The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A wheelbarrow, a tire-swing, a treeÉ commonplace objects buried in their own inert and unprimed existence. We walk by them every day, unaware of the beauty they can manifest, when photographed with the right amount of light or from an unusual angle. It takes not only an eye for simple beauty, but an artistic ability to present the mundane in a way that inspires and amazes. Traits very few are blessed with, but nonetheless, there is one young Snow Lake woman who possesses these qualities. And as a result, many of her photographs are hailed as brilliant by friends and acquaintances. Kayla Ryan is a 20-year-old graduate (Class of 2006) of J.H. Kerr School. Although she has worked as one, she isnÕt a photographer by trade and maintains that she doesnÕt aspire to involving herself with it as anything more than a hobby. That is until sheÕs pressed a bit on the subject. She then admits that she would love to open her own studio. But at present, it is more a dream than a goal. Ryan has never taken any courses in photography; however, she did work for CPI Corp Portrait Studios for about a year. Of that position and experience, she says, ÒI learned how to pose people while there, but thatÕs about it.Ó And when one thinks about it, anyone can be taught how to pose people, but it would be difficult to teach a photographer to develop their eye, taste, and artistic insight. The student either has these or they donÕt. Certainly most who have viewed her work would agree that Ryan possesses all three. Ryan says that she used to tote her fatherÕs point-and-shoot film camera around during adolescence, but didnÕt really embrace her art until a year or so back, when she received a digital camera as a gift. She took up photography by accident. Her initial interest was in making movies, and it was a mix-up on her Christmas list that pointed her in the direction of still photography. ÒI originally asked for a video camera for Christmas one yearÉ so that I could start making short movies,Ó she explained. ÒI got a digital camera instead, so I just kind of picked up on it from there.Ó Her current camera is a Canon Rebel XT with a 55 mm lens, as well as a 300 mm lens she uses for specific shots. Over the last few years, Ryan has taken thousands of photographs and many of them are considered special by friends and family. When discussing the many types of pictures that she takes, the soft-spoken photographer notes her penchant for playing with light and shadows. As far as subject matter, she likes a bit of everything. Even so, she admits that the majority of her work is portraits. ÒI do a lot of portraits, well, because people like to have their picture taken,Ó she says with a laugh. Most of the people who contact her with portrait and family picture requests do so by way of recommendations from friends. And the majority come to her through her Facebook site, Kay Re Photography. Everyone who views her photographs has a favourite, but then so does the photographer. Ryan states that her favorite picture, portrait or otherwise, is one she took of a Snow Lake friend. ÒI took a really nice picture of Ellyn Hornyak last summer,Ó said Ryan. ÒShe was walking on the beach and you could see her shadow in the foreground. I like it.Ó Future plans for this young talent involve going back to school this fall in order to become not a photographer, but an interpreter. RyanÕs goal is to be a medical interpreter, and to work in hospitals with deaf patients. However, to further her experience and help pay for schooling, she is quite interested in taking portraits and family pictures of those who are willing to give her a try. My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
