Upenn Photography Archives - Tony Ward Studio

Jane Suh: Artist Statement

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Jane Suh

I like the comfort of knowing my surroundings. It is an innate human quality that has helped me to survive and thrive in different environments. My economics background has trained me to be direct and calculative. Thus, I have become accustomed to look forward when solving a problem, around me when analyzing an equation, and occasionally behind me when referencing a derivative. I take the adage “keep a level head” both figuratively and literally, making sure to examine life’s situations from my vantage point.

But what happens when I look up? Down? Does changing my point of view alter what I see? This body of work tackles this question by showcasing the city of Philadelphia from different vantage points. In order to do so, I have captured scenes of Philly’s bustling streets from above – on bridges and the rooftops of parking garages – as well as its monumental buildings and skyscrapers from below. Images of myself looking out from these vantage points represent the act of shifting my perspective.

So, did changing my point of view alter what I saw? I’m not quite sure if it changed what I perceived visually, but it did give me a strange sense of control. Being able to capture every movement from above was empowering and made me feel invisible. Gazing up at a skyscraper from below allowed me to take in every detail – every crevice, reflection, and deflection of light.

Although my own vantage point is comforting and familiar, shifting my gaze up and down allowed me to be more aware, sensitive to my surroundings, and observant. But maybe more importantly, it allowed me to appreciate the things that were once unnoticed – life outside the problems, equations, and derivatives. As I prepare to transition into the next stage in my life and leave my undergraduate career behind, I hope to retain a habit of examining life’s situation from many vantage points, not just my own…stopping occasionally to look up and down.

Photography and Text by Jane Suh

About the Author: Jane Suh is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2015

Allison Denenberg: Noble PAWS

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Allison Denenberg

While most people are excited about the approach of warm weather, this time of year is particularly trying for animal shelters. In the spring and summer months, shelters across the country are flooded with litters of newly born kittens. Although being surrounded by hundreds of tiny balls of fur might sound like heaven to animal lovers like myself, this situation is far from idyllic. Due to extremely limited space and resources, most shelters simply cannot care for all of the kittens that are brought to their door. Consequently, the vast majority of them are euthanized before getting even the slightest opportunity to find a loving home.

Fortunately, however, there are shelters like PAWS (the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) in existence. This particular organization prides itself on being a no-kill shelter, and has had a great deal of success with finding suitable homes for as many needy cats and dogs as possible. Although it is difficult to walk around the tiny facility and see so many adorable cats cooped up in cages, the fact that none of them are at risk of being euthanized is extremely comforting. Additionally, each day, the cats are let out of their cages in cycles so that they can wander around, stretch, and play. It is truly amazing to see how the sadness in their eyes dissipates as soon as they are allowed to roam free.

In photographing the cats at this shelter, it is my hope that viewers will be inspired to give these sweet animals a permanent taste of freedom by adopting them. While PAWS does an incredible job at keeping abandoned animals off of “death row” and providing them with food, shelter, veterinary care, and attention, all of these animals would be much better off outside of their cages and in loving homes.

About the Author: Allison Denenberg is a senior and recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2015. To read more articles by Allison Denenberg, go to the search bar at the bottom of the page: type in author’s name and click the search icon.

Esther Tong: A Night for Taste

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Esther Tong

While most seniors in college are still struggling with their thesis and looking forward to all the senior week activities and graduation, psychology major students are the group who people are jealous of because we are always the one’s who starts our own celebration first.

Every year, the University of Pennsylvania’s Psychology department holds a wine tasting event for seniors a month before graduation. The interesting part of the wine tasting night is, not only do you get to taste different red and white wines brought from the faculty, enjoy the cheese and food throughout the night, but you also get a chance to win free bottles of wine at the end of the night. Every faculty member from the psychology department would pick a bottle of wine they like but the students would not know who brought which wine. The rule of the tasting is that the students would get a paper which included the description of each wine, which includes the taste of the wine and why that person likes it. After tasting, students need to match the wine with the correct faculty member. The person who guesses the most right would get to take the free bottles of wine home.

It was a really fun night. Professors got to share their life and interests with the senior students. The competition was intense and students communicated a lot about their own ideas of each professor’s taste. Apparently, I wasn’t able to capture the winner of the night, since she was busy taking photos the whole time!

About the Author: Esther Tong is a senior enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.

Corey Fader: Peacefulness

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Corey Fader

As I walk along the coast of the opposite side of the Earth from home, I recognize the surreal beauty of the world that we live in. I look out into the distance and see nothing but thousands of miles of bright blue ocean water. All I can hear are the sounds of the waves as they break upon the sun-covered rocks beneath me. It is so hard to believe that all of this peacefulness is only a couple of miles away from one of the biggest and busiest places in the world.

What an amazing way to escape from the rush of a city and spend a day relaxing on your own. As I continue moving on, I begin to approach another beach, this one marked by groups of surfers waiting for the perfect wave to ride in to shore. It is unbelievable to think about how there is so much in the world that I have not seen. I gaze around in amazement of how it has formed the way it has.

How did these huge rocks get all the way up here? I take a seat on the side of the cliff to take in the art of nature, and I begin to realize that right on the other end of this water, everyone lays asleep under the night stars. The Earth is a marvelous place.

About the Author: Corey Fader is a freshman enrolled in the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2018

Allison Denenberg: Focus

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Allison Denenberg

As a Philadelphia native, sometimes I forget to appreciate the beauty of my hometown. When you walk past something all the time, if you’re too distracted by your own thoughts, or if you’re merely in a hurry, it’s easy to ignore your surroundings. However, by taking a purposeful stroll downtown with no intentions other than taking photographs, I realized just how much I have been missing.

When I walk around my neighborhood lost in thought, I might not pay any mind to the gorgeous Greek Revival style of the Merchants’ Exchange Building.

I may be too distracted to notice the artful arching of tree branches, or the beautiful shadows that they cast on the charming colonial houses.

The millions of thoughts buzzing in my head might drown out the quietude and serenity of the Old Pine Street Cemetery.

I might be in too big of a hurry to admire a cute family as they walk to school, or to chuckle at how the children’s backpacks are almost as big as they are.

In an effort to save time and reach my destination faster, I probably won’t take the scenic route down Elfreth’s Alley, and thus won’t notice the tree-lined passageway leading to a secret courtyard.

I may be too busy checking my phone, watching my step, or trying to avoid a rogue bicyclist to stop and glance up at a pretty church tower.

If it’s cold and I’m wandering around on a weekday, I likely won’t bother walking past Headhouse Square because the farmers’ market won’t be there.

But this time when I walked around downtown with my camera, I had no specific destination in mind, I had no major time constraints, and I forced myself to take a break from thinking about schoolwork and commitments. In focusing my lens, I also focused my attention, and for the first time in a long while, I was able to truly see Philadelphia and appreciate it for what it is.

About the Author: Allison Denenberg is a senior enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.