By David Humphrey
For Pendleton News
PENDLETON — When Samson Hunckler began teaching photography at Pendleton Heights High School, he had one thing in mind — to teach photography well and to have fun. Today, Hunckler has met and surpassed those goals with students who have excelled at photography in their own rights.
Through Thursday, works by 11 of Hunckler’s Advanced Photography Students (H.A.P.S.) will be on display at the Anderson Center for the Arts. The exhibit, titled “Environments,” showcases the talents of Melanie Stamper, Cheyenne Aspling McSherry, John Baker, Katie Haywood, Erin Stephenson, Shelby Rosencrans, Rebecca Dashiell, Brad Miller, Spencer Harvey, Elise Winn and Grace Sharritt. The aspiring photographers used their creativity and expertise to capture life as they see it through the lens. Hunckler said he is proud of the diverse group of H.A.P.S. members.
“I will never stop being impressed by my students,” Hunckler said. “They have created things I couldn’t even imagine, and they will continue to produce works that will continue to amaze. I have watched students grow into exceptional art students, and I am waiting to see how far they will take their creativity. I have only been teaching for six years, so I am waiting to see just how the great talent will develop. I am expecting spectacular things to happen.”
Aspling McShirley is no stranger to art and photography exhibits. The 16-year-old recently won a second-place art award at the Beta Club State Convention in Indianapolis and has exhibited at the Anderson Center for the Arts In Focus Photography show. She has nine photographs featured in “Environments,” including a work titled “The Wanderer.”
“That is my favorite photograph I have in the exhibit,” she said. “The picture is of a man walking on a desolate, foggy beach in Washington state. I love to take pictures when I travel. I do not do well with posed photography, so I really love shooting photojournalistic-type pictures.”
Like McShirley, Haywood, 17, has a more nontraditional approach to photography. The Pendleton Heights senior enjoys shooting the world around her, whether it be a living or inanimate object.
“I recently shot an abandoned factory in Anderson,” she said. “I believe it was an old tile factory near the downtown area. I like to do more fun and colorful stuff, but the pictures of this factory turned out well.”
“Environments” marks the first time Stamper, 18, has exhibited her photography in a show, but the senior says it was worth the wait.
“I love the environment of the Anderson Center for the Arts,” Stamper said. “It’s just a really nice place to go and see photography and art. I have six photos in the exhibit and one of them is titled ‘Inflation.’ It’s a photo of a hot air balloon being inflated and it is displayed very well. This is a nice exhibit that I am really glad to be a part of.”
Members of H.A.P.S. are given classroom opportunities to discuss photos and current trends in photography, as well as work on independent projects such as “Environments.” H.A.P.S. is open to any Pendleton Heights student who has completed Photography 1 and Photography 2 or who is currently enrolled in Photography 2.
For more information on the exhibit, call the Anderson Center for the Arts at 649-1225.
