CU Boulder Photography Club Takes a Trip: A Photographic Journey

By Charlotte Croy

On April 14th, the University of Colorado Boulder Photography Club set off on a trip to Denver, Colorado, capturing the city and each other’s essence through their cameras. This photo essay explores their journey and the unique moments they encountered during the trip.

Group of five young men standing outdoors with cameras, wearing casual clothing, against a backdrop of urban buildings and a cloudy sky.

Justin Hein, Matan Coll, Om Oza, Michael Drapeau, and Owen Schuler pose with their cameras, ready for a photography session in Denver. This photograph captures their teamwork and the shared passion of capturing life through photography.

Two people with cameras on an urban rooftop with modern architecture background.

Person in white shirt adjusting a DSLR camera on a stone surface outdoors.

Photographer adjusting lighting equipment outside a glass building in an urban area on a sunny day.

Upon arriving in Denver, we explored the area a little and decided to go up some stairs for a better view to take portrait photos. In the images, Matan and Justin can be seen setting up their cameras and lighting equipment, preparing for the photoshoot.

People walking down stairs in Union Station towards the bus concourse, carrying backpacks and a camera, with signs indicating directions to bus concourse gates, train tracks, and light rail.

Caught in action - Justin captures candid moments

Two people on outdoor steps, one taking a photo, carrying a backpack with a tripod.

A person wearing sunglasses and a 'We Here' shirt poses while another person takes a photo. The setting includes modern buildings and a sunlit roof structure in an urban environment.

Photographer taking a picture of a man posing on a rooftop with a cityscape background; camera equipment visible.

Justin Hein on Rediscovering Photography Fun: Justin, a junior from Longmont, Colorado and president of the CU Photo Club, shares his experience: "For me I feel like I usually do a lot of pictures for paid photography, so then, I forget how to have fun with photography, but this is a really low stress, fun way to get out and play around without trying to make as much money as possible."

Person taking a photo on a pedestrian walkway with tall buildings in the background.

Justin is focused on capturing the right shot of his fellow club members above Union Station. He carefully aligns his camera, aiming to find the best angle to take the best portrait.

Two photographers on a city street, one walking with a camera and lens, the other crouching and taking a photo, surrounded by brick buildings and parked cars.

Person with a camera standing on a city street, wearing a backpack and casual clothing, photographing a building.

Front view of Union Station with an American flag and blue sky.

Matan Coll finds inspiration at Union Station, venturing into the middle of the street to capture the perfect shot. These three photos document Matan's dedication to his work, showcasing his journey into the middle of the street for that perfect shot.

Person shopping for beverages in a brightly lit grocery store aisle.

Around 6 pm, the group headed into a Whole Foods supermarket for two purposes: to grab a bite to eat and to experiment with photography inside the market. Covered with camera equipment, including a bright flash, they explored the store's aisles, and took advantage of the unique setting while ignoring people’s judgment of them.

Person in a black t-shirt walking on a street holding a camera, with cars parked on the roadside and shops in the background.

Challenges of Film Photography: Owen Schuler, a sophomore from Lake Forest, Illinois, discusses the trials of using a film camera: "When I accidentally opened the back of the camera before rewinding the film, and trying out new styles that I’ve never really experimented with before, because to shoot film I don’t know what the image will look like until I get it back weeks later."

Matan explores Union Station

Person with backpack standing in a glass-enclosed walkway with escalators, back to camera

Photographer taking a picture of a large screen in an indoor setting, with people seated in the background.

Person standing in front of a black and white abstract mural with swirling stripes.

After dinner, the club visited the River North Art District in Denver, where they explored the vibrant wall murals for interesting photo opportunities. The colorful and artistic surroundings was the perfect backdrop for their creative photography, and allowed the club members to really take in the energy and culture of the area.

Here is some of our photography from this trip :)

Contact information

Justin Hein: juhe1345@colorado.edu

Owen Schuler: owsc3793@colorado.edu

Reflection

I really enjoyed this assignment, which involved photographing the CU Photo Club. There’s a certain irony in capturing photographers in action, and I think this provided a unique perspective on the art of photography itself. This assignment taught me that unplanned, candid photos can be just as powerful - if not more so - than staged ones. It was more special to me because I’m so used to taking carefully planned out photos. Also, the natural lighting around 4pm also worked great, the sun wasn’t too harsh, yet it still casted a beautiful glow for my photos. It also helped that the club members were excited to have their photos taken, given that it was a rare opportunity for them since they are usually the one behind the camera. This helped create a great atmosphere that really helped me capture the raw emotion of the moment. From a journalistic standpoint, this assignment highlighted the importance of storytelling through images, it was more than just about taking photos but also about creating that sense of community within a smaller club through a collection of images. As Kovach and Rosenstiel mention, "Journalism is storytelling with a purpose. That purpose is to provide people with information they need to understand the world." (Kovach & Rosenstiel). This quote resonated with my experience because my task was not just taking photos, but also creating a visual narrative. I think this made the assignment newsworthy for a school-level newspaper, as it showcased the small but amazing friendship this club has. Reflecting on the themes discussed in class, I began to think differently about what makes a photograph significant. Kovach and Rosenstiel also state that "reality has the disconcerting habit of confronting us with the unexpected, for which we were not prepared." (Kovach & Rosenstiel). This was true as I found myself seeing that it's not always the obvious photos that you think will look good, but actually the ones that may seem irrelevant in the moment. This realization made me reconsider the idea of documentary photography, which is not just about taking a good aesthetic photo but also one that captures real moments. Overall, this assignment broadened my perspective on photography and reinforced the value of embracing those rare moments. It’s given me a greater appreciation for the art of candid photography.

Work cited:

Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2014). The elements of journalism: What newspeople should know and the public should expect (4th ed.). Three Rivers Press.