Last month, The Sunset Project was honored to announce Hannah Tracey of Ossineke, Michigan as one of six Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipients for 2024!
After the awards ceremony, we sat down with Hannah to discuss her unique story, why she applied, and what she hopes to utilize her funding for!
Can you introduce yourself quickly to those who may not know you already?
My name is Hannah Tracey, I'm from Ossineke, Michigan and my creative medium is photography.
How would you describe your creative pursuit to someone unfamiliar with it?
Photography is a medium that captures the essence of the non-fictional world around you and the fictional world within you. For the past ten years, I have been expressing myself and the feelings of the world around me with a camera.
What or who inspired you to pursue a career in this space?
I started photography as a way to capture the beauty of the nature around me. Since, it has been an outlet to express myself and my subjects. I have been truly inspired by my grandma, and by my partner Nick Lusardi to keep going and keep creating despite the circumstance.
Can you share a memorable experience or milestone from your creative journey?
One of my favorite memories was last summer, when My best friend Naomi and I went to Mackinac Island for the day to do her senior portraits. It was super nice and picturesque and set the precedent for all of my future photoshoots. It was one of the first times I felt like an adult, and a time when both Naomi and I were blissfully unaware of society.
How have challenges or setbacks shaped your approach and vision?
Not having access to my own camera at times I have a creative vision has taught me a lot of patience and responsibility. I have had to strategically plan shoots at times I have custody over the camera. It has also helped me work out my own outline for what I want to do with the photoshoot.
How do you envision your creative passion evolving over the next year?
I see myself directing my creative passion towards freelance photography, and using my campus to my advantage. I plan on financing for a fixed portrait lens within the next year. Next summer I may be living in an entirely different city with different creative goals, and I am excited to see where this takes me.
How do you plan to utilize your grant funding to further your creative journey?
I plan to use the funding to purchase a Nikon D7500, which is quite similar to the model my grandma owns, making the learning curve less steep, and giving me a great camera for both photography and videography.
What advice or message would you share with someone looking to pursue their own creative dreams?
My advice is to keep going. I know this is the most basic form of advice, but I truly mean it. If you let your setbacks and circumstances hold you back from seeking aid and pursuing your visions in full force, you will not become who you wish to be. It is the challenge faced that makes the passion behind your work as a creative so meaningful.
Are there any social media profiles, websites, or other resources where our readers can follow your journey and/or support your work?
I have three Instagram accounts that I post my photography and illustration to!
Personal Photography: @hannah._.tracey1
Professional Photography: @hmtphoto.graphy
Art: @hannah.art06
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience,
dreams, or the impact of The Sunset Project on your creative pursuits?
The Sunset Project has been instrumental in extending me aid and support during my journey in photography. It is so much easier to believe in your dreams when you have people in your corner.
I hope one day to leave a bigger impact with my photography as an activist for
humanity.
Comments