Sense Of Place

Artist Statement

“A pause, The Lake.”

    Over spring break, I had the chance to explore Aberdeen and travel, which allowed me to see a variety of environments, from the fast-paced city of Atlanta to the peaceful, scenic Wylie Lake in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Although both Atlanta and Aberdeen offered beautiful views in their own ways, I found a profound, calming presence while walking along Wylie Lake with my host mum. The images I captured showcase the park’s quiet beauty and stillness, where the sunlight reflects off the water and nature softly frames the space.

    Based on those images, I wanted to communicate a sense of connection that I developed with the lake. It was a place where time seemed to pause. I tried to capture various angles, light conditions, and compositions to best emphasize textures, mood, and the human relationship with the natural setting. Through these captures, we enjoy the consistency of the natural lighting and the soft color tone, which help unify the series and motivate the viewer to share the experience of serenity and reflection.

    Additional images from various places I visited in Atlanta, such as the Coca-Cola Museum and the Martin Luther King Museum, are on the contact sheet. I tried to capture all the contrasting energy, which helped shape my understanding of how different places impact emotion and perception. But my top choice was Wylie Lake for its subtle power to calm me down and ground me in the moment. 

Contact Sheet