Meet: Phoebe Beard
Year: First Year
Major: Communication Design
Minor: Digital Art
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
When did your interest in photography start? My interest in photography started as soon as my mom let me borrow her digital camera when I was eight. I grew up in a house of writers, illustrators, and painters, but I quickly discovered that my artistic outlet lay in photography.
What is your favorite thing about photography? My favorite thing about photography is telling stories about people or animals. I much prefer portraits over landscape or still-life photos. My favorite part of the process is probably editing. I love photographing, but as soon as I get a good picture I get excited about editing it
What is your favorite photograph that you have ever taken? It’s a tie between two different abstract photos of my mom. My mom is the best model. One is a photo of my mom levitating over a bed; it was actually four different photos. The reason I liked it so much was because the editing process was so new and difficult that I got a rush when I finally finished it. The second photo is a close-up of my mom with a hand over her eye. I like this photo because of the monochromatic color scheme. They are two completely different photos but they are both so unnatural and abstract, which is what I love about them.
What is your main source of inspiration? My mom is my main source of inspiration. She got through a difficult childhood and now chooses to be happy everyday. She goes to her art studio everyday to have time for herself and that inspires me to always find time to be creative.
Words You live by? My mom always tells me,“change is hard, change is good.” And my dad always says, “choose to be happy.”
What is your favorite thing about Elon? My favorite thing about Elon is the “homey” community.