SELF.

Artist: Sarah Joann Van Nortwick, Wyatt McCollum
Dates: December 7, 2012 – February 25, 2013
Reception: December 7, 2012 5-8 p.m. with Sarah Joann Van Nortwick and Wyatt McCollum

Rocky Mountain School of Photography Gallery is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibit, SELF. featuring the work of photographers Sarah Joann Van Nortwick and Wyatt McCollum.

In the photographs that comprise SELF., Sarah and Wyatt turn the camera on themselves to create portraits that capture both their unique and individual personalities as well as their shared love of fine art photography. Each image is presented in square format and “neglects the use of frames in an at- tempt to eliminate distraction from the photos.” Instead, each photo will be seamlessly mounted on a thin, white, wooden board. While the method of presentation keeps the viewer’s attention and fits each photographer’s personal style - clean and simple - building each image was more complex. Close at- tention was paid to their scenes, the overall composition, and the mood that each final image conveys. Also, many of the photographs that will be on display have been expanded in Adobe Photoshop using 10+ photos to compile one scene. This creates a very shallow depth of field that gives the entire show a surreal quality.

Photographs in the show will be hung in sets of two, with each set including one of Sarah’s and one of Wyatt’s photos. This arrangement highlights the juxtaposition of Sarah’s colorful, vulnerable, up-close style with Wyatt’s mysterious, moody, wide-angle style.

Sarah Joann Van Nortwick, 20, grew up in Palmer, AK and her love for photography developed in 2009. She attended RMSP’s Career Training program in 2011. She is now a photojournalism student at the Uni- versity of Montana and is working as an assistant for Ami Vitale, an award-winning photojournalist. She has owned her own portrait photography business and loves creating beautiful images of other people. Sarah began making self-portraits during a 365 Project (a photo taken every day for a year) in 2010. She fell in love with the freedom of using only herself to create an entire scene, concept, or emotion.

Wyatt McCollum, 21, is originally from Saint Ignatius, MT. He started photographing after high school, taking pictures of his family and friends. In 2010, he moved to Missoula to attend RMSP’s Career Train- ing program. While working on a 365 Project, Wyatt realized he enjoyed self-portraiture. He revels in the challenge and excitement it brings to his daily life. He enjoys placing himself in nature’s environment to create an alternate reality, and hopes to inspire others by continuing to experiment with his photography.