ISU Workers Documenting Campus for an Entire Year
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: January 8, 2013
NORMAL - Two marketing employees at Illinois State University are tied to their camera phones for the next year.
Ryan Denham and Steven Barcus are the driving force behind a new, interactive project they call "I.S.U. 365."
"I.S.U. 365 is a look at campus on a day-to-day basis," Barcus said.
The project got started after the pair noticed a growing need concerning the university's presence online.
Barcus said, "We wanted a way to integrate more photos and some fresh content."
Specifically, Denham said alumni were asking for visual proof of what was going on on campus.
So, the idea behind I.S.U. 365 is to take a new picture of campus every day for an entire year.
Denham said, "Finding a photo is surprisingly easy each day because there's so much going on."
The pictures are then shared on social media websites like Instagram and Facebook. Each one is something different or maybe even something you've never seen before.
"We look at it in terms of well, we see this every day, but what's going to be interesting to people out there?" Barcus said.
Since it is early January, the project is only beginning. Most pictures so far depict campus landmarks like Hancock Stadium since students are gone for winter break.
But Tuesday's choice is an intimate one of MFA student Marissa Webb sitting in front of photos she took of her disabled sister.
"Today's example of the artist, the gallery is a good example because every day our students are doing amazing things," Denham said.
It's moments like this one the two men say you otherwise wouldn't see.
Barcus said, "It really gets close to the pulse of Illinois State life."
And their strategy for finding things to photograph?
Denham said it's a mix of spontaneous moments or planned campus events.
"You turn your head and there could be something to photograph," he said.
Once the year ends, the university plans on creating a timeline or collage. You can see the photos updated daily by clicking here.
Ryan Denham and Steven Barcus are the driving force behind a new, interactive project they call "I.S.U. 365."
"I.S.U. 365 is a look at campus on a day-to-day basis," Barcus said.
The project got started after the pair noticed a growing need concerning the university's presence online.
Barcus said, "We wanted a way to integrate more photos and some fresh content."
Specifically, Denham said alumni were asking for visual proof of what was going on on campus.
So, the idea behind I.S.U. 365 is to take a new picture of campus every day for an entire year.
Denham said, "Finding a photo is surprisingly easy each day because there's so much going on."
The pictures are then shared on social media websites like Instagram and Facebook. Each one is something different or maybe even something you've never seen before.
"We look at it in terms of well, we see this every day, but what's going to be interesting to people out there?" Barcus said.
Since it is early January, the project is only beginning. Most pictures so far depict campus landmarks like Hancock Stadium since students are gone for winter break.
But Tuesday's choice is an intimate one of MFA student Marissa Webb sitting in front of photos she took of her disabled sister.
"Today's example of the artist, the gallery is a good example because every day our students are doing amazing things," Denham said.
It's moments like this one the two men say you otherwise wouldn't see.
Barcus said, "It really gets close to the pulse of Illinois State life."
And their strategy for finding things to photograph?
Denham said it's a mix of spontaneous moments or planned campus events.
"You turn your head and there could be something to photograph," he said.
Once the year ends, the university plans on creating a timeline or collage. You can see the photos updated daily by clicking here.
