The skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles reaching into the clouds on a rainy afternoon. A field of sunflowers standing under a blue summer sky. A sailboat floating on calm turquoise waters.
These are a few of the nearly two dozen images showcasing the power of a smartphone lens on display at the Keck Hospital of USC Cardinal Lobby.
The images were taken with an iPhone by photographer Katherine Keck in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities across the globe. Keck shares close ties with Keck Medicine of USC. Her son, Stephen M. Keck, is on the Board of Overseers of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Her two other sons, William and Ted, are members of the W. M. Keck Foundation.
A new exhibit by Katherine Keck featuring smartphone photos is on display at the Keck Hospital of USC Cardinal Lobby.
The iPhone Photo Project exhibit at Keck Hospital celebrates the capability of smartphones for capturing clear, detailed images, Keck said. The photographs show the versatility of a smartphone’s camera, she added.
“With the iPhone in particular, anyone can be a photographer,” she said. “It’s simply a matter of training the eye.”
Keck has traveled across the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia with her smartphone and a traditional camera, immersing herself in different cultures and snapping photos to document her journeys.
Keck said she hopes the images in her new exhibit capture the attention, if only for a brief moment, of those who walk through the Cardinal Lobby.
“I am hopeful that patients and staff members can look at the photographs on the wall and will have some respite,” Keck said. “These photos can broaden their perspective and take their minds off pressing problems and give them a sense of relief.”
Keck said she was drawn to photography because it provides an opportunity for constant learning and growth. Photography also has allowed her to explore new places in unexpected ways and become closer to people of different cultures.
“My camera has become my best friend in many ways,” Keck said. “You’re never alone when you have your camera.”
Keck said she plans on donating the images permanently to Keck Hospital. Her images also were on public display inside the Palace Hotel in Berlin and now are being displayed at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.
— Douglas Morino