Ian Hemmerling is a senior who is graduating in January. Ian has taken has taken Visual Art and Tech and is currently in Photography I. Mr. Cummins talked with Ian about his passion for photography.

What do you like about photography?
This is one of the hardest questions because there is nothing fun about having to take hundreds of photos to then have to spend hours editing and deleting most of them to get one or two really good photos but those good photos always put a smile on my face. I would also say that I like photography because it is peaceful. It’s a pain in the (%$^&) but that won’t stop me from doing something I love. Something about it is just so stress relieving and I think it’s because when it’s just you, the camera and the subject, that’s all there needs to be. Nothing else to focus on but what you choose.

Are there any early experiences that have influenced you toward art?
I never did much art as a kid, but I still remember the first time I saw a tattoo. I knew I had to get one. My Grandpa had a tattoo of a naked lady on one arm and an anchor on the other. Grandpa told us the naked lady was Grandma but it totally wasn’t. I just love the idea of art itself. To me, tattoos are art and a chance for a person to show their work or what they believe in. I currently have 6 tattoos. Each one is a different type of art but to me they all explain different elements of my story.
I had no idea I liked photography or was good at it until I was about 15. Earlier in my life, I was a Boy Scout and I have always enjoyed being outside and going on adventures. Photography allows me to capture parts of my adventures. So I would say that it was my love of nature as a kid that has lead me to photography.

Do you have any artists you look to for inspiration?
I really like the work of Leonid Afremov, an oil painter known for bright colors and expressive mark making. I don’t look for inspiration in his artwork but I love how he uses bright vibey colors in his paintings. The paintings make me happy and motivates me to keep going.
I don’t have a specific photographer that I look to but I always like the incredible photographs in National Geographic magazines.

How did you shoot your favorite photos?
One of my favorite shots is the shot of a curved broken branch. This is one of my favorite shots because of its simplicity and because it required very little editing. I also love how it shows that nothing’s perfect, not even nature. I shot the image with a Macro lens just outside the school near the tree line.

The other photo I love is a shot of colored magnet toys. This photo wasn’t planned. During photo class another group was trying to take a picture of colored magnets with a light underneath. I decided to document what they were doing. I love how the colors pop out in this image.

How do you want the viewer to respond to your work?
Personally, I take photos for me. This may sound selfish, but if you are relying on others’ opinions of your artwork then you’re doing something wrong. If somebody likes your art, Awesome! If it is helpful criticism, then listen. If it is unsupported negativity … I don’t need that. I take photos for myself because it makes me happy and it will always make me happy as long as the only opinion that matters is my own.

Why should someone take an art class?
I believe everybody should take an art class because you learn amazing talents you may never knew you had. I have no artistic abilities. I can’t draw, color, or paint, but it doesn’t matter because an art class will teach you. When I first started doing photography, they were nothing like they are now, believe me. I got better because I was willing to try. Also in my opinion, everybody in the art room is nicer and happier. There is always plenty of room for making friends in the art room.

What are your plans for the future?
I have big plans for the future. Once I graduate, I am going to enlist in the Coast Guard. I hope to be a rescue swimmer and stay in long enough for the Coast Guard to pay for my schooling. I would like to major in photography and eventually move to Alaska to shoot nature. I also would love to travel to other countries like Switzerland and Norway for photography and explore new places.