A Word From Aspen
4th Place Photo Contest Winner
A Word From Aspen
4th Place Photo Contest Winner
Name: Aspen Nord
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Program: Peru 2018
When did you first get into photography?
My mom is a photographer and when I was younger she taught me the basics of lighting, exposure and all the simple things you need to know. I loved it and I would run around the house taking pictures of my sibling and random objects.
What’s your favorite type of photography?
My favorite type of photography is travel photography and architecture but I am really into film photography and old film cameras. I have been working with my grandparents old Kodak film for a while now and I have a knack for film photography and the surprise behind it all.
How do you think photography is important, if at all?
I think photography is very important, it captures history and it captures our story, the sad and the happy. I do believe in living in the moment and I will often choose to set my camera down for special moments, but I love capturing real, raw images of people living their life.
Do you plan to incorporate photography into other elements of your life?
I really hope that photography stays part of my life. I want to be a graphic designer and maybe pursue a branding job that would incorporate photography even more. I will never stop taking photos and capturing special moments.
How did your summer with VISIONS change the path you were on, if at all?
VISIONS was a huge, huge part of my summer and of my life. It was my first time out of the country and it was everything I hoped my first travel adventure would be. In seventh grade I started dreaming about travel and that’s all I’ve wanted to do since. I met so many amazing locals and new friends from the US. Every single person I met impacted my life. I think VISIONS has encouraged me to stay on the path I’m on but also opened my eyes to new opportunities. I hope to eventually come back as a VISIONS leader.
My experience also strengthened my Spanish skills, which I hope to major in in college. VISIONS gave me new courage to follow dreams that are outside of the norm and to not be afraid of obstacles. I plan on attending the UAB in Spain, a sister school to the University of Montana, to study Spanish, marketing and graphic design. I learned so many new lessons that made me a better individual and added to my personality. Thank you VISIONS for this amazing opportunity and I hope to be a student again or a leader in the future.
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