Patrick J. Keough MFA - East Carolina School of Art Graduate 1986
New Your Institute of Technology 1972
I began my photographic journey in 1973 when I was a junior at New York Institute of Technology on Long Island, New York. I was a Communication Arts major specializing in Television / Radio Broadcasting when I took a photography course in my junior year. The first time I shot a roll of Black and White film and developed it, I was hooked. I knew, at that moment I would pursue some aspect of photography in my life.
Still Photography School - Lowry Air Force Base, Denver Colorado
Once I got Dektol and D-76 in my blood, I began taking photographs and practicing my craft. I went into the U.S. Army soon after college in 1975. Uncle Sam invited me to the party since I drew a low number in the draft while still in college. The recruiter asked me what discipline of the military I wanted to go into. After some serious thought I asked if there were any openings in photography. He said there was one slot and we had to lock into it quickly due to the high demand, so needless to say - I was raising my hand and taking the military oath within days of my initial meeting with the recruiter.
After Basic Training at Ft. Dix, NJ, I spent six months in Still Photography School in Denver, Colorado studying at Lowry Air Force Base. It was very thorough and intense Photographic training starting with photographic theory, large format cameras, photojournalism and photo chemistry. We even learned how to mix our photographic chemicals from scratch. Once I completed the Air Force Photo School, I was assigned to an Airborne support group (82nd Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC.
Military Photojournalist Stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC 1976-78
I worked in a small “make shift” photo lab shooting and writing for military newspapers and publications from 1976 - 1978. I got over 400 photographs and articles published in various military publications to include Army Times, Soldiers Magazine and the Fayetteville Observer during my 2 1/2 years stationed at Ft. Bragg NC. The instruction I received in military photography school and the in-depth "real world" experience I gained from photographing military training, deployments and exercises (in all kinds of conditions, locations and situations) has been invaluable throughout my photographic and teaching career.
I left the Army in 1978 and spent four more years in the Army National Guard as a Photojournalist (and assistant editor) for the NC National Guard Magazine and Newspaper covering all aspects of training and military exercises throughout the country. I also started working for a Community College in Sanford, NC as an audio-visual technician starting at $9,000 per year.
Desert Training in Mojave during NG Duty, 1980
After 2 years of writing and shooting educational slide-shows for the Community College System I decided to take advantage of the GI Bill and in 1981 enrolled in the MFA program at ECU in Communication Arts. I was in for a rude awakening. The MFA program was a lot more difficult than undergraduate and my military schools. Professor Henry Stindt took me under his wing and with his guidance, patience and mentoring I developed and honed my photographic skills and my personal vision as a photographer and artist. I also branched out into multimedia, video production, painting and mixed media during my tenure at Graduate School.
Henry Stindt during a photo shoot, me lugging equipment as photo assistant and on location in Williamston, NC
My days in Graduate School were eye opening and extremely beneficial to my growth as an artist and image maker. I worked as Henry Stindt’s Commercial Photography assistant for over three years, in addition to helping Bob Rasch produce a comprehensive dual projector historical slide show for the town of Williamston in Martin County. I have no doubt that the combination of military training and diverse instruction and experiences in graduate school prepared me for my teaching and photographic careers. I also found my studies in Painting and Art History very beneficial towards my growth as an artist / image maker, in addition to the just being exposed to a variety of artists and art disciplines during my years at the School of Art.
Shooting a TV Commercial with Diversified Studios / Paint - In Nags Head / Davy Davenport and I Williamston Project
I worked as a Graduate Assistant in the photographic area (darkrooms) and lighting studio at the School of Art in addition to working at Joyner Library and the Medical School as a Medical Media Producer / Photographer. All this experience truly prepared me for my teaching career and made the difference when interviewing for jobs. In fact…I would not have eventually been offered a full time position at Carteret Community College if I didn’t have the art history courses, multi-media and part-time teaching experience behind me.
Key point here is that my diverse experience and military background helped me get a job in a very competitive field.
Still Shots from my Multi-Media Thesis Dance Performance Haunted Shadows - Sandra Bullock in middle shot
Once I interviewed and got a “half-time” position teaching photography at Carteret Community College, I still had full time family and financial obligations. I had to complete my Multi-Media and Performance Thesis project which was a monumental undertaking to say the least. It took me a year to complete my Thesis work once my Graduate course work was accomplished. My thesis committee was very demanding, however Henry, Bob Rasch and Dr. Richard Lange were very supportive and helpful in seeing me through this grueling process.
Best Friend Joe Champagne with Adam, Photographing Adam through car window and Shadow Portrait of Adam's Mother Robin
I was also a single father with a 3 year-old son to take care of. I took a chance and quit a full-time position at Caswell Center in Kinston as a media specialist to begin a teaching career. I took the position at Caswell after graduating ECU because it paid well and enabled me to take care of my financial responsibilities while looking for a teaching job. Looking back, I don’t know how I did it financially and logistically. I would not want to do it again. I suppose we all have to pay our dues when it comes to our careers… especially in the arts.
Mixed Media Photo Composite of Adam and On The Road Between Teaching Jobs
In order to make ends meet financially I took on part-time teaching jobs (photography and art appreciation) at two other colleges in addition to doing freelance photography and video production in the Greenville area. I also agressively pursued getting shows as well, at local arts councils and galleries. Moving up in one’s career also includes some luck and timing. After a year of traveling from Greenville (Pitt Community College) to Little Washington (Beaufort Community College) and Morehead City, an opportunity for full-time employment opened up at Carteret.
I was asked if I could teach Art Appreciation and Art History and without even thinking about it for a second I said YES, even though I had never taught Art History before. I took it in graduate school, but teaching art history to a classroom full of Interior Design students was another thing entirely. Needless to say, I got the texts and slides and stayed one week ahead of the students that first year teaching. I was baptized in fire and I believe that’s the only way to learn and develop your skills as a teacher.
I also got involved in the local Arts Council in Morehead City coordinating arts programming and working with the Boys and Girls Club. I also continued to make an effort to get shows and exhibit my work across the state, in addition to taking on the Chair of the Arts and Humanities Committee at CCC. I was also elected President of the Morehead City Arts Council for two terms in the early 90's.
Captain Color at Art Camp - Mural Painting with Children
That was over 20 years ago and I have never stopped learning and growing as an artist, writer and teacher.. Teaching and coordinating a Fine Arts Program enables me to pursue my art, photography, travel photography and writing. It is the best of both worlds if you can get your foot in the door somewhere and that is the challenge when you first graduate from college.
The jobs don’t normally come from traditional venues. Joe Champagne my best friend in graduate school and Associate Professor of Photography at Virginia Intermont College realized this early on. Going to CAA conferences and interviews can be hit or miss and a roll of the dice as far as landing a job. We went that route with many of our fellow graduates to no avail. I can remember a December in 1985 when seven fellow graduate students piled into two cars and went to New York City to attend a CAA conference. It was like a meat market and all I can remember is all of us (guys and girls) crammed in one hotel room of the Sheraton – six packs of beer and cheap wine chilling on the 7th floor window ledge. Mattresses were strewn wall to wall and the smell of body odor permeated the room. Too many people in one room, but with that said it was fun, adventurous and a great memory, although nothing came of it as far as jobs for any of us. We got lots of inteviews, but no jobs out of the ordeal.
Joe Champagne after a hard night working in the Emergency Room
Joe and I got our jobs by taking risks, being proactive and getting ourselves “out there”. Joe went to Charlotte, NC without a teaching job, but had a back-up skill in Emergency Medical Services and it paid the bills until he made some connections at The Light Factory – he helped hanging exhibits and networked in addition to introducing me to some professionals in the field. We also joined the Society for Photographic Education and attended their regional conference in Penland NC in 1985. I met Cathy Crowell at breakfast that first morning and found out she was starting a Photography program at the Carteret Community College in Morehead City.
Students and Faculty from around the country at SPE Print Sharing
The rest is history because a year later I interviewed with Cathy and got the half-time position. She received over 60 applications for the position but I had the diverse background she was looking for. I believe that’s the way to get a job. Working hard and finding a way into your chosen profession through the back door, networking and making connections in the field.
Exhibit Postcards from my shows after Graduate School
You can’t be afraid to get yourself out there. Show your work – find a way to exhibit no matter how little known the venue and promote yourself. Our careers are a journey and when you begin that journey the going can be rough. There were times when my three-year old son Adam and I slept in the car or the little lighting studio at the college I worked for. We bunched up some backdrops and slept on them after security locked up the college. Its amazing what you will do to kick start your career.
Self Portrait Mixed Media Installation Detail
When I look back at those days in the mid-80’s, it almost seems like a dream. The hoops I had to jump through. The risks I took didn’t seem like risks at the time. I have a romantic nostalgia for those days and now that the dues have been paid my career is in hyper drive. I’ve been teaching all aspects of photography for over 20 years; I teach Art Appreciation and Art History in the classroom and online and actually Coordinate the entire Fine Arts Program at my college. I’m also Director of Distance Learning and am responsible for teaching the teachers how to migrate their courses to the online environment. I blinked and the dues were paid as far as my career goes. It all seems like a strange, surreal dream, yet it’s not.
Final Portfolio Critique 2004 / Grading Projects in old office at CCC 1998
Nothing in this life replaces hard work, passion and enthusiasm for your art and your personal vision as an artist, photographer and teacher. Nobody said it would be easy. Nobody gets a free ride, but with that said, there is a great deal of opportunity “out there” for passionate, engaged, serious artists, photographers, and teachers. You just have to find your niche, vision, personal style and your voice.
Working in Studio on Mixed Media Photo Composite
Be creative in how you approach your job search. Don’t only look into the normal venues for seeking employment. Get yourself and your work out in the world via the web by having exhibits and shows no matter how small or insignificant the space. Join a professional organization in your career field. Basically just connect and network with people that have similar interests as you do.
The job is not going to come to you – you have to go after it.
The medium of photography has changed greatly in the past twenty years it is almost beyond comprehension. Photography is still in its infancy compared to painting, sculpture and other art forms, yet (in my opinion) it is becoming the most dynamic, fluid and vital form of creative expression and experimentation. The possibilities are endless now that we have entered the digital realm. To think... just in the span of 20 years since I graduated ECU, photography has undergone a complete transformation due to the advances in digital technology. When I was working on my various art projects and portfolios I never once used a computer. Everything I conceptualized then photographed and/or created was analog. Yes...that's right. I never used a computer to do one art / photo project in my entire time at the School of Art. That must be mind boggling to those of you who are in college now. I did have access to some very archaic computers and had done some word processing, but that was about it.
Mac 512 1985
As I mentioned earlier in this presentation...I worked in the Media Center of Joyner library and ironically was put in charge of the computer lab (if you could call it that). Sitting in the back corner of the lab were 2 Mac 512 computers. The first Macs to come out. Joe and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what we could do with them as far as art and photography was concerned. In fact, Joe did some of his thesis project on it if I remember correctly. I have been using Macs ever since and my Photography program at CCC has a "state of the art" G-5 Lab.
So the point is... the medium of photography is constantly changing, evolving AND reinventing itself. That in itself is a very exciting thing. We have come a long way since Stieglitz, Strand, Weston and Ansel Adams. Just think of the possibilities - they are infinite. With that said, your creative journey is going to be dramatically different than Joe's and mine because of the nature of the digital medium and the competitive global economy we live in. You are all going to have to forge your own paths into the digital terrain and carve your own professional lives and careers. It is going to take ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurial chutzpa to harness and ride the digital wave. There are endless opportunities for all of us in this great country and the global economy – the winners will be the ones who tap into a void that YOU and you only can fill with your innovative ideas and creative vision.
Visual Remnants from the Journey so Far
My son Adam was a baby when I started my career journey and now he is a Junior in college and I have 5 years left until retirement…that is if I want to retire. We are always learning, growing and exploring the world and ourselves as artists. The minute we stop the journey comes to an end.
I will always write, make photographs, paint and pursue my passion for the things and people I love.
Some Great Web Resources for Photographers
Marketing Yourself and Your Work
Professional Photographers of America
Society for Photographic Education
American Association for Media Photographers
New York Times Search for Photo Jobs