Monday, October 20, 2008
Melissa Madison Fuller stood among the crowd to snap pictures of The Flaming Lips at the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival. Her camera restlessly followed the lead singer, Wayne Coyne, amid bright, wielding flashlights.
“It’s one of the most intense experiences,” said Fuller, a 2008 graduate from Ottawa. “I was completely absorbed into this brilliant, beautiful man.”
CONTRIBUTED
Melissa Madison Fuller, 2008 graduate, shows her photograph, "A Flaming Lip," which was chosen to appear on the cover of JPG Magazine. The photograph of the lead singer of The Flaming Lips was taken at the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival.
Four months later, her picture, “A Flaming Lip,” appeared on the cover of JPG Magazine, a photography magazine published in San Francisco. JPG Magazine has ties to an online community site and features pictures contributed to the Web site from its members.
Laura Brunow Minor, JPG Magazine’s editor in chief and 2003 graduate and KU alumna, said Fuller’s picture was selected among 20,000 photos submitted to the online community site for the October-November 2008 issue.
“It stood out to me from the first time I saw it as a rare capture of the energy and excitement that can be found at a live music show,” Minor said.
Fuller said she was shocked when she found out the news.
“My brother and I were outside screaming,” Fuller said.
Fuller has taken pictures since she was in high school. She said she enjoyed taking pictures of her friends and family the most.
“I want to capture the beautiful, intimate moment that people love each other, and that convinces you that they are happy,” Fuller said.
Her camera captures scenes of everyday life of people around her. Some pictures just depict her friends hanging around in an apartment kitchen. She watches people and releases a shutter when she finds an expression or moment that will stand out in people’s memories.
“I could shape the way my children and my friends’ children think about what our life is like,” Fuller said.
Fuller also made small trips near Lawrence to take pictures while she was studying at the University of Kansas. She drove around the country and photographed her friends in a grassland or by a lake.
“It’s such a good reason to explore,” Fuller said.
She said during her driving she also found places like abandoned schools and houses, which turned out to be her favorite places to photograph. She said one of the weirdest places she visited was a missile silo located in south Lawrence.
Fuller also said photography allowed her to the meet many people she sought for different photo opportunities.
“It’s a cool way to connect with people. I build relationships out of nothing. I make friends because of photography,” Fuller said.
She graduated from the University in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She moved to Nashville, Tenn, and now tries to build her career, which now consists of taking band photography and portraits. Her camera follows people wherever she goes.
Jordan Ryan, Salina senior, and one of Fuller’s friends, said she always enjoyed getting photographed by Fuller.
“She’s very passionate and curious about the world,” Ryan said. “She’s not settling for mediocre things in her life. She always creates photos that speak to her.”
Profile: Student learns early to overcome adversity
Golden Moment
Win or lose, Rich Clarkson enjoys every Final Four, and he hasn’t ...
Portrait of the Artist
The self-portaiture of KU student Alex Moore.
Tomorrow's news: Candid Photography Services
Photographic memories
Dan Smith sits down with friends at the Replay Lounge. His friends, ...
Camera phones lead to decline in party ...
Australian captures city's beauty
As someone who hasn't grown up anywhere near Lawrence and doesn't take ...
Wakarusa Wrap-Up
Four bands and a student discuss their experiences at this year’s Wakarusa ...
Amateur photographer has professional-looking work
After only 18 months as a photographer, Alan Ginsberg’s collection is on ...
Do This: Boudoir Photography
Capture your self-confidence in 1,000 words.
Photojournalist shows work at Spencer Art
Stephen Williams encourages students to bring their own photos to share.
Kansas Public Radio displays students’ art
For about a month now, Kansas Public Radio has asked listeners to ...
Graduate uses photos to save lives
Former student holds competition to raise money for wells in Africa.
Alumna in running to be first ‘green ...
Juliana Tran will find out tonight whether she has won Project Green ...
Founding father of Rolling Stone reflects on ...
Baron Wolman discusses how his time as a Rolling Stone photojournalist profoundly ...
Organization provides internships abroad
Ashlee Crowl has traveled all over Europe, and thanks to a student-run ...
Party photos on display
The art of making money
Even with the economy in turmoil, KU students prove there’s still a ...
Cameras on campus offer increased safety
University photographer’s work goes on display in ...
After traveling to over 30 countries in his life, University photographer Pok ...
Photo studio aims for alternative glamour
Bombshell shoots and styles pictures to mimic classic pinups.
Student competes for clean water for South ...
100 percent of photo competition entry fees will help fund the building ...
International students arrive, learn
Profiles of Candidates
Wakarusa Blogging
Can't make it to Wakarusa? We've got you covered. Bryan Cisler is ...
100 Strangers help to meet new people
Students use Internet project to find new ways to interact with people
Student film hits international scene
Sandra Ristovska created a film about how globalization and modernization have affected ...
Learn what others found out hard way: ...
Welcome to the World of 'You'
Move over Facebook, step aside MySpace: a new online community called YouTube ...
Lawrence packs a paranormal punch
Despite not being included in most haunted list, Lawrence has a ghostly ...
Web site attracts students for Obama stencils
Students visit yeswecarve.com, a non-Obama affiliated Web site, for Obama-o-lanter stencils.
Hunting for Hauntings
KU Little publishes second issue
Student housing will distribute the magazine tonight.
Student makes Glamour's Top 10 College Women
Sarah Stern photographs her experiences in Latin America.
The Anti-Social Network
Facebook has people going green... with jealousy.
Dead student still remembered
Nicole Bingham died in the Boardwalk Apartments fire on Oct. 7, 2005. ...
Wakarusa Music Festival hits Clinton lake this ...
Prepare for four days of music and sunshine as thousands of music ...
JuicyCampus.com gives forum to anonymous posters
Anyone can log on to the site and comment about campus groups ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
KU graduate’s photo lands on magazine
Holy Sh** thats awesome!
Go Melissa!
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID