Exhibit to feature professor's photos


Kent Miller

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then photojournalism professor Kent Miller is a novelist.

In the spirit of the Michigan Story Festival, the Charles V. Park Library has set up a photography exhibition on the third floor.

The gallery celebrates Miller's work.

"I never thought I could do it for a living," Miller said. "But I was drawn to it. I've always been interested in photography. I was a photographer first and then I became a photojournalist."

Miller earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and earned a master's degree in Communication and Multimedia at Saginaw Valley State University. Since then, he has won awards for his work from the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan United Press International and the Michigan Press Photography Association. He has also been featured in photography exhibits held in Saginaw and Bay City.

"He's great to work with," said Darcy Orlik, College of Communication and Fine Arts special events coordinator. "His expertise and his work fits perfectly with our theme."

The exhibition is called Michigan Moments. Orlik said it's a great overview of the state.

"Students can take a whole tour of the east coast of our state and never leave Mount Pleasant," she said.

The exhibition contains everything from dramatic court cases to kids on sleds being launched into the snow. Underneath each image, a small card explains the story behind the photo or image.

Cora Rogers, a Petoskey junior, took particular interest in a photo of an infant with a muscle disorder struggling to crawl.

"You don't necessarily think of a disabled person to be a composition of a photo," she said. "It sheds light on their struggles and challenges. I don't think I've ever seen photographs like that."

Megan Moreno, exhibit and projects coordinator for the libraries, was happy to put Miller's work in the library.

She said she was impressed with the raw emotions captured in the images.

"It just shows how much story a photograph can tell you," she said.

Miller felt honored when the Dean's Office invited him to the exhibit; he said he was thrilled to see his work displayed.

Miller said he chose photographs based on the story he experienced while shooting the images.

"It's the experience not only shooting it, but also I think it is mostly my experience. It'll be really fun to remember the experience behind each picture," he said.

One photo titled "Reaction to the Verdict" depicts a woman's expression after a judge clears her husband of his charge. Miller just so happened to be sitting by them and barely got the shot.

"I don't know how my body did it. It just happened. I turned and clicked," he said.

Miller said his pictures must be personal.

"Sometimes the camera can be a barrier to the culture and humanity that's going on in front of you." he said. "I once photographed a couple that lost their son to drug overdose. I spoke with them for a half-hour before I photographed them. They held hands, and in that moment I could really feel their suffering and it hit me really hard. I can always see a picture and remember my emotions."

news@cm-life.com

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