bykatherineDEWITT
Photographs are taken to capture moments in time and to help one remember memories. Senior Trent Bishop wants to be a photographer for his career and for this he posses one key element, which is creativity.
“I really just love art in general,” Bishop said. “I picked up a camera one day and just did it. I do a lot of digital editing, too, so I taught myself to do Photoshop and that helps.”
Bishop has been interested in photography for about a year and has been involved in theatre since freshman year, participating in numerous plays and helping with tech.
“Eventually I do want to do photography. Theatre is my passion, as well, because I see it as art too, but they both go hand in hand,” Bishop said.
Bishop recently purchased a professional camera to help him advance in photography. Bishop owns an Olympus E-420. He has been working on photography and has plans to progress himself even more.
“I want to take photography classes in college, as well as visual art classes. Every weekend I try to take as many pictures as I can,” Bishop said.
Bishop recently was accepted to the University of Northern Colorado and plans to attend undergraduate school there and possibly double major in theatre and photography. Bishop has been working toward his career in various ways.
“My favorite thing to take pictures of is nature; it’s really easy sometimes, but I also like to shoot more abstract shots,” Bishop said.
Along with photography outside of school, Bishop participates in school publications and does design and photography for the publication. Photojournalism and school publication teacher Kelly Glasscock recognizes Bishop’s quality photography.
“He’s not taking a photography class, but he still has the experience. He does a lot of design [for school publications], and he’s extremely creative,” Glasscock said. “He comes up with the design used for all the pages, and he’s really good at finding fonts. He has a lot of knowledge in Photoshop, and even though he’s never used In Design, he’s a wiz in it.”
Glasscock was not aware of Bishop’s interest in photography but realized how advanced Bishop is when looking at some of his work. As Glasscock is a correspondent for the Wichita Eagle, he gives advice to Bishop.
“Trent should take tons and tons of photos to get lots of experience,” Glasscock said.
Bishop said he has been doing this. Senior Amanda Mavis was used as a model for some of Bishop’s photography.
“I found out on Facebook that he wanted models, and I told him I could do it for him,” Mavis said.
“He’s fun because we just laugh and joke around. It wasn’t awkward at all. I know that doing photography is his passion and I know he can go far with it.”
Mavis finds Bishop’s work appealing.
“I love his photography, especially when he Photoshops. He’s got an eye for what looks good and he’s just really good at it,” Mavis said.
Not only is Bishop working progressively toward pursuing a career in photography, he found himself starting to enjoy theatre, and is now interested in majoring in it as well.
“I have been in ‘King Stag’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Hamlet ESP’, ‘Kid Purple’, ‘Annie Get Your Gun’, and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’,” Bishop said.
Although this is Bishop’s first year at Andover High, he dove into the drama department with a positive mindset and is now participating in the fall musical, having the role of the Chef in “Cinderella”.
“I was talking to Trent before he moved here by e-mail, and he asked about the department,” drama teacher Sarah Tucker said. “He established himself in that respect, and now he’s directing a one-act play, designing the T-shirts for the play, he’s in the play and he’s working on the program for the play. He’s just been really proactive.”
Tucker is another individual who recognizes Bishop’s talent.
“I think he has a very good chance going into theatre for numerous reasons. One, he sounds good. Two, he’s very smart. Three, he’s a guy. He’s talented, smart and proactive. I really think he could do whatever he wants,” Tucker said.
Bishop carries artistic traits that will greatly impact a career in photography and theatre.
“Being an artist is one good exercise in problem solving skills. Creativity is always a boon when being an artist,” Tucker said.
If interested in seeing Bishop’s photography, visit “http://www.flickr.com/photos/31823206@2N02/”. Bishop will keep snapping photos and gaining experience.
“Everyone should try to pick up a camera and create art themselves. It’s not the camera that does a good picture; it’s the eye behind it,” Bishop said.