Algonquin Photography Students’ Work Featured in CollegesOntario.org Offices

Algonquin College photography students Alex Pomnikow and Sarah Boni will have their images featured in the Toronto offices of CollegesOntario.org.

A representative from Colleges Ontario attended the 39thAnnual Algonquin Photography Exhibition on April 30 looking to purchase images from graduates and students to decorate the Toronto offices, and liked Alex’s photograph of a Rwandan child and Sarah’s photograph of pouring water. This was a pleasant surprise for Alex, who didn’t know about the representative at the exhibition or that his photograph was being considered.

Alex’s photograph was taken two years ago in Kigali, Rwanda. He spent the summer of 2010 travelling through different parts of Africa and spent two weeks in Rwanda. “In Kigali I found One Love Club, a hostel and nonprofit organization that makes prosthetic limbs for victims of the 1994 genocide,” says Alex. “During my time at One Love Club, I befriended one of the owners and he brought me to see where he grew up, in the slum just outside of the hostel’s walls.” Alex was given permission to photograph anything he wanted along the way, and this is where he found the girl.

Photo Courtesy of Alex Pomnikow

Alex is currently working as a freelance assistant in Toronto. His advice to future and current students is to have fun and take advantage of all the resources the photography program makes available.

“We were given an abundant amount of gear and resources to use, play, and experiment with. Our teachers were just as big, if not a bigger resource and reason for my success. They have so much knowledge and industry experience and act as mentors as opposed to educators,” says Alex. “They were there day or night for school-related issues or just to listen. Talk to them, because you never know what or who they may know. My Algonquin photography diploma would have been impossible without them.”

Sarah has received a lot of positive feedback about her photograph and feels thrilled and honoured to have it selected by Colleges Ontario. “In terms of my career, it means I am on the right path,” says Sarah.

Her image was photographed in one of the studios at Algonquin College. “The final image didn’t come together all at once,” says Sarah. “Over the course of the semester I took images that had certain elements I found attractive and gradually pieced them together until I was able to visualize the final piece you see now.”

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Boni

Sarah’s advice for students echoes Alex’s thoughts. “Use all the resources available to you here at the College. The faculty in the photography program are top notch and passionate about the field and student success. Take full advantage of that and the equipment available to you while you are here. Take the time to experiment and don’t limit yourself.”

Galleries to Alex and Sarah’s work can be found on their websites, alexanderpomnikow.com andflickr.com/photos/eurosportk9.