Capturing images of aesthetic value

LIBERTY, NY — In the quiet, dimly lit recesses of the darkroom at Liberty High School, Amber Miller’s photographs come to life as she methodically develops them according to the precepts of her former photography teacher, Linda Berkowicz.

Miller, a senior, has resumed her advanced studies with Kathleen Lambert, who took over the photography classes after Berkowicz retired this past June.

Miller’s photographs are riveting. Far from straightforward images of people or places, her pictures are evocative compositions of subject, angle and light. Armed with her camera and a fascination with human faces, Miller sees the world as a series of still frames to be composed using her instinct and the vision Berkowicz imparted to her.

Photography, as an aesthetic venture, bears little resemblance to modern-day point-and-shoot digital technology, which, some people might assume, has made taking pictures with 35-millimeter manual cameras an arcane endeavor. Discussions of F-stops, aperture and shutter speed are lost on most people who take pictures nowadays.

That’s not to say that digital cameras haven’t incited a quantum leap forward in photography and that they can’t be used artistically. It’s just that, for many people, using them has nothing to do with understanding how a camera works or how to create a photograph that is more than just a picture.

Miller’s mom, Regina, has always loved photography and took many pictures of events. “I caught the bug when I was about 10 and started using my mom’s Yashica,” Regina said.

How important was it for Amber to get her own camera? “I chose to get a Canon Rebel T-1 instead of having a sweet-sixteen party,” she said.

Amber is the youngest of the family’s four children, all of whom she characterizes as artistic, especially her brother Dennis. “I used to draw, and I have taken many art classes,” she said. Miller has never abandoned her talents in the other visual arts. But photography is time-consuming and a far greater interest for her.

Berkowicz knew she had a talented photographer in Miller, even when the fledgling photographer was just starting out in Photo I. Over the past two years Berkowicz selected a number of her photos to be displayed in “Teen Amphibian: The Journal for Teens by Teens,” published by The River Reporter. Miller’s charming photo of an adorable young man caught in the act of yawning made its debut in Miller’s sophomore year.

Subsequently, images of a stone bridge, a striking close-up of a violin—which she regards as her favorite—and numerous images of her friend, Kate DeMayo, came to grace the pages of subsequent “Amphibian” issues. Much of Miller’s photography can be viewed at amphibianonline.com.

Miller’s interest in photography is part of the reason she will be attending the State University of New York at Plattsburgh next year, where she plans to study photography and international relations. Planning to travel abroad, Miller feels as if her skills as a photographer will add a positive dimension to her career.

Her artistic life is not limited to her sense of sight. She is also a talented violist who plays with the Liberty orchestra. “Instruments are so beautiful, especially how they’re made,” Miller said. She loves the form and sound of the violin, which inspired her iconic photograph of the instrument.

A three-sport athlete who is currently enjoying playing varsity basketball, coached by Tom LaGattuta, Miller is unfazed by the team’s less-than-daunting record. “Coach LaGattuta is so much fun. He’s a great teacher,” she said.

Miller also plays soccer and softball. She has played all three sports since seventh grade. Twelfth in her class, captain of the school’s SCIL team and a member of the National Honor Society, there are as many dimensions to the person Miller as there are to her photographs.

This week’s youth in focus sees the world through the unique perspective of her lens and affords us a view that is reflective, revealing and pure.

To see additional photos by Amber Miller visit www.riverreporter.com.