By Elijah Mckenzie

French novelist Alexandre Dumas once wrote, “All for one, one for all, that is our device,” in his famous book, “The Three Musketeers.” For the Photographic Alliance, an up-and-coming Recognized Student Organization, this passage rings all too true.

Devoted to photography, community outreach and artistic integrity, the members of the Photographic Alliance rely heavily on the participation of a diverse student body. The thought is that all students of all backgrounds will bring a unique artistic perspective to the RSO.

“Many students with a wide range of majors and career goals join the Alliance because of their shared love for photography,” said Sarah Davis, a senior photography major and current president of the Photographic Alliance. “I think having students in the group that are non-art majors brings a whole new set of eyes and ideas to the table.”

However, this vision of unity and artistic freedom did not grow out of nowhere. The group first began with feedback and support from Mitch Eckert, associate professor of art and photography. Eckert currently serves as the adviser for the group and has been with the Alliance since day one.

“Professor Eckert really helped encourage us to bring our passion for photography outside the four walls of the classroom,” said Megan Imel, a senior fine arts major and vice president of the Alliance. “He was the one who got us all together and pushed us with ideas on how to get involved with the community.”

The Photographic Alliance did just that.

In an effort to expand their reach beyond campus and into the city, the Alliance raised enough money to implement a community outreach project at the Americana Community Center, a nonprofit organization that reaches out to Louisville’s refugee population.

Members of the Alliance taught the children of Americana Community Center how to create cyanotype prints, offering them a small glimpse into the world of photography.

“The activity was simple enough that the kids were able to do it easily, but educational enough that they learned something new along the way,” said Crystal Ludwick, a senior photography major and treasurer for the Photographic Alliance. “Most of the kids didn’t think they were going to like the activity, but after their prints developed, they were excited to show it to all their friends.”

This venture marked the Alliance’s first community project of the year. But the group also lends some time to showcase their talent, as well as build camaraderie among the members.

In their debut show as an official RSO, the Photographic Alliance held a free art exhibit for the public at Rouge Noir Gallery on East Market Street, further pushing the Alliance to the forefront of Louisville’s art scene.

However, the Photographic Alliance is more than just exhibits and volunteering. The group is committed to developing the creative talent of its members. One such method is called a photographic shootout.

“We have eight-hour shootout events where the members get together and a panel of judges assigns us a theme of what to look for in shooting photos,” said Davis. “We then go around the city and do some impromptu photography. At the end, the members return to the judges and present their work for criticism.”

In this way, the RSO proves that their main focus is centered on helping their fellow students become better photographers. In their shared love of photography, the Photographic Alliance is all for one and one for all. That is their device.

For more information about the Photographic Alliance and how to get involved, e-mail [email protected].