence took another hit. I was not expecting any kind of positive news that night. 

Of course, the evening was full of announcements, a dinner, dessert and presentations, all before they would address this pressing issues of who won the award. As luck would have it, the head of the Photography department, Don Kouba, was retiring after the school year's close after I believe 28 years with Prairie State College which made the evening's presentations longer than average. I love Don very much so I wanted to hear about his career and work at PSC - I just had issues breathing right now, that was all. 

Finally, we got to the time of the evening when they were ready to announce the Photographer of the Year. They started the presentation by explaining the process and then brought up all of the Photographers of the Year from previous years that were in attendance for the night. Since this was Don's last Photography Banquet prior to retirement, almost all were in attendance (did I mention that this was the 26th or 27th annual award year?) so there was quite a group in front waiting to welcome the newest member to their alumni. Don made the announcement: "...and the 2010 Photographer of the Year is Mich.......". My eyes fell to my plate. He said Michael...I thought. Michael's project was so good - I knew that I couldn't beat him. I lost... I... didn't even deal with this feeling because I did not want to open myself up to the possibility of failure. 

It was that moment that my friend Kelly placed her hand on my arm and said "Michelle...Michelle You won!". I looked up - I didnt understand. I thought he said Michael, not Michelle. Everyone in the room was staring at me, clapping...... Oh the tears, you don't even want to know, trust me. I had to go up to the front but I couldn't even see! Now I had to give a speech?! I have to honestly tell you that I am not sure what came out of my mouth (which for me is not that TOO hard to understand). After that, I glowed for the remainder of the evening, chatting with the rest of the guests, selling a few prints even and stood in complete awe of the path that led me to that very place, that night. The following September the school hosted the solo gallery showing of the work and I was finally able to accept my award plaque at my opening. 

You can view the project here - The Nurses House 
 

God is good. Sometimes it is important to consider the many steps that we take in life to get to where we are today. Had I not won that award, I know now the level of discouragement that it would have brought to my heart and my ambition. I may not still be shooting today. From there, my career sent me to new heights which eventually lead me to portrait photography, event photography and finally wedding photography, where I am today. A single blessing turned into multiple blessings, and those blessings turned into thousands more. I encourage you to remember the single blessings in your life that brought you to where you are today. 
<3