Larsh Bristol, a University of Wyoming photojournalism graduate, died in 2006. His dedication lives on in a profound body of work and the Larsh Bristol $5,000 grant for costs associated with the study and pursuit of photojournalist excellence for UW graduate and undergraduate student photographers.
Two University of Wyoming students, Jamie Lindsey and Tamara Rodgers, each received the $5,000 award this year due to it being the 10-year anniversary of the award. The award requires applicants be either an undergraduate or graduate student, participate in photographic collection and research. The applicants must ultimately compile work toward a proposed outcome in a gallery exhibition.
“I applied in March after a friend saw it in the announcements and I was looking for a project that would make me get out into nature and really explore underwater photography, an area I hadn’t been able to really experience before,” UW Senior, non-traditional student and Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts hopeful, Tamara Rodgers said. “The cost of underwater camera housings is prohibitive and there’s not many people doing it in the state so I thought this could be a niche area to develop an understanding.”
Rodgers is an experienced photographer using landscapes, environment and rodeo as her most common subjects. She cites being a non-traditional student and commuting as a couple of the most difficult obstacles in the pursuit of her degree but also knows that the unique circumstances in her life, her husband and her family have tempered her willingness to persevere. Rodgers recently lost her mother to cancer and said this award means much more because of the challenges she has faced recently.
“The decisions and choices you are forced to make as an adult or non-traditional student put immeasurable stresses on people, these are all major choices and decisions when there’s real life going on too,” Rodgers said.
Proposals were juried and chosen based upon the depth of knowledge exhibited by portfolio, proposed budget and gallery exhibition proposal.
“I chose my subject matter, the Basque sheepherders because I’m interested in different cultures and demographic groups in history and the present, I’m interested in how people and groups can go unnoticed in a larger population,” UW graduating Bachelor of Visual Art student, Jamie Lindsey said. “I was personally unaware of the Basque people and began researching their culture throughout the Mountain West after my dad had brought them to my attention.”
Photography became a true interest for Lindsey after high school and she continued increasing her depth of knowledge through the photography courses taught by Bailey Russel in the UW visual arts department. Lindsey hopes to focus especially on the vibrant richness of colors exhibited at festivals and also in ranching and herding life.
“I hope that the rich vibrant colors representative of both areas of life, festival and herding, will unify when displayed together,” Lindsey said. “I’ll also travel to Elko, Nevada, for the National Basque Festival to see how that experience unifies people.”
The photographic work is expected to take place between the spring the award is earned and the next year’s summer.
The two students chosen to continue the important photographic research and exhibition that will take place between now and summer 2019 could not be more aptly suited.
Larsh Bristol was widely recognized for his variability in content and the places he captured the moments that defined his photography. Bristol’s work is marked as being very sensitive and human from his use of light and its passage around and through living spaces, creatures, nature and faces.
Bristol was an adventurer in all facets of life according to the various short biographies associated with the photographic and journalistic endeavors he pursued.
To learn more about the Larsh Bristol Award visit UW Financial Aid or contact the Communication and Journalism department. To learn more about Larsh Bristol, his photography and his adventures visit larshbristol.com.
