Located in Muncie, Indiana, Ball State University is a nationally ranked university with highly acclaimed programs from Architecture to Business, but it is the creatives that fly under the radar on the campus. From photography to fashion design, many Ball State students are discovering their passions and creative skills during their college careers and PATTERN is happy to highlight a handful of the young talent at BSU.
Name: Micah Holtgraves
Year in college: Graduate Student
Major: Digital Storytelling
Instagram: @micah.holtgraves
What are your creative outlets?
Photography, videography
What made you interested in this field?
I’ve been interested in cameras since my mother let me use her SLR when I was very young. Then I started using our VHS camera to record very basic videos with my brother. Over the years I would always buy a cheap camcorder and edit using windows movie maker.
What jobs/internships/student organizations are you a part of that help you pursue this field?
I’ve worked at the Digital Corps on campus for three years now, two in undergrad and one in grad school. As a part of that company I am on the video team, doing everything from pre production to post production, producing, directing, shooting, and editing.
Two summers ago in 2016 I had an internship in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum as a video production intern. I filmed interviews with astronauts and engineers while there. I was part of Indiana Outdoors for two and a half years when I first came to college. That helped me jump right into the documentary side of things.
How would you describe your style?
It’s hard to say I really have a style right now, I do a wide range of content both photo and video that I haven’t specialized a certain style yet.
What are three words that you would use to describe yourself?
motivated, passionate, and easy going
What do you draw inspiration from?
Nature, I’ve always enjoyed walking through nature alone with my camera. Being among trees with no one else really helps to let your mind wonder, and I feel that is the best place to be to try something new.
Who are your favorite creatives?
This wild idea (I like them because they travel and work remotely and post some amazing photos of nature) National Geographic (Because of the stories they tell and the amazing photography that comes along with it)
What is your favorite part about being a creative?
That I don’t have to spend years memorizing book after book for my career. I have to invest in myself and my creative eye, and as long as I do that and keep pushing myself, I know I’ll have a successful creative career. And I love that every project is something entirely new and different, that you can make anything you want because art is boundless.
What are your goals/where do you want to be in two years?
I have one more year of grad school left, then I plan on moving to NYC to find some sort of video production job!
What is your dream job?
Dream job would be working for National Geographic, either with photography or videography
Other than this creative outlet, what do you like to do in your freetime?
Lots of biking, backpacking, hanging with friends, watching movies, drinking beer
