Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. I’ve always been drawn to the middle. I mean, after all, there are only so many ways to start and so many ways to wrap things up. But in the middle . . . that’s where the interesting stuff happens. When I take a photograph, it’s like capturing that middle for an instant. In a good shot, it’s a story unto itself, and you find it doesn’t need a beginning or an end.
My beginning—and I don’t mean the beginning like when I was just a twinkle in my father’s eye—my beginning as a photographer started in a photojournalism class in Iowa. Although I’d been taking pictures for some time, this is when I transitioned from a picture taker to a photographer: I learned to tell a story with a photo. And I ended up getting a degree, well two, actually.
My middle? Well, I’m in it. Working as a documentary photographer in and around my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to commercial and editorial shoots for local businesses and Madison Magazine, I photograph everyday people and the special moments in their lives—their beginnings (my favorite thing to shoot is childbirths), middles (weddings, birthday celebrations, portraits), and ends (retirement parties, graduations).
My end? Right now, I can’t imagine not being behind the lens, but I also imagine owning an alpaca farm someday, and I’m not sure how the two might converge. Between now and then, I’m sure I’ll have my hands on the camera, documenting people, places, and events—and helping to tell their stories.
Education Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, emphasis in Photography (University of Iowa)
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (University of Iowa)
Internships and Work The Daily Iowan (Iowa City, Iowa)
Peter Turnley (Paris, France)
Eddie Adams (Jeffersonville, New York)
VII Photo Agency (Brooklyn, New York)
Lauren Greenfield Photography (Venice, California)
Gallery Showings Shadow Armada (Goodman Center, Madison, Wisconsin)
Capturing Day One (Goodman Center, Madison, Wisconsin) Shadow Armada (Firefly Coffeehouse, Oregon, Wisconsin)
Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. I’ve always been drawn to the middle. I mean, after all, there are only so many ways to start and so many ways to wrap things up. But in the middle . . . that’s where the interesting stuff happens. When I take a photograph, it’s like capturing that middle for an instant. In a good shot, it’s a story unto itself, and you find it doesn’t need a beginning or an end.
My beginning—and I don’t mean the beginning like when I was just a twinkle in my father’s eye—my beginning as a photographer started in a photojournalism class in Iowa. Although I’d been taking pictures for some time, this is when I transitioned from a picture taker to a photographer: I learned to tell a story with a photo. And I ended up getting a degree, well two, actually.
My middle? Well, I’m in it. Working as a documentary photographer in and around my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to commercial and editorial shoots for local businesses and Madison Magazine, I photograph everyday people and the special moments in their lives—their beginnings (my favorite thing to shoot is childbirths), middles (weddings, birthday celebrations, portraits), and ends (retirement parties, graduations).
My end? Right now, I can’t imagine not being behind the lens, but I also imagine owning an alpaca farm someday, and I’m not sure how the two might converge. Between now and then, I’m sure I’ll have my hands on the camera, documenting people, places, and events—and helping to tell their stories.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, emphasis in Photography (University of Iowa)
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (University of Iowa)
Internships and Work
The Daily Iowan (Iowa City, Iowa)
Peter Turnley (Paris, France)
Eddie Adams (Jeffersonville, New York)
VII Photo Agency (Brooklyn, New York)
Lauren Greenfield Photography (Venice, California)
Gallery Showings
Shadow Armada (Goodman Center, Madison, Wisconsin)
Capturing Day One (Goodman Center, Madison, Wisconsin)
Shadow Armada (Firefly Coffeehouse, Oregon, Wisconsin)
Selected Client List
Madison Magazine
Grow Magazine
Oregon Marching and Athletics Art Program
Token Creek Eco Inn
CraftOptics
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County
Cricket Design Works
Additional references available upon request
email: beth@bethskogen.com | tele: 608.575.8207
[Image of me taken by Jolene of Arbor Photographics.]