February 6, 2017

To Whom It May Concern,

It is my great pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for Shane Solomon.

Shane is one of my Advanced Digital Photography students and I have known him
for two years. I know that he intends to pursue photography and film making
professionally, and from what I have seen of him as an artist and as a student, I can
confidently say that this would be a great career fit.

One of Shanes notable attributes is his curiosity and openness to new concepts and
methods. When he started studying photography, he was a bit withdrawn and shy
about speaking up or taking risks. Yet in a year, I have witnessed his rapid evolution
into a confident explorer of ideas and techniques. I believe this speaks to his
willingness to experiment, take feedback, and consider alternate approaches.
Shane quickly mastered his camera and Photoshop, and his technical fluency
allowed him to begin addressing more sophisticated conceptual issues earlier than
many of his peers.

Shane is developing into an articulate and thoughtful participant in critiques. He

receives constructive criticism with poise, and offers encouraging and balanced
comments in return. Shane is a valued member of his class, quick to assist his
peers with technical support and advice.

It has been rewarding to watch Shane emerge as an art student. This year, he has
responded to a variety of deeper conceptual prompts with consistent deliberation
and technical skill. He has also blended his work in still photography with his film
classes: he extended our Camera Obscura project into a short video about our
process of converting a room into a live Camera Obscura. Shane has done side
work as a portrait photographer for his peers and done considerable documentary-
style work for the school in both the still and film mediums.

Shane has good instincts for storytelling. He observes well and looks for truth, both
in his own work and that of others. He is also demanding of himself on the technical
side of his craft, always refining his skill set. I think that Shanes readiness to move
outside his comfort zone, take chances with the unfamiliar and push his own
boundaries will help him to mature into an outstanding artist.

I strongly encourage you to give Shane your most serious consideration as a

potential member of your program. Please do not hesitate to contact me; I am
available at mgrehan@wusd.org if you would like more information.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Noxon Grehan

Photography Instructor
Windsor High School
Windsor, CA