SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: Danielle Van Winkle
By Jeanne Kim,
BlueDevilHUB.com Editor–
In the midst of the high school hustle and bustle, many students strive to find hobbies they are passionate about and would consider pursuing later in life. Sophomore Danielle Van Winkle found her passion by chance.
“I started photography around the beginning of eighth grade looking for a creative outlet, not realizing how much I’d fall in love with it,” Van Winkle said.
She started to venture into the art of photography, and by ninth grade began opening up to a larger crowd on Instagram. To her, Instagram is a platform to improve as a photographer and exchange critiques and compliments on her photos.
“I’ve gotten to the point now where I’m shooting so frequently and pushing myself so much that it feels like a full time job,” Van Winkle said. “I don’t mind though because if I put in enough hours it pays for itself and it’s what I love to do.”
Her current Instagram account, @bellumrosarium, has 11,600 followers and more than 300 photos.
“I wasn’t really planning on it growing to the size it is now, but it’s nice to have people supporting me and encouraging me to create more,” she said.
Not only has Van Winkle been recognized as a photographer with stunning talent on Instagram, but she has also gotten encouraging feedback from Paris College of Art and Rochester Institute of Technology during her recent visit to National Portfolio Day in San Francisco.
“I’m planning on attending again next year to receive more advice and constructive criticism to better prepare me for my future in photography,” Van Winkle said.
Van Winkle usually photographs people, but enjoys taking pictures of just about anything.
“I photograph people mainly because I find them interesting, but my photography ‘genre’ in general varies quite a bit,” she said.
She particularly enjoys indulging in fashion photography and classic portraiture. In addition, she is fond of venturing with conceptual photography and film.
Van Winkle says most of her inspiration comes from music.
“Often when I’m trying to come up with concepts or vibes for a shoot I’ll listen to music and find the one line that really sticks out to me,” she said. “I then use that line as kind of a building block to create the rest of my concept.”
In addition to ideas and inspiration from music, photographers such as Alex Stoddard and Chuck Lang influence her work.
“ [Stoddard] has definitely influenced my conceptual photography as far as the dark tones and the wider-framed composition. Lang more influenced my fashion photography and my play with direct lighting,” she said.
Although taking photos takes time and lots of planning, Van Winkle thoroughly enjoys every second of it.
“Photography and just the process of going on shoots is really fun and addicting to me,” she said. “It’s refreshing to be able to take a break from school or whatever else is going on and create something new.”
