Off the shore of Oregon’s Astoria beach lays Peter Iredale ship wreckage.
“I noticed how much smaller the ship was getting every single year and I just thought that it was interesting that something that is supposed to be so sturdy and so strong is meeting its demise from natural forces,” explained Bailey Granneman, the 2018 winner of the annual Salmon Creek Journal Travel Cafe.
Travel photos taken by WSU Vancouver students turned the Firstenburg Student Commons into an art gallery on Nov. 28. Over 40 entries were displayed and voted on by students, faculty, staff and community members. Granneman, a digital technology and culture major, won first place for her photo titled “Wreckage.”
Granneman said she considers herself a semi-professional photographer. She formerly worked as a photography editor for Clark College’s student publication, The Indy.
Granneman entered two other photos including one from Papua New Guinea and one from Ireland. Her photo “Wreckage” motivated Granneman to pursue photography.
“I just got my first DSLR before I took that picture,” Granneman said. She explained how she waited at the shore for about 15 minutes to capture the perfect wave. “As soon as I saw the picture on the screen, I knew it was the perfect picture. I was like, ‘this is it’” she said.
“As soon as I saw the picture on the screen, I knew it was the perfect picture.”
Bailey Granneman
Granneman explained how photography has always been a part of her life, adding that her mother was a photographer. She said her experience grew with her film studies class at Clark College and experience with The Indy. “I’ve just always appreciated the here and now and just learning to be at the right place at the right time,” Granneman said. She said her mother inspired her to get into photography, and that her husband supports her by pushing her to pursue photography further.
“I always thought to myself that I want to be an artist and growing up I was told a lot that artists don’t make a lot of money,” Granneman said. She elaborated that photography, which has developed as her passion, was a good compromise for her to both be an artist and make money.
“It’s just who I am,” Granneman said regarding her artistic nature. “Doing art is something that has always helped me focus on one thing at a time.” According to Granneman, if she ignores her artistic perspectives or tendencies, she becomes unhappy.
Granneman attended WSU Pullman for her junior year. She said that WSU Vancouver has helped her grow in visual arts, especially considering the campus’ location, and that WSU Pullman helped her grow her imaginative arts. “Being in this [WSU Vancouver] environment is something that I love – I love being able to see like three mountains at all times. And that’s something that motivates me to appreciate where I am,” Granneman said.
“Go back to the basics, and don’t overthink it,” is Granneman’s advice for other aspiring artists. She explained that it is important for artists to get more in tune with their senses in moments of chaos and to “step back” and use your surroundings to ground yourself.
Granneman hopes to continue telling stories in her future, no matter what medium it is through. She wants to expand her visual perspective through travel and no matter where she goes, she hopes to remain in the “here and now” while capturing the essence of the moment with her photography.
Anna Nelson is the Editor in Chief for the VanCougar. She is a senior and is studying strategic communications.