Dandelions provides perfect subject for Glen Ellyn photographer

Alicia Wyatt is not exactly what you'd call a veteran photographer.

The 16-year-old Glenbard West High School junior never spent much time with a camera until last month when she received her Nikon Cool Pix P90 as an early birthday present from her parents.

Since then, she's been spending as much time outside as possible practicing her new hobby. She also enjoys tennis and other art media, including drawing and painting.

She was near the driveway of her Glen Ellyn home when she discovered a dandelion and decided to try to capture the image with a muted background.

She was so happy with the results that she entered the image in our monthly photo contest - and darned if she didn't win with her first try.

For her efforts, she'll receive a $50 gift certificate good at PJ's Camera, Pickwick Place Plaza, 662 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn.

Wyatt says she was focusing on just one subject - dandelions - the day she captured her prize-winning image.

She was trying to capture different perspectives of the plant so the viewer could see the subject in a new way.

"I have always liked the dark background because of the contrast with the dandelion," she said.

After taking a number of photos, she asked her family and friends to pick out the one they liked the most, which prompted her to enter our contest.

DuPage Photo Director Scott Sanders says he was impressed by the interesting perspective and technique Wyatt used to create the image.

"The photographer took a common subject and made an interesting photo out of it by using a telephoto lens up close to blur the background which made the subject stand out," Sanders said. "The extremely tight crop maximizes the graphic appeal of the flower."

Wyatt says she plans to keep taking pictures, but she doesn't see her future in photography. Instead, she says, she hopes to major in something art-related such as architecture.