My Dominican Expertise: Photographer Kenyon Anderson

An artwork main who discovered his ardour for pictures at Dominican University of California, Kenyon Anderson ’14 has gone on to construct a formidable profession with work featured in numberous publications, together with The New York Times, Vogue, and The New Yorker. Kenyon talks with us about his artistic journey and the lasting impression his Dominican expertise has had on his life and profession. 

Q: When did you develop an curiosity in pictures?
A: In my first yr at Dominican, in Rod Laursen’s picture class. 

Q:  Did you research pictures whereas majoring in artwork? If so, what had been your favourite topics then (e.g., folks, landscapes, and so forth.)?
A: Yes, I used to be focused on post-war Japanese pictures, deconstructing the medium, highlighting its materiality and ambiguity. I used to be additionally pondering quite a bit about summary expressionism.

Q:  Where did you attend highschool? How did you initially hear about Dominican? Why did you determine to attend Dominican?
A: I went to a small constitution faculty known as Shenandoah (it would not exist anymore). It was fairly completely different from conventional excessive faculties. Project-based and largely about impartial research. I went to group faculty on Monday and Wednesday, interned at an auto store on Tuesday and Thursday, and went to highschool on Fridays. Pretty autonomous expertise, emphasizing self-initiative and real-world expertise. I’m unsure how I discovered Dominican, however the small class measurement, location, campus, and monetary help bundle had been the deciding components. For me, Dominican was cheaper than any CA public college.

Q: What was your first pictures job/fee?
A: Hmm, the primary jobs had been issues like capturing white water rafting on the American River, or photographing art work for galleries or artists. First fee was for The New York Times in 2020, a narrative known as “Buyer’s Remorse.”

Q: Is there one fee/picture task that modified your profession?
A: Maybe, in 2022, I shot a trend editorial for a Paris journal known as King Kong. I put two fashions in a rural pond in Cape Cod and made a large papier-mache pond monster (suppose Nessie) that ate them. The images aren’t my greatest, however the shoot was so sudden within the trend world-I acquired loads of traction from it, particularly in Europe. It was additionally a second that clarified for me that my small-town upbringing introduced a refreshing perspective to the business. 

Q: Where has your work been printed?
A: Cape Cod Compass, GQ, Vogue, Paper Magazine, Tank Magazine, King Kong, The New York Times, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal.

Q: What makes an excellent picture?
A: It needs to be one thing we’ve not seen earlier than. There additionally needs to be a crux, what’s the level of the image, what’s the image asking?

Q: What recommendation would you’ve gotten for college kids focused on a pictures profession?
A: Ask your self, what are you doing that nobody else is? Stick to 1 software for so long as you possibly can and grasp it, do not overcomplicate something, get to the purpose. Move to a metropolis with a photograph business and help photographers on shoots, meet as many individuals as doable, open each door you see. 

Q: You had been concerned with Dominican’s Service-Learning (SL) program, working at Kids Club within the Canal neighborhood, and serving as an EDJE scholar. How did SL show you how to develop as a pupil? What lasting impression has SL had in your life and profession?
A: Kids Club was nice for me. It was at a very laborious time in my life — my dad had simply died. Working with children was new to me, as was educating artwork. It was very difficult; I needed to develop loads of fast pondering to be responsive and real. The subsequent yr, I labored in the identical facility as an afterschool tutor/mentor with children from the identical group. I’m not likely a child particular person, so it was laborious work for me, however every day was clearly vastly impactful to the youngsters. I typically take into consideration working in that group; not like my job as we speak, I actually felt like I used to be making a distinction on the earth.

Q: What reminiscences of Dominican – maybe favourite lessons or locations both on campus or in Marin – would you wish to share?
A: Oh, there are some gems. I as soon as slept on the garden in entrance of Meadowlands as a result of I needed to observe the celebs. I used to be with some associates, we did not make it via the entire night time, I am unable to keep in mind why — possibly the sprinklers got here on? I cherished exploring Marin. I turned an avid bicycle owner at Dominican and liked discovering each hidden again highway and path, winding up the hills via eucalyptus groves and down into redwood valleys. Fairfax and West Marin had been treasures, too. 

Q: What a part of the Dominican campus would you like to {photograph}?
A: This is an effective query. You know, within the library, there may be an archive of Ansel Adams pictures he took at Dominican? Sisters and a few of the structure. I acquired to have a look at it as soon as. Hmm, possibly the Sisters’ backyard — I by no means acquired to see it.

_{Photo credit score: Kenyon Anderson}