Final Photography Assignment: Overcoming the Odds

In Aug. 2002, Gracen Stanek was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The two and a half-year-old girl underwent numerous surgeries and had to learn how to talk, walk and perform normal functions all over again. Gracen’s family supported and worked with her in order to make life as normal as it was before, but in Nov. 2009 another emergency hospital visit resulted in a stroke and left Gracen in a comatose state. When she awoke, Gracen had to learn basic day-to-day functions yet again. Her mother, Kendra, told me that Gracen didn’t know who anyone was when she woke up. She overcame more in seven years than many people do in a lifetime. She fought and never lost sight of what life was about - faith and family.

Today, Gracen is just like any other 7^th grade girl. She is silly, loves to play with friends and her pets and she is a leader in her community. She is active in 4-H, FCCLA and Girl Scouts. Kendra makes sure Gracen is busy with tasks every day, just as she does with her younger daughter, Mattlin, who is only one year younger than Gracen. Gracen is not only busy with school activities, but she also attends speech and physical therapy sessions, which Mattlin also attends without complaint. Spending an afternoon with Gracen is full of laughs and there is truly never a dull moment with her.

In the past few weeks, I have gotten to know Gracen and her quirky personality. She loves to spend time with her friends and play outside with her sister on their four-wheelers at their home in rural Stillwater. She talks about boys, about who she believes is cute in her class. When I asked her what her favorite activity at home was she was quick to reply.

“Harassing the cat, Sammy,” Gracen said.

When spending time with Gracen, one cannot help but smile and laugh at the things she says and does. She has a kind and true heart and she isn’t afraid to speak what is on her mind. She is one of the most well-mannered children I have ever encountered, careful to always say thank you.

Gracen and her family have both been affected by the unfortunate events that troubled her childhood, but no one lets those troubles stand in their way. They do not question why this happened to Gracen, but rather embrace it for it bringing their family closer together. They rely on each other to be the best that they can be in all aspects of their lives. I highly admire the way Kendra has raised her girls to be kind leaders. The love the members of Gracen’s family have for each other is overtly apparent and is greatly admirable. One lesson to take from getting to know this remarkable girl is each and every day is a gift, and regardless of what hurdles are put in your way you must live life to the fullest. 

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

Gracen, Kendra and Miss Nancy at Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy

Gracen playing with her dog, "Gundy"

Gracen and her sister Mattlin riding four-wheelers

The sisters on the four-wheeler.

"Harassing" Sammy, the family cat

Gracen and Sammy

Mattlin, Gracen and Ali playing with Sammy

Gracen and her friend Ali helping with dinner.

Gracen helping with dinner

Gracen and Ali checking out their class yearbook.

A very typical Gracen Face

Gracen and Miss Nancy at Speech Therapy. Gracen attends speech therapy twice a week.

Flash card work at speech therapy.

Checking out the "Holiday Helpers" list at Girl Scouts

Gracen visiting with friends at Girl Scouts.

Gracen showed me around her school, and she also showed me some of her artwork displayed on the walls.

Final Project: The Paseo Arts District

The Paseo Arts District is a thriving area in Oklahoma City. Today a vibrant group or artists with a substantial involvement and support from the community continues to build The Paseo Arts District into one of the most creative art venues in the country. It is now home to 17 galleries and more than 60 artists. There are also restaurants, a coffee house, clothing boutique, gift shop, yoga studio and other businesses. The Paseo hosts many exciting events throughout the year. The most popular would have to be the Paseo First Friday Gallery Walk which is held the first Friday and Saturday of every month.

What drives most people to the Paseo is not only the art but also the atmosphere. The Paseo has a certain spirit that is always present, especially in the people that frequent the area. They are always friendly, somewhat eccentric and very fun to be around. In my photo essay, I really strove to capture the this spirit and demonstrate just what makes this area so special.

A Paseo artist, Shirley Choux, loves working in the area. 

Anything is possible in the Paseo.

Two local people enjoying a quiet Friday evening. 

Cake anyone?

Good art and good company go hand-in-hand.

Live music adds to the ambiance.

Another local artist, Collin Rosebrook, who enjoys pottery.

Anytime you're in the area, I highly suggest you check out the Paseo Arts Disrtict. It's a great place for new experiences and to check out some great art. I really enjoyed working on this project and getting to meet new people, especially the artists. I'll definitely be returning to the Paseo whenever I can.

Final Project: Photo Profile of Hisham

This is Hisham Al Qanaie. He is an exchange student from Kuwait who moved away from his family to go to college. The architecture program drew Hisham to OSU. Being a secret artist back home, Hisham needed a way to show how much talent he really has without causing trouble with neighbors.

Hisham lives alone in a one bedroom apartment filled with paint cans, architecture projects, paint canvases, artistic pieces, and things of the nature.

 Hisham doesn't have a car, but he rides his skateboard as his way of transportation if he isn't walking. 

 Hisham likes to do graffiti in his free time; A hobby that got him in a lot of trouble back home. Having pissed off a lot of people, Hisham moved to the United States.

 Hisham spends 90 percent of his time working in the architecture studio at OSU. Without a real father figure growing up, Hisham does many things for himself and has become a very self-reliant person.

 Hisham is very good at what he does, and when his friends need help, he guides them in the right direction. 

 Most of the time however, Hisham prefers to work alone with his music. Music is an influential aspect of his life. It inspires his creativity.

 The architecture studio is filled with students working for hours on end trying to finish their projects on time. Hisham has a cubicle next to one that nobody uses, so he makes use of the extra space.

 His graffiti background only aids to help him as an architecture major seeing as how he must make sketches of his project, draft the project out for building, and build things after the plans are laid out.

 His hands are steady and mind is sharp when he works on any and every part of his architecture projects.

 Hisham almost always has his headphones in listening to music that inspires him to do a great job. As finals week approaches, Hisham is busier than ever, spending nearly all of his time in studio. He is a very precise person when it comes to artwork.

 From making borders to making the smallest of lines, Hisham makes sure everything is perfect and done with a straight edge or with the correct tool.

 When asked why Hisham chose to move to Oklahoma and specifically to OSU, he simply says because of the architecture program OSU offers, but I have a feeling there is something more. 

Due to finals weeks approaching, I was unable to get Hisham to create a piece of graffiti for me personally, but all around him, Hisham has small pieces he created whether it be by paints, pens, markers, etc. He says he wishes he had more free time to create art, but being an architecture runs your life, and he doesn't really have any free time to show his artistic talents. At least not until the OSU graffiti contest rolls around.

Final Project: Weather In Oklahoma

You can always count on Oklahoma Weather to change quickly. 

The subtle breeze that cools you off in the summer to the slight breeze that makes the day colder in the winter, Oklahoma likes to toy with you.The beautiful clouds in the fall evening sky, make for a romantic evening. College students love to sit and study on a calm fall evening, but hate walking to class in the cold breeze.

Two students walking to class on a cold morning with their coffee in hand and hair slightly blowing behind them.

The puffy white clouds trying to hide the sun on a breezy day in Hollister, Oklahoma

The reflection of color from the sun setting brings for a romantic country setting.

The dew, with some very thin frost of a neighbors new car is wiped off carefully from the side windows.

Then it is wiped off the windshield by the wipers and the water trickles down. 

A foggy Saturday morning brings little visibility on the roads and the chilly morning air cause a jogger to need a hat and gloves on his morning run.

The fog starts rolling out and the rising sun causes steam to arise from the river.

The wind blows her hair in her face, making her colder and wishing she had put her hat and jacket on before she left her apartment.

The freezing air and wind makes her hair tickle her neck as she walks to her apartment, bundled up and desperate for the warmth that is just within her clutches.

A young man stands on his porch, in the cold morning air to watch up before he goes to work.

A group of friends walking from class in the breezy late morning bundled up in their jackets and winter boots. Where is the snow?

A calm evening lends perfect weather for outside studying before dinner.

The evening sunset, with the blue sky that you can never get enough of.

Oklahoma weather can change in an instant. It can be 30 degrees in the morning and then by noon it's in the 70's. You can never count on the weatherman to be correct for days too far into the future. Hope for the best and plan for the worst. Snow, rain, wind, fog, frost, sunshine and all. It can all happen in one day. Don't get caught without the proper gear for the weather that the Oklahoma sky produces.