By Avery Jackson

Something I love about Baylor University is the diversity it offers. There are always interesting discussions to attend, speakers to hear and art galleries to view. This is just one of the reasons I decided to transfer to Baylor. Currently, Baylor is featuring some of the work of famous photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams in the Martin Museum of Art.

Not only is Baylor showing the original black and white prints Adams produced more than 50 years ago, but there was also a lecture by Rebecca Senf, the curator of photography with the University of Arizona and the Ansel Adams Archive, to talk about Adams’ life and how he fell in love with photography!

It was a free event, so EVERYONE came! Baylor encourages students and faculty to interact both in and out of the classroom. In other bigger schools, students are simply seen as numbers. At Baylor, I’ve found that the professors remember you personally (another great reason why I transferred to Baylor).  At the event, I was able to get a couple of professors’ take on the photography. I loved hearing the perspective of Curtis Callaway, who teaches photography in the journalism department. By trailing behind a few of the professors—as well as students—who knew a lot about photography, I was able to learn a little about lighting and subject placement.

I always tell incoming freshmen to go to as many Baylor hosted events as possible, even if it isn’t a part of their major. I am not an art or history major, but learning about Ansel Adams and his work was fascinating! I was also able to meet some professors in my department of study (journalism) and meet other people interested in photography!

(Left to right) Photography Teaching Assistant Kyle Beam, Me, Kelsey Wesolick, Sara Johnson and Baylor Photography Professor Curtis Callaway.