Nia White | Staff Writer

Photography is a unique form of art that captures a part of a real moment in time from the artist’s point of view or photographer. 

“I see photography as an art form that captures a feeling in a moment,” said Eric Montgomery, HU sophomore Architecture major. “A picture is only catching a fraction of a second so telling a story or capturing a feeling in that moment makes art. I try to take pictures either cinematically or by focusing on drawing out emotion in the pictures. It helps give life to a still image.” 

The subject of a photo draws attention to it and gives the photographer a focus. HU Sophomore Jaden Reeves enjoys photography because it allows the photographer to capture different personalities and surroundings. 

“I like to take environmental portraits, where people pose in an environment natural to them,” Montgomery said. “Even in photoshoots where the entire thing is planned, I try to have the setting match the energy of the shoot and the model. It makes things run a lot smoother and usually makes the models more comfortable and confident during the shoot.” 

Photography may start off as a hobby for some. Reeves first began his passion for photography at age six, but he did not get his own personal camera until he was 12 years old. 

“When people ask me, ‘How long have you been a photographer?’ I just say since the age of 12, since that’s when I got my first ‘real’ camera,” Reeves said. 

Each person has their own journey to find their form of art and each person may have a different start than the next. Montgomery’s journey began with using his mother’s camera to take pictures of his friends. 

Many artists have their own unique styles that they apply to their work. This sets each individual aside from others in the field. Some photographers, like Reeves, use film photography over digital to make their photos more unique. 

“Starting out, my style was very unrefined and in the moment. Over time I started to draw inspiration from other photographers and started thinking about the look I was trying to go for. My style is still changing constantly but I feel like I have created my own identity now,” Montgomery said. 

The style, inspiration and history behind a photographer is what makes them unique. Everything behind the scenes makes photography the art form it is. 

“Photography is an art form because you have to be able to use your creativity and imagination,” Reeves said. “With photography you sometimes have to capture normal things, but the photographer’s job is to see how they can capture that thing in an out-of-the-box-type way. Photographers also have to use different mediums (just like a painter would) like exposure, shutter speed, apertures, etc. It takes a lot of technique, and it is very much so an art form.” 

Trinity Goppy | Staff Writer

Tene Wilder, a Baltimore native, recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling on the hit television show Pose. Wilder has been a coiffeuse for over 20 years, starting when she was only 12 years old and converting her talents into a successful career.  

“I always dreamed big and as I got older, my vision grew bigger,” said Wilder. “As a child, my mother saw that I had a talent for doing hair, so I did all of her friend’s hair as well as the people in the church.”

This was only the beginning for Tene Wilder. She opened her first spa salon, The Wilder Experience, in her hometown in 2003. The business was successful and created a sense of community that allowed her to expand.

Soon after, Wilder was faced with an obstacle and decided to make a decision that changed her life; she moved to New York. 

 “I am going to step out on faith like I always do,” she said, “It was about the best thing that I could have ever done for my career.” said Wilder. 

Wilder worked on Broadway plays briefly doing hairstyles and working aside with a multitude of people from different cities in the United States. Her authenticity allowed her to build lasting relationships within the entertainment industry. 

Shortly after her time working on Broadway, Wilder began working on television show sets such as “The Wire,” “That’s So Raven,” “House of Cards,” and “Veep” before earning her Emmy on television show, Pose. 

Wilder worked on Pose, a television show set in the 1980s that focuses on the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York for the LGBTQ+ community, while working on another major television show. Once the opportunity presented itself, Wilder began working on Pose full-time during the third season. 

“It was a big show and it was really diverse and it also touched on many topics that hit our community,” she said. “I worked on the character Angel, played by Indya Moore, and we really bonded.”

Wilder won a Creative Arts Emmy award, for her work on the last episode, “Once Upon A Time,” alongside the Pose make-up department, including Timothy Harvey, Barry Lee Moe, Rob Harmon, and Greg Bazemore. 

“The team that I was with was amazing and I would not trade it for the world,” Wilder said. “It was a full-circle moment because I told them early on that we were gonna get the award.”

When she attended the award show, Wilder recalls being anxious yet confident that her team would win. 

“When they announced that Pose won, we looked at each other and just knew that our hard work had paid off,” she said. “I have always helped and mentored young women, so this award was not just for me, but also for everyone who has ever come into my life that pushed me and valued me in my moments of doubt.”

After winning the Emmy, Wilder is enthusiastic about what the future holds.       

“What’s next for me is an Oscar! The Oscar is next and it is coming,” she said. “I have accomplished all that I have asked for and now this moment is about enjoying the fruits of my labor and taking advantage of what I can ask for now.”

Dante Belcher | Staff Writer

The highly anticipated film King Richard stars Oscar nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Bad Boys for Life”) as Richard Williams, the father of world-renowned tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams, who has a plan that will move Venus and Serena from Compton to the tennis world as certified legends on the playing field.

Their mother Oracene “Brandy” Williams is played by Aunjanue Ellis. Saniyya Sidney is playing the role of Venus Williams. Demi Singleton stars as Serena Williams.

Marcus Green directed King Richard and Zach Baylin wrote the screenplay. Isha Price, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Adam Merims, Lynn Harris, Allan Mandelbaum, Jon Mone, and Peter Dodd served as executive producers.

Will Smith sees the story of King Richard as “the impossible dream.” 

“For the most part, we all have impossible dreams,” said Smith at a panel on the movie. “We have things that we would do if we felt that they were possible, things we would do if we believed. At the core, this is about wanting to be the best versions of ourselves and sometimes, our circumstances may not line up with that, and it’s up to the strength of the human spirit to overpower circumstances. It’s wish fulfillment for all of us.” 

The film shows how they would practice on old and uncared for tennis courts in 1990s Los Angeles and would use old tennis balls and equipment in order to help them get to where they are today.

“They really understood our family and portrayed us in a way that was really us, and I’m really proud of that,” said Venus Williams about the making of the movie. 

Sidney recalled the challenge of having to train for the role. 

“In the beginning, it was pretty bad, just getting to know the sport,” she said. “Plus, I’m left-handed. It’s been a long process, but I look back at videos and see how far I’ve come.”  

Furthermore, Venus Williams also arrived on set and would give the young stars some tips. 

“She showed me exactly how to hit like her—how she breaks her wrist in her backhand, how she leaves her arm out in her forehand, her stance, the way she walks,” said Sidney. “I needed to learn all of that. With her there, it was so helpful. It was my job to learn that, but if I was ever confused, I asked, ‘What would Venus do here?’ And she was there to give me pointers, thank goodness!”KingRichard will be released in theaters and on HBO Max on November 19.