We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Ogden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.
Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
After I graduated from Penn State, I worked for a chemical company in Philadelphia. At the age of 23, the company offered me a promotion to manage clients in the western US, western Canada, and Mexico, and it required me to move to California. I was fortunate to have the support of a great manager and employer, but I had to decide to move by myself to the west coast. Looking back on it now, it was a big risk. However, my only answer was yes, and I jumped at the opportunity. I had a chance to grow and learn, and I was confident in my ability to succeed. Since then, I’ve continued to move forward, be open to opportunities as they come along, and take on new challenges.
Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Jennifer Ogden, and I was born and raised in York, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, where I was also on the Women’s Varsity Swim Team. Since graduation, I’ve enjoyed living in southern California, working in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and traveling the globe. I have been married to Jeff Ogden for 24 years, and we have two daughters, Kara (19) and Brooke (14).
My love of photography stems from time with my family watching our girls play sports. Most weekends, I can be found on the sidelines of a soccer or volleyball game, with a camera in hand, taking action photos of my favorite models. I’ve learned by doing, taking thousands of photos and experimenting along the way. It’s been great practice for me to understand photography’s technical, aesthetic, and conceptual aspects. Action photography has taught me about light, time, focus, and camera angle. I’ve also learned that just because something is technically well done doesn’t make it interesting. My goal is to use composition, color, and focus to drive the meaning and function of a photograph.
Painting has also been a key element of my artist journey. I first learned watercolor and then acrylic painting, and I have a collection of original works. Watercolor was a great place to start because, as a transparent medium, the marks cannot be removed. I’ve learned to embrace imperfection because you can’t erase what’s done. True to my life, to be successful with watercolor, I think ahead, I have a plan in mind, and then I adjust along the way. My paintings and photography are connected, with my photos often informing the composition of my original paintings.
Similar to painting, my photography embraces realness and imperfection. It is nature photography with a loose interpretation to help transport the viewer into the scene. I enjoy blur in images because it helps engage the viewer emotionally. I want the viewer to smell the air, to hear the birds, and to feel the environment through the photo. To do this, I think about what makes an image strong. Can I make it stronger to engage the viewer? I ask myself, what can I change to take a better photo?
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The best part of being an artist is experimenting with something new. Creating art has endless possibilities, and technology continues to push the limits. Boredom is non-existent in art. There is always something to draw, paint, see, photograph, and appreciate. Art makes me think about things differently, to explore, and to challenge myself to improve.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think we are all creative. If you’ve ever thought of a few different ways to solve a problem, you’ve proven you are creative. My best advice is to embrace your own creativity and appreciate it when you see it in others. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenniferogdenart.com
- Instagram: @jenniferogdenart
- Facebook: @jenniferogdenart