PRISMA Issue 2

PRISMA

by:AlexandraGodfrey

ST ANDREWS NEWS IN PHOTOS

NewsEditor: Lucile Belorgey

Refreshers Week: A week of events welcomed students back from the holidays, and kicked off the second semester with various activities put together by the Student Union and university societies.

Burns Night: The traditional Scottish Burns night was celebrated on the 25th of January with dinner parties, dancing and poetry to commemorate the life and works of national poet Robert Burns.

Memorial Day: The Holocaust Memorial Day was commemorated by the St Andrews community on January 26th The University’s Interfaith Steering Group held a vigil including poetry, music, silence, and a pier walk.

Saints Sports: The university sports clubs experienced an eventful start to the semester, with over 50 fixtures played in January. The teams successfully played matches on both local and national sites

RAG Week: The University Charities Campaign hosted its annual Raising and Giving (RAG) Week during the second week of this semester, with a range of collections and fundraising events organised all over town

Theatre-PresentLaughter: A student production of Noël Coward's Present Laughter opened in the Byre Theatre on January 31st. This marks the beginning of a new season for the university’s performing arts scene

Editor-in-Chief-LouiseAnderbjörk

DeputyEditor-in-Chief-EleanorReid

NewsEditor-LucileBelorgey

EditorialEditor-AlexandraGodfrey

PhotographyEditor-CharlotteDavies

CopyEditor-RosieLeeson

MediaManager-MaggieZhu

editor@prismamagazine.co.uk

Photo:LouiseAnderbjörk

Photo:MaggieZhu

Photo:CharlotteDavies

Photo:LouiseAnderbjörk

Photo:LouiseAnderbjörk

Photo: Louise Anderbjörk

EDITORIAL ARTICLE

INTERNSHIPS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

EditorialEditor:Alexandra Godfrey

ALEXANDRA GODFREY

Hello readers,

My name is Alexandra Godfrey, and I am the editorial editor for PRISMA , who will be writing most of the editorial articles in our issues to come. In this second issue, it is my aim to give you all a look into PRISMA opportunities and offer some on-campus opportunities for the upcoming portfolio and internship season To introduce myself, I am a second year student studying Sustainable Development & International Relations. Originally from Massachusetts, US, I have found myself scattered across various courses and extracurriculars relating to photography, design, art, etcetera back home and here, at university I’ve done photography for The Saint, publicity for HMS Pinafore and Women for Women on-campus, while holding positions in Social Media, Marketing, and Event Photography for L’Oreal through On-Campus Promotions and Massachusetts Maritime Academy. In high school I explored various creative art subjects, whether that be in creative writing (and reporting), graphics, 2D, CAD, and drawing. Louise Anderbjork, our founder, created this magazine in hopes of offering the student body a chance to explore their creativity in a published format, supporting photographers at all levels The PRISMA team offers photo contest entries to non-committee members and the opportunity to submit a photo story. If you are trying to enhance your LinkedIn or gain photography experience, I highly recommend looking at the link in our social media bios for more information about what we can offer you as photographers My main role as editorial editor is to increase awareness of photography related opportunities on and off campus In this section you will often find suggestions and tips for anyone interested in photography! For this issue, I will be focusing on photography relating to students and how you can expand your photography-related skills and training to prepare for the upcoming internship season As we all know, internship deadlines are fast approaching The summer months will be here before we know it and anyone looking for a summer position can most definitely be found stressfully cranking out applications on their university accommodation floor, especially if their application includes a portfolio. Hopefully I can shed some light on local photography sites to quickly bolster and organize your application before those deadlines have passed Just to clarify, these suggestions are general guidance from previous interviewers’ and employers’ and from viewing others' portfolios and resumes.

A perfect way to build onto your photography portfolio this semester is to engage in publicity for upcoming shows and events, or sign up to publish something on PRISMA St Andrews is easily one of the more aesthetically pleasing towns in Scotland and landscape photography sessions are not hard to do when you have a couple hours free in the afternoon I would personally highly recommend heading down to Castle Sands at sunset for this Much similar to a cover letter, a portfolio offers an expanded version of your experiences with specifics and explanations, so take time to think up a brief analysis of your photo prior to an interview to keep conversation flowing St Andrews offers events through the Careers Centre’s which can not just help with basic resume building, but also portfolio growth and employer advice. The university page largely suggests gaining publication status on-campus which, for example, can be achieved by submitting to an issue for PRISMA

Broadening your portfolio’s reach through offering to photograph sports games, event nights, or shows portray diversity and creativity in your photography. Keep watch for upcoming balls or other events as they may look for publicity skills or photographers for their social media as their advertising continues, and good luck!

Photo:AlexandraGodfrey

Photo: Louise Anderbjörk

PHOTO STORIES

CAPTURING EVERYDAY BEAUTY

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

KAILEE PARSONS

When I first traded my hot pink point-and-shoot for a semi-professional camera, it was 2018 and I had recently returned from a study abroad course after high school. A few of my friends on the course were keen photographers, and I was jealous of how beautifully they had captured the experience in clear, well lit, and masterfully composed pictures. My first attempts with manual shooting looked, unsurprisingly, nothing like the practised shots of my friends. Of course, I knew that the right equipment was only a small part of the equation, but I had secretly hoped the art of photography would come naturally, no practice needed Additionally, instead of the adventures of gap year existence, I had only people and places I had known all my life for subject matter When I began to practise, however, an extraordinary thing happened; I began to see my hometown in new colours. I noticed the way light shone through a coffee shop window, or the symmetry created between a faraway lamppost and an old man crossing the sidewalk. My co-workers became radiant models By the time I moved to St Andrews for university, I was better with a camera, but more importantly, I had a knack for finding beauty in the ordinary. St Andrews is, of course, anything but ordinary, but I gain satisfaction from photographing the same streets and buildings in new ways. Nowadays, my photographs are just as often taken with my phone on the way to class as with my camera. For me, photography isn’t just about the equipment or the subject matter, but about the few moments it takes to slow down and appreciate the world around me

Photo:KaileeParsons

Photo:KaileeParsons

Photo:KaileeParsons

StSalvator's Chapel

Photo: Kailee Parsons

PHOTO STORIES

EXPLORING THE MAASAI MARA

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

EMILY SPEED

On the 1st of June, my mum and I got on a plane to Nairobi, Kenya, to spend a week at Elephant Pepper Camp in the middle of the Maasai Mara North Conservancy The trip had been a long time coming; my mum was born in Somalia and my grandmother was born in Kenya, and my mum’s childhood memories in Africa meant she had wanted to take me there practically since I was born. For years she had told me how beautiful Kenya is, and how amazing it is to be in such close proximity to some of the most magnificent and fascinating animals on the planet. When we boarded a small internal flight to the north conservancy, I therefore had high hopes Suffice to say, even my greatest expectations were surpassed, as demonstrated by th small collection of the some 9,000 photos I took duri our week stay! The sheer number of animals we saw w genuinely incredible, and we were lucky enough to cat sightings of not one, but two leopards, which a remarkably rare and very shy creatures. We even caug sight of the last pair of white Rhinos in Kenya, Que Elizabeth and Kofi Annan, so named because they sha birthdays with their namesakes Our trip wouldn’t ha been the same without our wonderful guide Javan, Maasai guide and wildlife photographer (follow him ig @javan.guddy) and all the brilliant staff at Elepha Pepper Camp. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetim experience; seeing the animals in their natural habita felt so special, and seeing how animals and huma coexist in harmony in the Mara gave me hope for t conservation and future of these phenomenal species

Photo:EmilySpeed

Photo EmilySpeed

Photo EmilySpeed

Exploringthe MaasaiMara

Photo: Maggie Zhu

PHOTO STORIES

GLOBAL WASTELAND STORIES

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

JASMIN ZHENG

I travel around the world to explore ‘the wastelands’, those dusty buildings abandoned in the modern city. Hidden in the clusters of flashy skyscrapers and forgotten by reality, these ‘wastelands’ are icons of times These places may once be boisterous and glorious but failed to catch up with the rapid pace of the rest part of the city and became ghost giants eventually. As Susan Sontag writes in OnPhotography: ‘to take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability.’ Each broken beer bottle, each wooden door covered with cobwebs, and each newspaper left by a tramp has a story of their own, waiting for newcomers to collect and resurrect We have no ability to travel back in time to participate in those we have not But in the debris left by the past, we can find stories. We may never know the stories behind wastelands, but if they were recorded, there is a chance for them to be seen, and to be endowed with immortality against time. My camera serves as a tool for freezing time and preserving these stories for posterity It is also a means of selfdiscovery, as I reflect on the scenes and angles that I have chosen to capture and the motivations behind them Through this process, I gain a deeper understanding of myself and my place in the world. In the act of recording, we become both observer and participant. We are the invisible hand that shapes the narrative of the spaces we explore. And in doing so, we are recorded in turn, becoming a part of the story ourselves It is this duality that makes urban exploration such a rewarding and endlessly fascinating pursuit

Photo:JasminZheng

Photo:JasminZheng

Photo:JasminZheng

Anabandoned FactoryinBeijing, China 2020

Photo: Jasmin Zheng

PHOTO STORIES

WILDLIFE IN NORTH-EAST FIFE

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

CHARLOTTE DAVIES

St Andrews sits in a beautiful spot on the North-East Fife coast, within touching distance of some of the best wildlife spots in the area. Only a quick bus journey away is the Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve with a wide range of wildlife to be found, and further there is the Lomond Hills Regional Park and various biodiversity conservation sites around Fife. Within the town itself, the road out past the golf course along West Sandsknown as Outhead – often has stonechat, linnet and skylark hanging about. Long-tailed duck also frequent the very tip of West Sands. These are fairly unusual species, so to have them all within walking distance of the town centre is a real treat If you’re looking for something closer to home, there’s always the Botanic Gardens. The tall trees are goldcrests’ cup of tea, and if you bide your time down by the pond, you might see the red squirrels hightailing it across the grass. Last year, an incredibly rare species of duck had ornithologists flocking across to Andrew Melville Pond, again highlighting how St Andrews can be a surprising habitat for all manner of species! Finally, a little further afield is Cameron Reservoir This destination will require a set of wheels as it’s a little more off the beaten path, however it is only about 10 minutes' drive. The reservoir is consistently home to gorgeous mute swans, and I was lucky enough to capture a picture of a sleepy cygnet last year. Be warned, it’s almost always blowing a gale, but it’s a beautiful walk, and really brings you out of ‘the bubble’ of St Andrews Get out there!

Photo:CharlotteDavies

Photo:CharlotteDavies

Photo:CharlotteDavies

LocalWildlife Photography inFife

Photo: Charlotte Davies

PHOTO STORIES

THE FEELING OF HOME

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

EMILIA GILLETTE

As the Martinmas semester came to an end, I am sure many other students were similarly imagining what it would feel like when they arrived home – what food they would eat, who they would hug first, what the air would smell like As an exchange student from Canada, I was envisioning something a little colder While waiting to board my flight back, I was looking through my camera roll at photos from winters past. I could almost smell the burning firewood as I sat on the couch, curled up with my cats and reading a book. I could feel the slight warmth of a low, afternoon sun on my frozen cheeks. I could taste the snowflakes falling from the sky that blanket the Muskoka landscape and weigh the evergreen branches down in thick layers Driving home through this winter wonderland at dawn or dusk can feel otherworldly, as if you’ve been transported into Narnia… minus the talking animals. For some, home may be a place, like a geographic location. It might be a person, like family or friends. For me, home is a feeling. It’s nostalgia It’s being utterly at peace while staring a landscape so quiet you can hear the wind whistling through the leafless trees It’s taking that first sip of hot chocolate after sledding down hills, or skating on a frozen lake outside until your lips are numb. It’s feeling like a small part of a much bigger, beautiful world. And no matter where I am in the world, I will never forget how it feels to be home. What does home mean to you?

Photo:EmiliaGillette

Photo:EmiliaGillette

Photo:EmiliaGillette

WinterinMuskoka, Ontario,Canada

Photo: Emilia Gillette

PHOTO STORIES

THE STREETS OF DÜSSELDORF

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

ALEKSANDRA PISKUNOVA

Engaging in street photography might seem like an everyday activity. One might think that 'all it takes is to take up your phone' but in reality, you can easily feel lost if you go outside with more advanced gear for the first time The experience may feel utterly different because it can attract additional attention Luckily, it is only partially true. If you prefer to avoid contact, you can stay far away from your subjects or even not include people in your photos. This way, you can work with the movement and experiences of urban everyday life, whilst still respecting other people's privacy as much as possible. It is also a perfect strategy when unfamiliar with the place or cultural context When visiting Düsseldorf for the first time last summer, I used this approach as a mindful observer. I walked around the city in the morning when the sun was still bearable, and the streets were almost empty. It allowed me to pay closer attention to the detailed scenes that can be harder to notice on the run. For instance, a picture I have taken in an alley along lake Stadtgraben As I was passing along it, a scene caught my eye Backlighting created a highlighted silhouette of a man and bikes on the other side of the alley so that a person sitting on the bench became distinct from the background. The contrast between massive trees and buildings and this person having a slow morning reading a book seemed so drastic from afar. This is why there was no need to come closer and invade the man’s privacy. This scene illustrates the pause we all sometimes must take to calm down, no matter how immense our problems may appear

Photo:AleksandraPiskunova

Photo:AleksandraPiskunova

Photo:AleksandraPiskunova

Photo: Aleksandra Piskunova

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

PRISMA PHOTO COMPETITION

It is our pleasure to congratulate the winner of PRISMA's January Photo Competition: OliviaBastin

"I've been teaching English in the south of Italy in Matera during the Christmas break. This is my favorite view of Matera which is the thirdoldestcityintheworld." - Olivia Bastin

To enter for your chance to be featured in our upcoming issue, submit a photo through the link on our social media!

Photo: Louise Anderbjörk