Erica Walker appointed Harry M. Lightsey Visiting Scholar

For over 200 years, photography has been used to document, remember and retell experiences. Erica Walker, associate professor of graphic communications at the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, has extensive experience in and a passion for historical photographic processes, color management for print and video and the intersection of print and art. So, when the unique opportunity arose to become a Harry M. Lightsey Visiting Scholar, she immediately acted.

As a Harry M. Lightsey Visiting Scholar, Walker will spend around two weeks at Hobcaw Barony, a 16,000-acre research reserve near Georgetown, South Carolina, that is privately owned and conserved by the Belle W. Baruch Foundation. Every ecosystem within the state of South Carolina can be found at Hobcaw Barony, and there are over 70 cultural sites on the property.

During her appointment, Walker is especially excited to continue her research in historical photographic processes and storytelling. "Having access to this special part of our state is something I'm looking forward to the most, says Walker. "The stories this land carries and having the chance to create visual narratives using my own unique mix of modern and historic tools, photography and printing techniques is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The roots of photography date back to 1827, when the first photograph was created using light-sensitive chemicals. Over the following decades, innovations in speed, chemistry and the image durability revolutionized the process into the art form we know today. By 1889, the invention of roll film made photography possible for everyday people to document their lives, stories and memories. Now, in today's digital world, younger generations are rediscovering analog photography, a trend scholars refer to as "retromedia," the blending of old and new technologies.

Previously, Walker has researched several areas of visual communication, including photography and video as a research and storytelling tool, branding color accuracy across all mediums and studying how different works hold up in various environments depending on the material and process used to make them.

While at Hobcaw Barony, Walker will explore the property's archives and long history, using analog photography to capture some of the stories within the reserve. During her initial visit in August, she took more than 250 digital photographs of the archives, buildings and land, while she also attended tours and exhibitions with the archivist team to learn more about the property. Walker plans to return and capture large-format photographs and contact prints of plants later this year.

"I hope my work contributes to the ongoing story of Hobcaw Barony," Walker explains. "The official history of this land goes back to the early 1700s, but many untold stories remain, some that stretch far beyond the written record. Each of those stories has left an imprint here, and I want to help bring them to light."

To learn more about research at the Powers College of Business, visit the Powers College of Business research page.