Chasing Summer

Grant Schol May 19, 2015

To say that I am excited for summer would be a gross understatement. But to say that I'm not sad to see the semester end would be quite the opposite. It was my last one, after all. Unless grad-school happens ... but we'll cross that bridge when (if) it comes.

With the beginning of summer comes one of my favorite summer activities: chasing sunsets.

I look at the sky at about 4 p.m. and get this gut feeling that tells me tonight is going to be a good one. I get in my car and start driving west until the light is perfect. Then I stop and watch the glorious tapestry of color unfurl above me.

The great thing about sunsets is that they happen every night – each one just a beautiful as the last.

They show the beautiful ending of a day and renewed hope that tomorrow will come.

They show me that endings don't always have to be ugly and hard. Like a sunset, endings can in fact be beautiful.

With every sunset, there is always a sunrise right over the horizon.

Ciao for now,

Nathan and Kasey

Grant Schol May 11, 2015

I've always loved The Old Mill and have always wanted to take pictures there. To get to it, you have to work your way through the old neighborhoods of North Little Rock until right before you think you're lost and the *bam* you turn the corner and the site takes your breathe away. It truly is one of the hidden gems of North Little Rock and Central Arkansas. While the park is only a replica and was never actually used as a mill, it did appear in Gone with the Wind. It's only true claim to fame, I suppose.

While the park only has minor notoriety by normal standards, it is incredibly famous in the minds of some who visit it. It has been the site countless senior pictures, prom photos, family portraits, and nature photography. Along with the occasional engagement proposal.

I've known Nathan and Kasey since 2011, our freshman year of college, and I have always admired their relationship. They have literally grown up with each other and always knew they would marry one another. So when Nathan asked me to photograph their proposal, I happily agreed.

I am always so excited to photograph proposals. I just love to see the joy they bring to everyone involved, even the photographer.

Below are a few of my favorites from their special day.

Ciao for now,

Alone Time

Grant Schol April 20, 2015

I do not in any way claim to be an expert at college. In fact, I think there are many people who do college way better than myself. I mean, I don't live in a dorm or even on campus for that matter. And there are a lot of aspects of college that I've never taken part in.

But one thing that I believe is essential to college that I am good at is alone time. Though is has become increasing more rare of an occurrence, it is what has kept me sane over the past four years.

Being still and allowing our minds to slow down and process our endless thoughts has a rejuvenating affect. It revives us. It allows us to listen and observe with no pressure of giving a response. Ultimately, silence will lead to learning about ourselves, others, and this world we live in.

I'm not saying being alone is the essential key to happiness. It would be too sad to be away from friends for that long. But for me, sometimes happiness comes in a moment with simply myself, a cup of coffee, and a sunset.

Happiness doesn't always come from constant social interaction, though I do believe humans were created to interact with one another. Happiness can come from within ourselves and by ourselves.

So, I guess sometimes all we need is just a book, some food, and a gentle breeze to make the day better.

Even for just a moment.

Ciao for now,

Famous for Fifteen

Grant Schol April 3, 2015

For the second year I have had the privilege of being the photographer for the Spring Sing program. I had a blast last year so obviously I was thrilled when I was asked to do it again.

Unlike last year where I was given a very specific photo concept to achieve, this year the content of the photographs was pretty much given up to my own interpretation of the overall theme.

I knew the visual theme for the show was going to be steam-punk: lots of gears, cogs, pipes, steam and clocks. After Googling steam-punk for several hours (do at your own risk, I might add) I finally had a grasp of what sort of photos I wanted to shoot for.

I was inspired by Victorian era portraits where the subjects were straight face. But I didn't want my photos to completely boring and sad so I decided to tell my participants to add a little sass and attitude. I think it just adds a little bit something extra, another dynamic.

This is definitely the most involved and time consuming photoshoot I have ever been a part of but it has been the most fulfilling because I got to see the idea from concept in my head to a reality in print.

Enjoy some of my favorites from Famous for Fifteen.

Ciao for now,

I set up the set in the makeup room of the Ulrey Performing Arts Center.

Here are a few of the props and other visual elements.

I had thirty minutes to photograph each club show. Here are a few of my favorites.

After all of the club shows were done I had two hours to photograph the four host and hostesses.

They eventually got bored with they serious faces and things digressed a little. But we had a good time anyway.

It truly was an honor to work on such a fun project. It quite literally would not have happened without the help of a few key people. Thank you to Cindee Stockstill and Steve Frye for the carte blanche to allow me to be as creative as possible. Thank you to Julie Hixson-Wallace for loaning me the beautiful purple chair. Thank you to Jeff Montgomery for loaning me photography lights. Thank you to Ben Jones for helping me with props and McKay Murray for helping with fabrics. And thank you to everyone who was photographed!

Below is the final version of the program with the photographs in their context (please ignore how faded the pages are, technology is hard and I couldn't get them to appear correctly on screen but you get the idea) and used in the Spring Sing edition of The Bison Newspaper.