Taisha Rudoski is a young artist who is capturing images of the world around her in a very modern way, through the camera lens of her Blackberry® cellphone.
Rudoski said when she first got her Blackberry it was not with the idea of taking photographs, but one day she was fooling around with it and found the camera, adding she likes the quality of photograph it takes.
"It changed everything I'm very, very happy to use it," she said, adding it may be a cellphone camera but it "still shoots in very large format."
Rudoski, who currently has a collection of her photography hanging at the Godfrey Dean Gallery in Yorkton, said she is not hung up on the technical aspects of the Blackberry versus a digital camera.
"I don't get into the techy stuff, I shoot pictures," she said. " I take pictures because I like them."
Rudoski said while she has had an interest in art her entire life, her budding interest in photography is a relatively new one.
"I draw. That's what I've done since I was little," she said. " I've always loved art of any kind."
But a few months ago Rudoski said she snapped a picture with her cellphone, an almost fluke occurrence, and she immediately realized she had found a new way "to express myself better."
Rudoski said she found photography could fulfill her artistic visions in a way she appreciates more than what she did with pencils and paints.
"When I have an idea in my head with the right objects I can bring it to life," he said.
For Rudoski her photography is often focused on still lifes to bring such visions to life because that is where she said she is most happy with a camera.
"Nature's OK, but I feel it's very boring," she said.
"A single candle can be so pretty Any inanimate object makes for a really good picture."
In terms of still lifes Rudoski finds interesting in what many might see as the mundane things of life, such as taking pictures of food.
"I find it much more interesting than nature," she said, adding "food has been used in celebration for years and years and years, so I figure why not capture it."
When not working with still lifes, Rudoski likes to take photos of people.
"I like photographing people. I love people, their expressions, the way they look -- their eyes especially," she said. " Everyone's faces are different. I think a simple pose can say so much."
Rudoski said when it comes to taking people pictures, she likes a classic look.
"I like classy photos, black and whites," she said.
One of Rudoski favourite portraits has her sister Alyssa holding a red candy apple, the apple's colour a bright contrast to the female figure.
In general terms Rudoski said she prefers shooting women because make-up, hair style and jewelry all add to making unique looks.
"Men are just men, hairy, scruffy beasts," she said.
In general terms Rudoski said she tends to look at the world a bit differently than most, regardless of what she focuses the camera on.
"They're a bit on the dark side. It's not that they're depressing. They're simply dark images," she said. " I do want people to see a different side of photography."
As a result the artist admitted she was "not sure what people will see."
Rudoski said she doesn't label her photographs with names because "I want people to feel what they feel from what they see
"I want people to come with open minds."
Rudoski said in the end she takes photographs of things which interest her. She is not looking to please the masses. That said she did go looking for a possible public avenue to show off her art, visiting the local gallery.
"I just started asking some questions," she said, adding Gallery director Don Stein, "wanted to see my pictures.
"Shockingly enough he was quite interested in my work." More of Rudoski's work can be seen at www.pmyphoto.com
Rudoski said having her first show will be an experience, especially since she admitted, "I don't like talking about myself." As a result three days prior to the Show's opening reception Sunday she said, "right now I'm very, very scared and terrified," although there was excitement too.
And the works are for sale, although to-date that hasn't happened.
"I haven't had anyone offer to buy one yet," he said, adding it would be great to have people wanting her works.
"One day I'd like to pursue a career in it. I've always wanted to live that artistic life. It's been a dream of mine since I was a little girl."
But if that doesn't happen the photographs will still be taken.
Rudoski said she has become an avid photographer, but it will be with her Blackberry, at least in the foreseeable future.
"I know there's big, expensive cameras out there, and everybody encourages me to get one," she said.
But she added she likes the Blackberry.
"It's always with me. It's always in my pocket," she said, adding when she sees something which intrigues her artistically " it's with me."
As an artist Rudoski likes the spontaneity the always at-hand Blackberry allows since she tends to let artistic inspiration come to her of its own accord.
"I let it happen. I don't go searching for stuff. I let it find me," she said, adding "it's usually in the evening I'm most creative, I see things for what they are."
Rudoski's works hang at the GDG until April 29.
