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Most people walk past a lone bee on a flower, a weathered building, or a patch of fallen leaves without giving them a second thought.

For students in Alexandria Technical & Community College's (ATCC) Digital Photography course, those everyday subjects became the inspiration behind Extraordinarily Ordinary, a student photography exhibit that explores what happens when people learn to see the world around them from a different perspective.

Currently on display in ATCC’s Gallery 300 (upstairs 300 wing, main building), the exhibit features work from 15 students enrolled in the photography course. While the class is largely comprised of students in the Communication Design program, it also includes students from programs such as Business Management, Liberal Arts, and Cybersecurity, along with high school students in Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO). Together, their different backgrounds help shape a diverse collection of work.    

For instructor Ally Koudela, who joined Andrea White in the Communication Design program this year, the exhibit reflects a lesson that has been at the center of her photography course all semester.

"I tell all my students that photography is simply the art of noticing and seeing the world from a different perspective," said Koudela. "This exhibit brought together that whole idea of noticing everyday things and seeing them in a different way. It was beautiful to see all of that come together and actually get to see the world through my students' eyes." 

Throughout the semester, Koudela challenged students to photograph everyday subjects while exploring key elements and principles of photography, including contrast, color, and composition. The result was a collection of images that transformed ordinary moments into something more meaningful.

The exhibit's theme was also shaped by the students themselves. Koudela invited the class to suggest possible exhibit themes and noticed several common ideas emerge: perspective, everyday subjects, and seeing familiar things in a new light. After discussing the options together, students voted on what eventually became Extraordinarily Ordinary.

Walking through the exhibit, viewers move from collections of nature-inspired images and rich textures to photographs defined by symmetry, shadow, light, and movement. At first glance, the photographs may seem unrelated. A closer look reveals visual connections between them, inviting viewers to notice the same intriguing details that captured the students' attention behind the camera.

For Koudela, one of the most rewarding parts of curating the exhibit was discovering what her students found meaningful enough to photograph.

“It's always fun as an instructor to see what students are noticing and what they find interesting in the world," Koudela said. "Everyone sees the world a little differently, and that comes through in their work."

That process of paying attention has applications beyond photography. Many of the students featured in the exhibit are pursuing careers in Communication Design, where the same principles that guide photography also influence effective visual communication.

"The art of noticing isn't something that we just see in photography," Koudela said. "We see it in design as well. Students learn to notice all of the things that go into making strong compositions, whether it's a poster, publication, or another design project. Once they have a good knowledge of photography, they can use that photography, and those same principles, in their own design work."

While the exhibit demonstrates students’ technical photography skills and creative talent, its message extends beyond the classroom. The photographs serve as a reminder that extraordinary subjects are not always found in extraordinary places. More often, they are already around us, waiting to be noticed.

Extraordinarily Ordinary remains on display through November 20 in Gallery 300. Students, ATCC employees, and community members are invited to visit the campus gallery and experience the collection for themselves.