by Jake Starr ~
Alysa Rubin rose from her bed on a brisk Saturday morning, more than five hours prior to the kickoff of Penn State against Purdue. Rubin, a freshman photojournalism major, was tasked with following and photographing the Penn State Blue Band throughout a football game day. As a current photography intern for the College of Arts and Architecture, this was perhaps the biggest task she took on in her short photography venture.
Rubin has been interested in photography since middle school. Then, in high school, she took her hobby a bit more seriously as she began to go out on shoots and even serve as a photographer for weddings and Bat Mitzvahs. Now in college, she is looking to turn that hobby into more, and perhaps a future profession.
“When I take pictures, it doesn’t feel like work,” Rubin said. “I want to be in a profession that doesn’t feel like a job and taking pictures gives me that feeling.”
Merely a week into her freshman year, Rubin applied for and got an internship with the College of Arts and Architecture. She didn’t plan on taking on an internship this early in her freshman year, but since it was for credit and seemed appropriate for her given her experience, Rubin jumped on it.
She has had a variety of opportunities throughout this internship, but none of them have been as big as photographing the Blue Band nearly two weeks ago.
“At first I was shocked when I was asked to shoot for the Blue Band,” Rubin said. “As a freshman, I didn’t think I’d be given the opportunity to be able to shoot a really high-profile event like the Blue Band performing at a football game.”
Rubin ventured through the early-morning Penn State cold to get to the Blue Band building at 7:30. It was there that she got prepared for the day and met up with the official Blue Band photographer. At around 8:30, Rubin and the entire Blue Band bused over to Holuba Hall, the same place where the football team practices during the week.
At Holuba Hall, Rubin, and the other photographers met up with the alumni band. It was there they began shooting the Blue Band as its rehearsal began. Following the band’s rehearsal and traditions, everyone began their walk over towards Beaver Stadium. Rubin continued to photograph the band as it marched up Curtin Road and into Beaver Stadium.
“Being in Holuba was an awesome experience,” Rubin said. “It was cool knowing that I was in a place that not only the football team uses, but also the Blue Band.”
The remainder of the day consisted of Rubin on the field at Beaver Stadium. She shot the band’s pre-game show, the halftime show, postgame show, as well as their in-game performances. Rubin took over 2,000 pictures of the band’s activities throughout the afternoon as Penn State’s football team took on Purdue.
Penn State won the game 35-7, but for Rubin, the incredible experience was more personal. She had experienced an opportunity hard to imagine a student getting only one month into their freshman year.
“Being on the field was completely surreal,” Rubin said. “I had always dreamed of the opportunity to be on the field at Beaver Stadium, but I never could have imagined it would have come to me so soon.”
While a large one, this was one of the many opportunities Rubin has been offered with the College of Arts and Architecture. She has also photographed plays, art exhibits and so much more and is looking forward to the many opportunities she will get moving forward.
“I am looking forward to the chance to gain experience that I can’t get in the classroom,” Rubin said, “and to be able to improve myself as a photographer, while showing off the great art and music Penn State has to offer.”
(all photos provided by Alysa Rubin)