When English junior Brandon Smith first expressed interest in showcasing his photography in the University Union Gallery, he was told that they were booked through the end of the year.
“I was going to try again when I thought that I was ready, when I thought I was good enough, but then they contacted me,” Smith said.
“Visions by Brandon Smith” will go on display tomorrow night in the UU Gallery. Associated Students Inc. program coordinator Missi Bullock said the gallery is open to both students and non-students, which results in many forms of art.
“We have had photographs, 3D paintings, sculptures … ” Bullock said. “There will be a paper artist next quarter … the stuff in there really varies.”
Bullock has help in finding the artists with UU Gallery and outreach supervisor Brittany Lipson. Lipson said finding artists can be a lot of research, but some of the time artists do the work for them.
“A lot of the times people are interested in being displayed (in the gallery) and will contact us,” Lipson said.
Smith, a self-taught photographer, said his art is a play on fiction and reality.
“I love fiction so much I think it kind of comes through my photos, because they kind of have a fictional atmosphere to them. I like to say they border between fiction and reality a little bit, but I try and keep them as real as possible,” Smith said.
Nature and architecture are his favorite subjects to photograph despite the fact that his mother wants him to photograph people.
“I feel when I’m out taking pictures of nature, I feel like that’s what I’m supposed to be doing,” he said. “I really just love being out there.”
Summer vacations were where Smith found his love of photography. Taking full control over the camera each summer, his parents finally designated him the “camera guy.” Smith didn’t have his own camera till 2008, but now uses a Canon Rebel XXI with the standard lens.
“Every time I’m about to buy a new lens something happens that makes me spend that money on something else,” Smith said.
Until he can buy a news lens, which can be between $500 and $1000, Smith plans on working on his technique by reading a lot of books, ranging from photography to Photoshop.
“I’ve been working on my perspective in my shots lately, just getting everything from every angle,” he said.
Improving his technique requires him to be inspired and he said the San Luis Obispo area is where some of his best shots have taken place. Some of his favorite pictures result from driving aimlessly when he is bored.
“My most popular photo that I have ever taken was at Montana De Oro, it was an abstract shot,” Smith said. “I sold my first online print of it a couple of days ago. It was pretty exciting.”
“Visions by Brandon Smith” will open tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.