Organized Chaos

Polaroids of the Organized Chaos, at Riverside Place, Spokane, WA

This week, the photo arts students at Spokane Falls Community College had the opportunity to spend time at Riverside Place in Spokane, Washington. We made our annual trip to work on our projects and collaborate, which we call the “Shoot Out,” in a unique setting—the building was originally a Masonic Temple that opened in 1905. Now serving as an event center, it’s hard not to feel a connection to the past when we take a moment between projects to appreciate the building’s history.

This year’s theme was “Organized Chaos,” which was quite fitting, given that multiple large-scale productions were happening simultaneously. Students eagerly took advantage of the opportunities this space provided, completing more than forty productions in just four days amidst a logistical whirlwind of moving gear throughout the building.

As this will be my last year as a student, I wanted to capture this experience in a unique way, so I decided to use my Polaroid camera. On the first day, I took pictures of the behind-the-scenes activities occurring all over the building. Unsure of how I would use these images, I wanted to find a fun way to showcase my experience. As we began to wrap up and prepare to move our gear back to the college, I took some time to walk the halls one last time. While exploring the building, I discovered a spot in a back hallway with character that I could use to my advantage, and I created the image above using my Polaroid photos.

Working for a week on several projects—both still and motion—reinforced the importance of having a strong team behind every creative endeavor. Thankfully, our group went above and beyond this year to help each student achieve something they could be proud of and complete their final projects before graduation. Everyone contributed something to help bring each student's vision to life. Additionally, we received significant support from staff and volunteers, whose dedication to helping us succeed is unparalleled. Without the support and sacrifices made by non-students, none of this would have been possible, and each student would have missed out on an incredible experience. Although my time as a student is coming to an end, my experiences at the “Shoot Out” will always remain some of my most treasured memories from my time at Spokane Falls Community College. I plan to volunteer as an alum to give back to the program and help future students experience the magic of the “Shoot Out” for themselves, doing my part to keep the magic alive.