ISU Mind’s Eye ‘An Ordinary Day’ exhibit displays 24-hour photographic portrait of Pocatello, Chubbuck

Two-dozen students in Idaho State University Associate Professor Tom Terry’s photojournalism course spent Wednesday, March 10, fanning across Pocatello and Chubbuck in the darkness, the daylight and the winds. The results of their 24-hour photographic portrait of the two towns will be showcased at the Mind’s Eye Gallery in the Rendezvous Complex on the ISU campus throughout May.

The show’s title is “An Ordinary Day,” because, according to Terry, the day was selected and the assignment designed to just capture whatever was going on that day. A reception will be held to launch the show on Monday, May 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the gallery.

“The emphasis is just on life, not catastrophe or special occasions or news events. Just what was going on during a representative day,” Terry said.

Thirty-three photographs, at least one by each of the participating photojournalism students, will be displayed.

“The results were spectacular,” Terry explained. “Truly remarkable. Some students didn’t sleep at all for nearly 48 hours and the results are poignant, beautiful, gritty, and inspired.”

Terry’s course focused on using photography as a tool of journalism.

“It is about the profound effects that the visual image can produce, either through political change or by altering attitudes. Photojournalism isn’t about art or beauty – though some of the photos are gorgeous – it is about making a difference,” Terry stressed.

“There were students who had never picked up a camera and delivered startling images,” continued Terry. “And there were students who have been working in photography for years and produced amazing things, building on their earlier experience. As a teacher, it was a deeply satisfying project.

“And for observers and historians of Pocatello, Chubbuck and ISU, these student photojournalists produced a very important cultural document.”

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