Archive for Monday, April 18, 2005

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April 18, 2005

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Kansas University student Jill Ensley's first camera, an Olympus on loan from her mother, was stolen from her dorm room during her first semester. But a friend loaned her a low-megapixel digital camera for a trip to San Francisco. "It was my first experience with a digital, and I was enamored," she says.

"Sunken Self-Portrait" was taken in late 2002 and digitally
manipulated in image-editing software.

"Sunken Self-Portrait" was taken in late 2002 and digitally manipulated in image-editing software.

Later that year, she purchased a Sony Cybershot DSC-F707, which has served her well since. "So well," she says, "that I'm near naming it and celebrating its birthday."

"When I first got the Sony, I ended up taking a lot of pictures of myself," she says. "I'm sure there's some element of narcissism there, but it really was a matter more of convenience. It was often late at night, too late to round up a model, so I used myself."

In January 2003, Ensley returned to Kansas after living in Los Angeles for five years, and since then she has been studying other photographic formats and techniques.

"I became very macro-oriented and began taking extreme close-ups of the plant and animal life around my parents' house," she says. "Around the same time, I started scouting for interesting architectural elements. Currently, however, I'm looking to bulk up my portfolio with more portraiture."

Ensley is finishing her bachelor's degree at KU and hopes to start her own studio and Web site soon.

"Hello, Operator" was taken in Los Angeles in September 2004 with a
Sony Cybershot DSC-F707, digital SLR camera.

"Hello, Operator" was taken in Los Angeles in September 2004 with a Sony Cybershot DSC-F707, digital SLR camera.

"KatMove" was taken in February 2004.

"KatMove" was taken in February 2004.

Ensley says this untitled photo taken in April 2003 reminds her of
The Waits' song "All The World Is Green."

Ensley says this untitled photo taken in April 2003 reminds her of The Waits' song "All The World Is Green."

This image, titled "Spectral Guitarist," was taken in July 2004.

This image, titled "Spectral Guitarist," was taken in July 2004.