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Arts & Entertainment

Jenn Prewitt: Her Photographs Can Freak Some People Out, but She's Fine with That

Her photographs can freak some people out, but she's fine with that.

Know yourself. Understand the culture. Take risks.

Such is the advice shared by Todd Gray, a longtime professor of photography and digital imaging at Cal State Long Beach. One former student who would make Gray proud is Jenn Prewitt, a South Laguna Beach resident who received her bachelor of fine arts for photography and digital design in 2003.

Prewitt now makes her living as a freelance graphic designer under two DBAs (doing business as): JP Exposure and Jenn Prewitt Photography. Her website, jpexposure.com, showcases her talents in three separate galleries, including island culture, surf images and kids portraits. Her images, taken both above and under water, include local and international treasures, ranging from surfers at the famed Pipeline in Hawaii to a variety of still-thriving sea life to sunken treasure in the Caribbean. The well-traveled Prewitt and her Canon Mark II DS have scoured land and water in Mexico, Aruba, Hawaii, Key West and Playa del Carmen, among other exotic locales.

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But Prewitt's journey hasn't been without its share of detours and second chances. Born and raised in Laguna Beach, she began her studies at Cal State Long Beach after graduating from Laguna Beach High School. When her grades were poor and the academic life left her unfulfilled, she left college, traveled a bit abroad and moved to the Mammoth area, and then to Catalina Island, working mostly at menial jobs with little personal or financial rewards.

So after a bit of soul-searching, Prewitt returned to Cal State Long Beach in 2000 as part of the university's "repeat/delete" program, a sort of do-over for students who struggled academically their first time around. With newfound energy, Prewitt had an epiphany one afternoon while working in a campus darkroom.

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"I just realized that this was exactly what I wanted to be doing," she recalls. "So I decided to aim for the arts, and applied for the BFA [bachelor of fine arts] program in photography. I could think and work outside of the box, a place where creativity meant more than achieving commercial success ... that is, how to create works for showing in a gallery as opposed to making a living."

It was while shooting surfers tubing the Pipeline in Oahu a few years back that Prewitt first experienced underwater photography. During a break in the competition, she befriended a surf photographer who had just purchased a new underwater case/housing. Intrigued by this piece of equipment, Prewitt bought his used one, learned how to operate it, and plunged into shooting more challenging, abstract subjects.

As reflected by photos titled Solitude, Devotion and Tranquility, Prewitt strives to evoke reactions from her viewers. For instance, Devotion usually sparks a debate with its image on an underwater, Christ-like figure spreading his arms out. Some see a crucifixion in the spiritual symbolism; others merely see a guy drifting under the water with his arms spread.

One of Prewitt's favorites, and another piece inviting interpretation, is a black-and-white abstract of seaweed labeled Untitled. It's a scary-looking image, with a dark, ghostly aura surrounding it. If the piece had its own soundtrack, the haunting music of Ry Cooder or John Hammond could easily add to the vibe.

"That one still makes some people uncomfortable, but that's OK," says Prewitt. "Art should not be passive. It only works if it generates some kind of honest, emotional response. You know that some kind of message is being received."

The photo from her collection that elicits the most reaction, Prewitt says, is Tranquility. It's an underwater image featuring tons of swirling fish. Prewitt found the image to be peaceful, tranquil ... hence the title. But others beg to differ.

Recalls Prewitt: "One woman who saw the photo at the Laguna Crafts Guild told me, 'Tranquility? God, if I was in the water surrounded by all these fish, it would freak me out!'"

Serenity lies at the essence of Prewitt's love of her craft, particularly while shooting underwater.

"Under water is kind of my 'me' place," she says. "It's silent and solitary. Not everyone gets that same separation from the chaos of everyday life that I do. Sometimes I get this strange feeling that reminds me of a silent movie, where things are moving but you can't hear anything. For me, that's a real soothing place to be. Still, I'm not necessarily an underwater photographer. I consider myself an abstract photographer using the ocean as my medium or subject."

Prewitt holds dear her Laguna Beach roots. Sure, her travels have been rich with fun, wonder and adventure—except for one ill-fated trip to Mazatlan one summer, which we'll save for another time. Let's just say it was part of her learning curve.

"I was born and raised here, and I just have to smell that salt water," says Prewitt. "My family and friends are all here, and no matter where I go to shoot, a part of me remains here on the Orange County coastline."

Prewitt is taking courses at Saddleback College as she works toward a master's degree in graphic design. She also exhibits her work at Laguna's Sawdust Winter Fantasy and every other Sunday at the Laguna Craft Guild on Main Beach. She earned a teaching credential in 2005 and, whenever possible, substitute-teaches for two local school districts to help supplement the spotty income of a freelance artist.

"I think it's important to follow your passion, but you have to be realistic as well," cautions Prewitt. "If you're doing something you love, it's worth some financial sacrifices and risk. But you can't ignore the economic realities that we face, particularly in this economy."

How much of Prewitt's talent stems from a God-given gift or simply hard work is not easy to know for certain. But in the end, does it really matter?           

"Some are born with it; others have to learn it," Prewitt recalls professor Gray saying during a course lecture years ago. "Success might be harder or take longer to achieve if you weren't born with the gift, but it can, and is, done."

"I admired him because he never told you what to do or how to do something," adds Prewitt, who cites photographers Man Ray, Clark Little and Weegee as her other primary influences. "He just emphasized to keep digging, and it will come to you."

Timeless pearls of wisdom, passed from one generation to the next.

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