Sacramento State students Gabe Teague, James Reddington and Karen Buckland all left lasting impressions on their photography professors. That’s why all three were chosen to be featured in KVIE’s Arts Alive series to showcase their skills in documentary photography.

Documentary photography is used to capture a truthful, objective and candid representation of a particular subject in a photo.

Reddington’s featured project, “Pandora,” portrays individuals with boxes filled with keepsakes and meaningful objects. He chose the topic because he finds peoples’ secrets fascinating.

“Almost everyone has one of these,” Reddington said. “I love to photograph people, especially when they reveal a hidden side of themselves.”

Reddington’s interest in photography began in elementary school, but he didn’t start taking it seriously until he started college.

“I always loved thinking up images,” Reddington said. “Photography allowed me to bring those images to fruition.”

Unsure of his own abilities, Reddington was very excited and honored when he found out he was chosen for the television program.

“I always worry if my ideas for photo projects are going to translate or go over well when shown to other people,” Reddington said. “It made me feel good that other people find my work intriguing.”

Senior photography major Teague found his love of the art when he took a beginning photo class at community college.

“I was always into art. After I took that class I fell in love with the technique of photography,” Teague said.

Teague cited photographers such as Ansel Adams, Duane Michaels and Bill Owens as sources of inspiration. He said he admires Adams because he is a classic when it comes to photography. Like Teague’s featured work, Michaels uses text with photography.

Teague attributes his success as a photographer to his favorite instructors and their support.

“Nigel Poor is very true, very involved in the students’ work and she is a great photographer herself,” Teague said. “I have learned the technical things from Doug Dertinger…he leaves it open for you to be expressive.”

Teague’s featured project, ‘Fetish,’ is a collection of photographs taken of people and their fixations and obsessions. Teague’s photos use text, which in the case of this project are all quotes from the subjects in the photos. The words of the subjects help the viewer get a glimpse into their minds.

“I was trying to define what a fetish is,” Teague said. “It is not always sexual.”

One of Teague’s photos shows a man in a bathtub filled with books. The man lost his wife and son to a drunk driver and for comfort has turned to the books they used to read together.

Unsure of what the future may hold, Teague plans to continue working at Sacramento Magazine as a graphic designer after graduation, while still contemplating furthering his studies in graduate school.

“I am just going to keep submitting work to galleries and focusing on doing more projects,” Teague said.

While Reddington and Teague find inspiration in the inner perspective of the individual, Buckland finds inspiration in documenting landscapes.

Buckland’s affinity for photography started when she was 12 years old. A family friend gave her supplies for a darkroom and she set them up in her bedroom.

“Throughout my life I used photography as a way to document my family,” Buckland said.

The senior photography major is a non-traditional student returning to school after a break.

After getting frustrated with the results of her photographic efforts, Buckland decided to seek training in the art of photography.

“Once I learned to take the camera off automatic, I began to have success in capturing my images,” Buckland said.

Buckland now uses that knowledge to create photos that are getting noticed.

“I like to photograph people’s marks upon the landscape,” Buckland said. “I draw inspiration from art in general.”

Buckland’s photos of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard were chosen to be featured on the Arts Alive program.

She chose the once-active military base because her father worked there during her childhood; she was never allowed access. Buckland asked her father to be her tour guide as she viewed things she was never able to see as a child.

Buckland said there is a human element to landscapes that she tries to include in her photos.

“It is important to capture our history and share it with future generations,” Buckland said.

Buckland praised the photography program at Sac State for being invaluable in expanding her abilities as a photographer.

“Karen is a wonderful person,” said photography professor Nigel Poor. “She is intelligent, engaged, well-spoken and dedicated.”

“I really appreciate the education that I have gotten at Sac State,” Buckland said. “I would like to share what I have learned and hopefully teach in some form at the community college level.”

Crystal Kirk can be reached at [email protected].