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Exhibit shows off HCI students' photography talents

HUMBOLDT — Jessica Hoffman has been interested in photography as long as she could hold a camera. “My parents got me a little, just tiny, camera when I was little.

HUMBOLDT — Jessica Hoffman has been interested in photography as long as she could hold a camera.

“My parents got me a little, just tiny, camera when I was little. I started playing around with it and really enjoyed it and then I got my own and it just kind of built from there,” she said.

“For me, photography means just getting memories so that we can look back on the past and know exactly what was happening at that point. I think that’s the coolest part about photography for me.”

Hoffman is one of eight Humboldt Collegiate students whose photography is displayed at the Humboldt and District Museum from June 1 to 29. Each of the students have entered five to seven photos.

For two Grade 12 students in the photography 30 class, this is a final assignment. The other six are Grade 11s in the photography 20 who were invited to join in.

Mathew Maki was one of those Grade 11s. When he was invited, he said yes and entered five photos to be displayed.

“I just wanted to showcase my work, just thought it'd be cool and just be a part of the community that way.”

Maki said he’s always been into photography, taking photos with his phone, but became more interested when he got the chance to use a DSLR camera in his Grade 10 year.

He said that when he goes out to get a photo, he finds something he thinks would be cool, sets up a shot and hope for the best.

“For example, when I was in Banff, there's this skateboarder there. I asked him if I could take some pictures and ended up saying yes,” he said, I set up my shot, took a few pictures. I think I got about two or three ones that turned out pretty good.”

Maki said the skateboarder photos are his favourite in the exhibition.

Hoffman has a similar process.

“If the sky looks nice, or I'm loving the weather, I'll just go out and for an hour, two hours, depending on what pictures that I want, and I'll just set up my camera in different locations and just shoot randomly basically,” said the photography 30 student. “Then I get back and sort through them all and edit and then I get the final finished process.”

Hoffman also has a favourite photo in the exhibition.

“There's one called DNA and it's of a sunset and an old green truck and I love it so much. It basically shows exactly what the prairies mean to everyone.”

Dawn Goosen, Humboldt Collegiate’s photography teacher, said her students have been exhibiting at the museum or gallery the last few years.

“I think this is a pretty spectacular show, especially when we have six kids who just did this without any other reason than they love photography,” she said. “They worked really hard with their photos.”