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Sportraits

Amari Smith poses for a portrait in Moore Hall on Monday, Nov. 18, 2025. Hannah Smith poses with lacrosse stick in Moore Hall on Monday, Nov. 18, 2025. Elliot Talsma, left, and Amari Smith, right, pose in their boxing gloves in Moore Hall on Monday, Nov. 18, 2025. SETUP REFLECTION This assignment was kind of challenging for me, especially when trying to come up with ideas for the models. Even though I was looking up poses online, I feel like none of them were really working h

Fashion

Central Michigan seniors Dylan Clifford, left, and Zach Hausbeck, right, pose for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Central Michigan senior Dylan Clifford poses for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Central Michigan senior Zach Hausbeck poses for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Central Michigan senior Dylan Clifford poses for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. SETUP REFLECTION This setup for this in class was kind of di

Portable Studio Portrait

Zoey Morse poses with a bag of flour and a loaf of sourdough in Moore 424, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Zoey Morse poses taking a bite out of a sourdough loaf in Moore 424, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Zoey Morse poses with all of her baking ingredients surrounding her in Moore 424, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Oct. 20, 2025. SETUP REFLECTION Setting this up was pretty easy as I h

A Closer Look at Hunger in the U.S.

Food insecurity remains a persistent issue across the United States, affecting millions of households each year. Defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food, the issue is closely tied to income, employment and cost of living. Despite ongoing efforts to reduce hunger, recent data shows that food insecurity continues to impact communities nationwide. Looking at where it occurs and how it has changed over time helps provide a clearer understanding of the issue. Sourc

crani1al

8 hours ago1 min read

37th Annual CMU Pow Wow

Central Michigan University hosted its 37th annual "Celebrating Life" Pow Wow on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, 2026, in McGuirk Arena, bringing together culture, community and tradition. Organized by a student-led committee, the weekend-long event celebrating Native American heritage through music, dance, food and crafts, drawing thousands of attendees each year. The pow wow serves as a gathering space for Indigenous communities and visitors, an opportunity to reco

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5 days ago2 min read

Where Doughnuts Bring Community

What began as an effort by nine police officers to save a historic bakery in Clare has grown into a beloved gathering place in Mount Pleasant. Cops & Doughnuts blends small-town charm with a strong sense of connection, drawing in students, early risers and longtime locals, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday. At its Mount Pleasant location, the shop has quickly become more than a stop for coffee and pastries. Regular customers fill the space daily, forming routines and rel

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6 days ago1 min read

Behind The Racks: The Daisy Mae Boutique

The Daisy Mae Boutique opened in November 2024 and is owned by Raquel Villella, who runs the shop with the help from her mom. The boutique offers trendy, affordable clothing with a focus on size inclusivity an body positivity. Villella and her mom spend their days organizing the racks, preparing and tagging clothes, while assisting customers on a daily basis. The boutique aims to create a welcoming environment where customers can find clothing that makes them feel comfortable

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Apr 21 min read

Inspiration For Generations

The Newman School of Dance continues to build a legacy rooted in family, resilience and community, as described by owner and director Jackie Harrison. Founded more than 60 years ago by Harrison's grandmother, Claudia, the studio began as a small, home-based operation after she returned from military life with her husband. At a time women face significant barriers in business, including access to loans without a cosigner, Claudia pursued her vision despite doubt from others. O

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Mar 282 min read

Posing for Portraits

When Elliana Johnson and I received this assignment we thought the Central Michigan Health Professions building would be a good spot to shoot as it has a lot of windows that let in natural light as well as very many options to take photos. With clear skies that day, we were able to take advantage of the sunlight and walk throughout the building to find areas to take photos. While shooting with my Nikon Z5 II, Elliana and I talked about our paths at CMU and where we hope they

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Mar 231 min read

Feeling the Music

Central Michigan freshman violinist Karol Lepe-Perez shares how nearly eight years of playing violin have shaped her discipline, time management and connection to music. From quiet practice rooms to emotional performances, each note reflects both hard work and feeling.

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Feb 281 min read

Carrying The Chippewa Legacy: CMU Wrestling

At Central Michigan University, wrestling is more than wins and losses. It is a legacy built over decades. When Ben Bennett became head coach, he stepped into a program shaped by 33 years under longtime coach Tom Borrelli. But Bennett is not a stranger to that tradition. He wrestled at CMU, returned as an assistant coach and spent 16 seasons learning what the Chippewa standard truly is. “It was bittersweet,” Bennett said about taking over. “But it was an honor.” In his first

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Feb 272 min read

The Competitive Distance Runner

Reflecting on his years of being a competitive distance runner, Clayton Kuiper shares how running has shaped his college experience, influenced his creativity and how he has found his community.

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Feb 201 min read

Interview with Clayton Kuiper

I was able to sit down with Central Michigan University senior Clayton Kuiper to talk about his favorite hobby or recreation. Being a competitive distance runner since sixth grade, Kuiper enjoys the feeling of the challenge.

crani1al

Feb 151 min read

Thought Piece #5

Through these last chapters the book really highlights how much responsibility falls on the editor to make intentional choices. Editing isn’t just about putting clips together, it is about constantly asking whether what is on the screen is clear, necessary and actually serving toward the story. It made me realize that a lot of my past editing decisions have been based on what I think looks good or attachment rather than clarity. Moving forward, I want to be more in the mindse

crani1al

Feb 132 min read

Thought Piece #4

Reading this part of HTSVTDS has really changed how I think about videos, especially when it comes to projects that are supports to feel read and engaging instead of overly produced. Storytelling really comes down to your intentions and restraints. A lot of the advice in the book wasn’t about doing more, it was actually about doing less and being more thoughtful about what you choose to shoot and display. That mindset is something I really want to carry into my own work, espe

crani1al

Feb 133 min read

Thought Piece #3

Reading pages 96-156 of How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck made me realize how often I rely on post-editing to fix my mistakes instead of being more intentional while shooting. Coming from a photography and photojournalism background, I am used to focusing on capturing strong individual moments, but this chapter really pushes me to think more about how shots connect and flow together in video. One idea that really stood out to me was in-camera editing. I always tend to over

crani1al

Feb 132 min read

Thought Piece #2

One of the biggest things I took away from these chapters is how much work actually needs to happen before you ever press record. I usually feel most confident once I’m already shooting, figuring things out as I go, but this reading made it really clear that good video doesn’t just happen in the moment. It starts with knowing what kind of video you’re making and what you’re trying to say. The section on genre, stood out to me because I don’t always think about it intentionall

crani1al

Feb 133 min read

Thought Piece #1

Before reading this section of the book, I didn’t really think about video as something people actively choose to watch or stop watching. I usually just focused on capturing what was happening and assumed that if the moment mattered, people would sit through it. This reading made me realize how unrealistic that mindset is. People don’t owe a video their time, even if the topic is important. If it doesn’t grab the viewers’ attention, they’re going to leave. That idea alone mad

crani1al

Feb 132 min read

Meet the Author: Alivia Cranick

When I first came to Central Michigan University, I was convinced I had my future figured out. I arrived on campus as biology major, fully expecting to become a Large Animal Veterinarian. But by the end of my very first semester, it became clear that the curriculum wasn't for me. I didn't feel connected to what I was learning and I couldn't see myself in it long term. As quick as a few changes of courses, what I could see was how much happier I was creating, observing and tel

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Jan 302 min read

Sportraits

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Nov 18, 20252 min read

Fashion

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Oct 30, 20252 min read

Portable Studio Portrait

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Oct 23, 20252 min read

Thought Piece #5

Reading pages 278-291 of The Hot Shoe Diaries, really opened my eyes to the potential of small flashes. Joe McNally’s setups in this section are impressive—they go well beyond simple off-camera speedlight tricks. From lighting the inside of a firetruck, to three-stacked speedlights for the beach shoot or surrounding an entire airplane with over 40 speedlights! These examples not only showed me what light can achieve but also shifted my mindset about planning, ambition and pay

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Oct 11, 20253 min read