Loveland, Ohio – The photography of Sohani Gauniyal caught my eye at the Whistle Stop Pottery Affaire in Historic Downtown Loveland on September 3.
Sohani is a sophomore at Loveland Highschool. She said, “I first got into photography a couple of years ago, and ever since then I’ll go out in my backyard from time to time and take pictures of plants and the like.” She also says she also enjoys writing and rock climbing.
I later contacted Sohani and asked her if we could share the photos in Loveland Magazine. I told her that if the photo of the chess match was blown up to about 5 feet tall and mounted from the floor up, people would start to walk right into the room because the chess board looked so much like a tiled floor. She said, “The chess picture features my dad, and a chess set I got when my mom visited her family in India. What’s funny is that we set up the board so the move would be legal if you studied it, but due to the angle the black knight is coming from, it looks like an illegal move.”
“The coral is from my dad’s fish tank. I got a picture of it by putting my lens directly up against the glass of the tank. Thankfully, the color came out all right. Generally, the dark blue light we use to simulate “night” in the tank messes with my camera, but here it made the coral glow a nice neon color.”
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine photographer Alex Eicher went to the Loveland American Legion Post 256 Monday, which was Flag Day, for their American Flag Burning Ceremony.
David Miller is the Publisher of Loveland Magazine
One of Loveland Magazine’s favorite sons is featured in an interview by WVXU’s MICHAEL MONKS about his recently released book Abandoned Cincinnati. Sam Smith is a former intern and still a frequent contributor to the pages of Loveland Magazine. Sam is a graduate of Loveland High School.
I think his book, the photos and the writing are pretty amazing, but you can listen to the unbiased rave here:
In ‘Abandoned Cincinnati’ Young Author, Photographer Captures Old Haunts
David Miller is the Editor and Publisher of Loveland Magazine
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – Joe Timmerman seems to be awfully young to be so old-school, but he’s both. I got reacquainted with him underneath the home-team basket at a winter basketball game in the Chuck Schmidt Gymnasium at Loveland High School. A Senior at the time, Joe had also been taking photos of the action and he came over and sat down on the floor with me and introduced himself,
He wanted to know if I would publish some of his photographs in Loveland Magazine.
His old-schoolness was when he described his approach to using film cameras and in very creative ways.
‘Liiife’ is within the borders of this black and white double exposure. I used Ilford HP5 Plus film when shooting these two photos — Laine’s face and a tree in my backyard — which share a single exposure. When I put the roll of film in my camera, I wanted to capture 24 portraits, underexposed in studio lighting, to fill the roll. Then, I chose to reel it back in to the point where the first exposure returned to the beginning, and capture 24 nature/lifestyle photos to randomly share a place on the film with the original portraits. The overarching risk factor of losing some personal pictures was left behind after developing the film and seeing what had come to life in the process. – Joseph Timmerman
I was fascinated by his love of negative film and how sometimes he would be very deliberate in shooting a roll of 35 mm negatives in a way that each captured portrait could be used as the foreground for another image. The second image, a double exposure, involved Joe re-loading the already exposed roll of negatives back into his camera and then exposing a second image over the top of each of the portraits he shot on the first go-around.
The results Joe showed me were a wonderful experiment in photography because of the hit/miss nature of composing a second image over the first. There is also the mastery of the correct exposure for each frame. Many of the double-exposures were taken of his girlfriend on their walks into Historic Downtown Loveland from his home. The final products have a rather ghost-like quality.
I had given up film as soon as I purchased my first digital camera to use for Loveland Magazine reporting. It was out of the necessity to cut costs and be able to have the results almost instantly on my laptop and into a story. From my perspective after so many years of traveling to a camera store to buy the film, traveling back again to have the film developed and prints made, and back again for pick-up – Joe is old-school.
Joe Timmerman smiles outside the Cintas Center after he graduated from Loveland High School in 2019. Timmerman is studying photojournalism at Ohio University
I also discovered that night under the basketball hoop that I had known Joe since he was very little but didn’t recognize him. We once attended the same church. I was inspired by Joe that night and did some of my own experiments.
Joe’s old-schoolness even involved making his own paper from scratch for a photo project during his first year at Ohio University.
Joe’s old-schoolness is also how he will credit the way his parents raised him for his concern for the immediate environment around him. I think it more than just that though and appreciate another old-school quality he possesses – Joe is very humble always giving credit to others and he is generous with a “Thank you.”
Joe founded “A Neighborhood Cleanup” in 2019. The inspiration was walking in the East Loveland Nature Preserve with his mother and seeing so much trash left by other visitors. He says that growing up his father taught him to always pick up trash when he sees it, especially in his own neighborhood and the places he loves. Last August A Neighborhood Cleanup cleaned the nature preserve and another spot he loved, the rope swing on the bank of the Little Miami just north of Nisbet Park in Historic Downtown.
Joe has been back to cleaning the rope swing area this spring and last Saturday expanded the cleanup to include the river from Nisbet Park to the rope swing on the opposite river bank – along Cones Road.
An interesting note is that Loveland’s most famous old-school photographer Nancy Ford Cones once lived at the Roads Inn Farm on Cones Road when she took her famous Loveland photos, Her favorite subjects were family and friends she posed on those same river banks that Joe and friends are now restoring to their intended beauty. The Loveland Musem Center has a nice collection of Cone’s photos and many of them have an ethereal, ghost-like quality similar to Joe Timmerman’s double exposures.
This interview took place along the riverbank Joe and volunteers were cleaning last Saturday afternoon.
Joe inspires his own generation, those to come, and those beyond.
“Like” and “follow” A Neighborhood Cleanup on FaceBook and you will be able to support the efforts and know when the next group cleanup is planned. You might also contact Joe and offer to donate garbage bags and gloves as a way of helping.
Here is a link to Joe’s photography website where you can read more about him and see some of his inspiring art.
This is the rope swing seen from the opposite side of the river that A Neighborhood Cleanup worked on last Saturday. As you can see, the river has become a very popular spot that many young people call home. Joe Timmerman and his supporters cleared the robe swing area of trash on June 2.
The Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) has been gracious enough to loan us copies of some of their Nancy Ford Cones’ photos for the exhibition. This reception and celebration of Cones’ birthday will feature architectural prints of Mariemont in addition to the current exhibit of Cones’ pictures and memorabilia. Light refreshments will be served (including wine). The loan from MPF will remain on exhibit through early November.
Loveland, Ohio – Scott Carney is an artist and photographer and says that he and his family have lived in the Loveland area for over 30 years. He grew up in Carmel, Indiana and studied Fine Art at Ball State University. He took this iconic photo in Historic Downtown on the bank of the State and National “Scenic” Little Miami River. The Little Miami River is one of 156 American rivers designated by the U.S. Congress or the Secretary of the Interior as a National Wild and Scenic River.
You can see more of Carney’s photography and his other art on his Facebook page.
Many know Scott as a former Pole Vault coach at Loveland High School.
Taul’s film was selected from more than 2,000 entries
Taul’s film tells the story of a young man struggling with the loss of his mother, and the added responsibility of caring for his brother with special needs while battling drug addiction.
Stone Taul and Sam Smith
Loveland High School (LHS) Senior Stone Taul has earned the title of Best Director at the All American High School Film Festival Sunday on Oct. 8, in New York City for his drama, Viceroy, which Taul wrote, acted in and directed. Taul’s film – which tells the story of a young man struggling with the loss of his mother, and the added responsibility of caring for his brother with special needs while battling drug abuse – was selected for the 2017 festival from over 2,000 national and international entries.
“I was shocked when my name was called,” said Taul. “There were so many talented directors and filmmakers from all over the world. I feel honored that I was selected.”
“We could not be prouder of the creative endeavors Stone has been a part of during his tenure at Loveland High School,” said LHS Principal Peggy Johnson. “He is a stand-out talent, and this recognition he earned is well deserved.”
LHS Senior, and Loveland Magazine writer, photographer, and videographer, Sam Smith, was the cinematographer and assistant director for Viceroy.
In addition to winning Best Director, Taul’s movie Viceroy, was nominated for Best Drama and Best Overall Film. LHS Senior Sam Smith was the cinematographer for Viceroy, and other LHS contributors included: co-starring Jon Parker (2017 grad), audio Dean Parker (2016 grad), and crew members and current students Sam Sauer and Tommy Blair, with a cameo by Jonah Smith. Taul traveled with Sam Smith, Tommy Blair and Sam Sauer to New York to participate in the film festival events (screenings, networking events, college fair), and attended the red carpet awards event held at the historic Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York. Viceroy is Taul’s major directorial debut.
Dean Parker (2016 LHS grad), a former intern at Loveland Magazine and current Ohio University student, produced the audio for Viceroy.
“There is so much hidden talent in Loveland,” said Taul. “I was able to pull together a small, but super talented team of filmmakers and a couple of friends who just wanted to help. Sam Smith was there for me throughout the whole project. I couldn’t have done it without him and I’m grateful to my friend, Dean Parker, for all of his encouragement along the way.”
The All American High School Film Festival is the world’s largest high school film festival with submissions from over 40 countries and all 50 states. The festival’s judges are made up of directors, producers, actors and writers from some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Taul had two films (Viceroy & Tunnels) officially selected. The films were screened at the Times Square AMC 25 theater in New York.
Stone Taul (left) and Jon Parker (right) in Viceroy
Actress Haley McCrory
Jon Parker
Taul has also received filmmaking accolades from the Cincinnati Teen Film Challenge, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and charitable/community organizations, and he is the co-founder of the LHS Film Club. Taul plans to study film in California after graduation.
Watch Viceroy
Watch Highlights from the All American High School Film Festival
Heather Higdon is the Chief Information Officer for the Loveland School District
by Heather Higdon,
Early on at Loveland High School (LHS) Sam Smith’s ability caught Photography Teacher Jim Barrett’s eye.
“We have a photo contest every year at LHS and it is open to all high school students,” said Barrett. “Most of the time it is entered by students that have taken Photography. Sam entered the contest as a freshman. The contest is judged by students in the photo classes and the Art Department staff and school principals. Sam’s work stood out to all involved. He won.”
Sam Smith – a Tiger since kindergarten – has been racking up accolades as a photographer, writer, journalist and filmmaker ever since. His passion for “sharing visual art that is both personal and universal” is evident. For this special feature, Sam shared what drives that passion – and offers younger Tigers some advice on how to make the most of their Loveland experience:
Loveland City School District (LCSD): Your creative work has put Loveland Schools on the map in larger forums – can you tell us about the awards you have earned so far, and what projects you are currently involved in?
LHS Senior Sam Smith (Photo courtesy of Lauren Questell)
LHS Senior Sam Smith (SS):Really, 2016 graduate Dean Parker put Loveland Schools on the larger map in my opinion. Many of my now closest friends met on the set of his film, Regret. There, we discovered a group of like-minded creatives and formed Loveland Film Club and a filmmaking community in Loveland. Dean introduced me to a lot of awards, people and film festivals that I would have otherwise never known about.
On the set of Regret, I received an email that I was a finalist for the Overture Awards, which is the region’s largest arts contest. I went on to speak about my work and have it displayed at the Aronoff center. From the 100 entries from different schools (each with their own vetting process), I was awarded First Place – something unusual and flattering for a sophomore. (Loveland Sophomore Sam Smith wins Overture Award)
SAM SMITH HONORS
Best of Category at Golden Lions Film Festival, Best Cinematography at Blue Ridge Young Filmmakers Festival, Best Cinematography at Premiere Film Festival, Best Editing and Cinematography and second overall in 2016 72 Hour Teen Film Challenge, Best Cinematography and third overall in 2017 Teen Film Challenge, Best of Show at Exposure: Montgomery Photo Show 2017 and 2016 student winner, National Film Festival for Talented Youth official selection and official selection and nominee for Best Cinematography and Best Director (for a film I assistant directed with Senior Stone Taul) at the All American High School Film Festival.
I’ve been named Best of Category at Golden Lions Film Festival, Best Cinematography at Blue Ridge Young Filmmakers Festival, Best Cinematography at Premiere Film Festival, Best Editing and Cinematography and second overall in 2016 72 Hour Teen Film Challenge, Best Cinematography and third overall in 2017 Teen Film Challenge, Best of Show at Exposure: Montgomery Photo Show 2017 and 2016 student winner, National Film Festival for Talented Youth official selection and official selection and nominee for Best Cinematography and Best Director (for a film I assistant directed with Senior Stone Taul) at the All American High School Film Festival.
At festivals like the All American High School Film Festival, pieces from Loveland have begun to dominate Ohio submissions. Loveland filmmakers have had their work shown on IMAX screens at the AMC in Time’s Square and the historic King’s Theater in Brooklyn. This year, three out of the five Ohio nominations at the festival were from Loveland. I shot four out of the eight total selections from Ohio, and Loveland students have collaborated with directors of six of the eight Ohio selections.
I’m currently writing a narrative film, editing behind the scenes for a proof-of-concept for a friend’s film, helping finish an experimental drama I did cinematography on, editing an experimental film I helped make for someone’s poetry-based film project, planning and running Loveland Film Club, putting together a new photographic portfolio about life after death and working for Loveland Magazine.
(LCSD): What is your personal favorite creation, and why?
(SS):I think right now my favorite piece is the music video I made for 2016 Loveland graduate, Ryan Mangan.
Delusion was a huge undertaking in very little time, and it was a chance to explore a genre of visual art I really enjoy. I had a lot of creative freedom and got a chance to utilize a technique I’d been experimenting with for a while. All the glitchy holographic effects were done in-camera frame by frame, and the entire film was shot in just two days with almost no crew. I spent most of my free time for about three months afterwards trying to piece the film together and get everything timed and looking just right. In the end, I’m pretty happy with the experimental semi-narrative told through the visuals and music. It’s not perfect, and every time I watch it I find new flaws. But I think that’s what pushes me forward as an artist and lets each piece be better than the last.
(LCSD): Who has inspired you at Loveland Schools to stretch yourself artistically and achieve the success you’ve achieved?
(SS):I’ve had a lot of inspiration in Loveland Schools. My biggest inspiration has definitely been from other students. Dean Parker really showed me how to have an idea and keep the forward momentum to make it a reality. Stone Taul, Sam Sauer and Jon Parker started the film club and have offered creative minds to bounce ideas off of and to inspire.
Teachers have also really inspired me at Loveland. Creative writing teacher Mrs. Borchers created a classroom atmosphere that allowed for honest expression and gave me confidence and momentum as a writer and as a person. Physical science teacher Mr. Laughman really showed honest and genuine interest to his students and would take time after class to talk about art and even how some of my photos related to concepts in physics. Strings teacher Mrs. Bierkan has watched me grow for the past eight years and helped me find an expressive artistic outlet. English teacher and now librarian Mrs. Bosse has been very encouraging of my art and writing, and helped teach me how to organize my thoughts in a way that other people can understand and feel– the basis of good art. Art teacher Mrs. Woodruff took time to personally encourage my creative endeavors and offer feedback.
Lastly, photo teacher Mr. Barrett has done so much for me as a student and artist. He gave an immediate and excited “yes” to the prospect of a Loveland film club and has critiqued, taught, pushed and helped me plan my photographs and films. He’s watched me grow as an artist and has always been encouraging and excited about my projects– he’s come to art shows and stayed many collective hours after school to help me prepare photographs, critique work and supervise the film club. I really appreciate what he’s done for me and for Loveland’s visual artists. He’s a dedicated teacher who really wants to help students achieve their creative potential.
(LCSD): What advice would you offer to younger students who are interested in creative pursuits – what should they be taking advantage of as they progress through Loveland Schools?
(SS):My biggest piece of advice is cliche and easier said than done, but it’s this: get out there and do it. Make art. The only thing holding you back is you. I’d heard it a million
“Get out there and do it. Make art.”
times, but it really took seeing the creative peers I found at Loveland making art for the notion of doing to sink in. Take electives that interest you and put everything you have into art you make for school – don’t just see it as an assignment, see it as an excuse for authentic self-expression. More than anything, surround yourself with creative and interesting people. There will always be an artistic community in Loveland. Take advantage of it.
(LCSD): If you could design your ideal future – what would it look like?
(SS):In a perfect world, I’d go on to make a living doing cinematography on narrative films and music videos, maybe supplementing some income shooting interesting commercials. I’d have the opportunity to bring my own visual style to the table and work somewhere interesting like LA or New York doing what I love with creative and driven peers.
(LCSD): Is there anything else you’d like to add?
(SS):Art is a form of expression, and in some ways a coping mechanism. Good art
“Visual art has the ability to speak above words and to say what there aren’t words for.”
transmits an idea, an emotion. It transmits something personal. And visual art has the ability to speak above words and to say what there aren’t words for. I really enjoy trying to share something that is both universal and personal. I try to share art that means something, art that has a purpose. If my images create a reaction, emotion or inspire thought then I feel that I’ve succeeded.
SAM SMITH WORKS AS A WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND VIDEOGRAPHER FOR LOVELAND MAGAZINE
Pocket released their first music video on Tuesday
by David Miller,
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland 2016 graduate Ryan Mangan and his alternative rock band, Pocket, released their second album in August. The Things You Think At Night is available on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. Mangan self-produced, wrote and performed nearly the entire album. In collaboration with Loveland senior and Loveland Magazine writer, Sam Smith, Pocket released their first music video on Tuesday.
The Delusion music video is a mix of live action, digital and practical VFX and 3d computer renderings. The video tells a story through hands, statues and falling actors.
2017 Loveland graduate, Jacalyn Parsley is featured in the music video Delusion
The video was shot over the course of only two days on a shoestring budget and with almost no crew. The Delusion music video stars 2017 Loveland graduate, Jacalyn Parsley and was produced with help from Loveland High School seniors Ricky Vilar and Stone Taul.
“Delusion is about all the unwanted anxiety that comes when you’re falling for someone. You start to wonder if they like you back, if they feel same. After a while you kind of just get to this point of ‘let’s stop thinking about this stuff, I’m not going to figure it out right now’,” Mangan explained.
Sam Smith is a photographer, videographer and writer for Loveland Magazine and award-winning independent film producer
The video is largely based around looping, long exposure stop-motion sequences created with a device called a Pixelstick. The Pixelstick works by “scanning” across individual pixels of an image in succession and are captured by moving the device laterally in a long exposure. Smith created images and sequences that were loaded onto the tool, and then it was moved laterally hundreds of time, displaying slightly varied frames. This created the illusion of movement and a holographic-like effect that is easier seen than described. Smith said, “Yeah, it was two months of spending most of my free time editing since it was so effects heavy.”
In the studio shooting Delusion
“Honestly I don’t know much about videography, but I had seen some videos that Smith had done before and he’s just flat out amazing with that stuff,” said Mangan. He gave Smith some ideas for what he wanted the video to be like, and then he took it from there and beyond, is how Mangan described the collaboration.
“The video goes past my wildest dreams honestly. Shooting was a lot of fun as well, I’ve never done anything like this before so seeing it come from the start to the end was a very cool process,” Mangan said.
“Shooting the music video was an incredible experience. It was a lot of run-and-gun, shooting from the hip and making things up as we went along,” said Smith who added, “It was a pretty ambitious project for our resources, so we tried to embrace the flaws and go for a little bit of a low-fi look.” Smith said it was his first time doing something like this and he felt that he was able to put a lot of his own style and aesthetic into the piece. “Working with Ryan was wonderful– he gave me a great song and pretty much total creative freedom. I’m really excited to see where his career goes,” Smith explained.
In addition to being a photographer, videographer, and writer for Loveland Magazine, Smith is president of the Loveland High School Film Club, Overture Award recipient and has had work shown at festivals such as NFFTY, AAHSFF, Vidcon and Nashville Film Festival.
The video is available on the Pocket Youtube Channel. Keep up with Mangan’s new releases on Spotify, Apple Music, and Twitter. You can follow Smith’s work on Instagram and Vimeo.
Sample other songs on The Things You Think at Night:
![[Interview] Joe Timmerman Founder of “A Neighborhood Cleanup”](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/maxresdefault-6.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – Scott Carney is an artist and photographer and says that he and his family have lived in the Loveland area for over 30 years. He grew up in Carmel, Indiana and studied Fine Art at Ball State University. He took this iconic photo in Historic Downtown on the bank of the State and National “Scenic” Little Miami River. The Little Miami River is one of 156 American rivers designated by the U.S. Congress or the Secretary of the Interior as a 
Heather Higdon is the Chief Information Officer for the Loveland School District
SAM SMITH WORKS AS A WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND VIDEOGRAPHER FOR LOVELAND MAGAZINE
