by Thomas Henn

On Monday, March 20th, PRISMA Photography Magazine put on a photography exhibition at the Barron Theatre at the Byre. The magazine was founded by “a group of student photographers at the University of St Andrews who recognized a growing interest for photography within the student community and wanted to create a monthly magazine dedicated to showcasing the works of both experienced and upcoming photographers.

When you walk inside, you are immediately greeted with a series of poles and clotheslines in a U shape, with a number of prints on each clothesline. The photos inside are from a variety of photographers who involved with PRISMA. The photos on display were varied for a number of reasons; the distinct photographic styles of each photographer were easily discernible, and the variety of subjects that each photographer showed really resonated with me.

It is hard to pick a favourite part of the exhibit, but I think that, for me, it would have to be the wildlife work of Charlotte Davies, just because I think the subject matter is almost impossible to replicate. I also really liked the landscapes of Louise Andersbjörk, as well as the wide variety of shots from St Andrews, whether of the actual town or the events with students within it.

As a photographer, and by proxy, an artist, I think the best way to improve your work is by observing that of others. This can take a variety of forms; personally, I try to make my photographic work look like a painting, something I aspire towards, and so I find that looking at the work of more traditional artists is vital to improve my process. Exhibits like these are excellent for improving as a photographer, as you’re able to see the way that others undertake the art form. I really enjoyed the wide variety of subjects shot at this exhibition, and diversity of styles being demonstrated. Photography, at its core, is not just about the common categories that include portraiture, landscapes, or street photography. Even if you may gravitate towards a style, challenging your perspectives are vital.

All in all, the exhibition was excellent. There’s something quite special about looking at photographs not on a digital screen, and I would highly recommend checking out the PRISMA Magazine.

At the bottom of this article, we’ve obtained a digital version of some of the photos which were a part of the exhibition from each photographer. Below, there’s a list of each photographer who had photos up as a part of the exhibition as well.

Louise Anderbjörk (atlascamera21)

Maggie Zhu (maggie.zzzzz)

George Cherry (jjordene_photography)

Charlotte Davies (charelisemedia)

Tristan Sharman (_tristan_sharman_)

Alexandra Godfrey (agodfrey_photography)

Jasmine Zheng (jasminezheng_)

Kailee Parsons (kaileemaycreates)