ENLIGHTEN
PROJECT
A FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
BY CARYN ESPLIN FOR BYU–IDAHO
SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE
Europe
(Click on the links below to view content)
Purpose of the Enlighten Project
CARYN ESPLIN – Visual Communication & Photography Instructor
I enjoy using varied photographic tools and lighting techniques to share my visual stories. I invite you to learn more about my Enlighten Project by visiting the pages of this website.
The effect of light and shadow shapes our experiences and impacts us in so many ways. I remember how the fading sunset added a pastel glow to the horizon as I watched from a cliff above the ocean near Cassis, France, just as the village lights appeared to define the streets and coastline. I was enthralled with how the candlelight lit the faces of two young monks and produced intriguing shadows on the crumbling Buddhist statues as they studied in an ancient pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar. I enjoyed painting light from my flashlight at night to illuminate an old, blue Vespa parked next to pots of colorful flowers lining an old Tuscan wall near the medieval city of San Gimignano, Italy. I recall the musky smells and angled skylight settling on an elderly man as he meditated in his basement smoking room, puffing on a homemade pipe in in the ancient village of Daxu, China.
My studies as a BYU-Idaho college visual communication professor regarding Chiaroscuro lighting effects have greatly impacted the visual stories I tell in this Enlighten Project. Chiaroscuro is an Italian term describing the contrasting use of light and shadow. Shadows are vital to tell a fascinating visual story. The shadows of a scene can define and sculpt the areas of light as they draw the eye to the focal point. I love to capture environmental portraits and I find most people are willing to openly share their stories if they feel you are genuinely interested and respectful in your approach. I start conversations by sharing samples of my past visual stories I explain how much my students and friends enjoy learning about their lives, culture and history.
I hope you feel enlightened as you experience these stories about the friendly people, intriguing cultures and gorgeous landscapes from the locations I have visited over a number of years. I am grateful to BYU–Idaho for partially sponsoring this joint Enlighten Project as I have conducted research to develop my professional skills and new materials for the visual communication students I teach and love. I want to thank my student assistants who have assisted me over the years. I will continue adding content and would love to hear your feedback so feel free to connect with me through email, Facebook or my website. Click here for my contact information.
Follow me on YouTube at www.carynesplin.com/youtube or on Instagram @carynesplinphoto or at www.instagram.com/carynesplinphoto or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cesplin for free photo tips and more adventures as we discover new people, cultures and landscapes.
PEOPLE
The highlight of my Enlighten Tours is making connections with so many intriguing people! I thoroughly enjoy interacting with the locals working in the pastry shop, selling heirlooms at the flea market, or playing the accordion in the plaza. Most of the people I met were genuinely curious about my Enlighten project. When they could see I wanted to understand and share their stories, they were eager to help me learn about their culture and history. The people and their stories have truly become the “LIGHT” of my Enlighten Tours.
Culture
The patchwork of unique cultures makes each charming village or bustling city a fascinating new discovery. The customs, food, art, and history of each country I have visited are surprisingly varied even when borders are close. Once common thread I found was how much people respect their own heritage and culture. Most people love to share stories of their ancestors and history. It was fascinating to learn about the culture of each region through my preliminary studies and by traveling to learn from the people and the places they live.
LANDSCAPE
In addition to taking photos and videos of the fascinating people and rich cultures, I enjoy capturing the landscapes, architecture and natural features on each of my Enlighten tours. The varied landscapes are inviting and beautiful. I enjoy looking out across the rolling hills of Tuscany just as much as exploring the pagodas of Myanmar. I try to notice what makes each place unique and highlight those features. I have learned to set up flexible travel plans to accommodate unexpected scenery and spectacular golden hour light.