When location scouting for the shoots, Dean looked to the environments of his childhood for inspiration; the feeling evolved by his growing up in the working-class town of Birkenhead in Merseyside. “When selecting locations to backdrop my images I look for somewhere familiar and most often residential, inspired by memories of adolescence, and to evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity,” Dean says. “I don’t feel as interested or as inspired when shooting anywhere else.” In terms of style, the only variable from shoot to shoot was the styling casting, allowing Dean to focus primarily on the work of the students. Some of the student’s work related directly back to projects they were working on at university, while others were completely unique. Subject matters and themes throughout range from heritage, queerness and gender nonconformity, as well as contemporary and nostalgic references to style trends including kitsch, punks, cowboys, cricket players and early 2000s pop stars.

One shoot inspired by the student’s Northern Irish homeland is that of James Robinson’s, which delves into symbols and icons from leprechauns to shamrocks. In one image, the model stands in the gateway to a house adorned in a shamrock headpiece, with a jumper tied to give the “illusion” of a stem. The model also dons a pair of O’Neils shorts – a nod to actor Paul Mescal’s popularising of the Galic football sportswear. “There’s a comedic aspect to James’ work which aligns with his own humour,” says Dean. “Integral to the programme’s teaching is how we can embed our identity and experiences into our work, and in this project James brought these aspects together perfectly.”

Another project that resonated with Dean was Chloe Marshall’s shoot, with her references being most aligned to Dean’s appreciation of early 2000s pop culture. Chloe worked from Dami Lovato’s quote “who said I can’t wear my Converse with my dress”, looking to figures like Avril Levinge and Lily Allen, and paying homage to institutions like Claire’s Accessories. For Dean, “the models captured the spirit of a bygone era and this image puts me back there whenever I look at it”.

Being such a joy to create, Dean hopes that Star Potential ignites similar feelings in the audience. Moreover, he hopes that the overall approach pushes people to encourage “creative thinking” in the fashion world. “All too often when less conventional fashion is presented the dialogue shifts to how it could be worn in an everyday setting, or sold. This project’s styling is not about commerce but rather creativity.” Last but not least, Dean wants to inspire new methods of teaching that are less “passive”, fostering greater alignment between lecturer and student.

BRATTLEBORO — In-Sight Photography Project announces its first Youth Photo Contest & Fair.

For 30 years, In-Sight Photography Project has been nurturing the creativity of young artists in the Brattleboro community and across the country.

“Seeing an opportunity to give young artists an opportunity to have their work exhibited in the community and seen by professionals in the field, this year instead of our Annual Benefit Art Auction, we made a choice to ask the community to support an event that will directly benefit and promote our talented youth,” says Emily Wagner, executive director, Insight Photography Project.

The competition is open to youth 11 to 18 who live within an hour of Brattleboro. Contestants are invited to submit one image in each of the following categories: Analog Film, Artistic, People, Places, and The New England Experience. The deadline to submit images is Aug. 20. Images submitted into the contest will be exhibited in In-Sight’s gallery on September 1st through October 6th. Three winning images in each category will be selected by a jury panel to win awards in each category. The top award being a DSLR camera kit. Submissions are open now.

Cathy Cone, esteemed photographer and long-time In-Sight supporter, whose works are in the collections of IBM, Hallmark Fine Art Collections, American Express, among others, is the event’s honorary chair. As a long-time supporter of In-Sight and its students, Cathy says this is an opportunity for the community to encourage and help guide a young photographer’s dreams, especially now when the visual arts are so much in demand. She and In-Sight are convening a blue-ribbon jury panel, along with a “red-carpet” award’s ceremony and photo fair to include a display of the submitted images, a photo booth, games, and more that will take place at The Latchis Theater on September 30th.

In-Sight’s board of directors vice-chair and local photographer, Rachel Portesi, has helped Cathy assemble the jury panel. The jury panel includes a mix of local and national photographers, including: Cathy Cone, Rachel Portesi, Jon Gitelson (Keene State College), Michael Kirchoff (Analog Forever Magazine), Joan O’Beirne (Greenfield Community College), Geoffery Peckham (Tusen Takk Foundation), Dale Rio (The Halide Project), Aline Smithson (Lenscratch Magazine), Vaune Tractman (Olcott Family Award/ The Print Center’s Annual International Competition), and Tim Trelease (Deerfield Academy). Additionally, viewers of the virtual show will be able to vote for one contest participant to win a “People’s Choice Award.”

Most photography contests require entrance fees, but this competition is entirely free to youth thanks to the help of the community. In-Sight’s Youth Photo Contest & Fair has already received support from a growing list of individuals and businesses including Vermont Center for Photography, 802 Credit Union, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Members’ First Credit Union, The Richards Group, Trust Company of Vermont and the Brattleboro Reformer.

From its humble beginnings in the Brattleboro Teen Club, In-Sight’s programs have always uplifted youth to use photography as an expressive medium and language. Throughout our history we’ve offered an incredible breadth of programming, such as the Exposures Cross Cultural Program that brought youth from different cultures together to the current Photo Team Program specifically designed to help youth explore professional pathways. In-Sight’s approach to photography is to foster personal expression, artistic growth, and self-confidence.

In-Sight’s mission is to create opportunities for youth to learn and use the photographic arts as a technical and expressive medium fostering personal development and cultural engagement. In our vision all youth have equitable access to opportunities to express their creativity in the photographic arts in a learning environment and curriculum that supports the diversity of individuals, communities, and cultures. The programming includes core classes in analog film and digital photography, after school partnership programs, a Photo Team, and an Artist Residency. All of these classes are fully accessible through our sliding scale fee structure and all equipment is provided.

For more information you can visit our website, insightphotography.org, or call 802-251-9960.