Amanda Shopa, PhD

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  • Weeks 65–68 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 65–68 of 209 Weeks

    Week 65 of 209 Weeks: “What if I fall? Oh, but my darkling, what if you fly?” –Erin Hanson Photo Notes: This photo was taken near Stillwater, MN on September 6, 2018 when I took a hot air balloon ride with my stepdad. Week 66 of 209 Weeks: “The challenge now is to grasp and shape history:…

  • A Restless Winter

    A Restless Winter

    It feels like April has flown by. I can’t believe we’re midway through spring already. I see winter as a quieter, more restful time. I’ve had friends in warmer locales joke that we must hibernate because it’s so cold. Of course that’s not true—there’s still a ton to do. My spouse and I often go…

  • Weeks 61–64 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 61–64 of 209 Weeks

    Week 61 of 209 Weeks: “Small is good, small is all.” —adrienne maree brown Photo Notes: This was taken at Western Illinois Threshers in August 2018. I think it was at the flea market. Week 62 of 209 Weeks: “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” —Gwendolyn…

  • Weeks 57–60 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 57–60 of 209 Weeks

    Week 57 of 209 Weeks: Your only job is to show up. Life will meet you there. Photo Notes: Seoul, South Korea, May 2024 Week 58 of 209 Weeks: “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be…

  • What I’ve Learned from One Year of Consistent Darkroom Work

    What I’ve Learned from One Year of Consistent Darkroom Work

    I consciously stepped away from art making for three months to recuperate. Three months turned into something much longer, and even when I felt ready, I had a difficult time returning to my studio practice. When I went to make my first postcard for the 209 Weeks project, I hadn’t been in the darkroom for…

  • Weeks 53–56 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 53–56 of 209 Weeks

    Week 53 of 209 Weeks: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” –Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo Notes: I believe this photo was taken in Iowa in 2022. Week 54 of 209 Weeks: “Eating is so intimate. It’s very sensual. When you invite someone to sit at your table…

  • Showing Fire in Black and White

    Showing Fire in Black and White

    One of the reasons I love black-and-white photography is because of the decision making that comes into play; one of the frustrating things about black-and-white photography is the decision making that comes into play. Last year I visited Pacem in Terris during their bonfire weekend. Usually visits to Pacem are a very solitary event, but…

  • 209 Weeks Project

    The 209 Weeks project is a weekly political postcard project that started in January 2025 and is expected to continue for 209 weeks. You can learn more and see recent postcards, sign up for a postcard, or view the entire series of postcards.

  • Minnesota, 1/24/2026

    My friend texts me from out of state. “How are you doing today?” Alex Pretti has been killed by Border Patrol agents. He was helping a stranger. I tap at my phone, unsure of what to say. “We went to a candlelight vigil just down the street, so it was our neighbors. I ran into…

  • From Book Thief to Pinhole Camera Maker

    In junior high, I was a book thief. The school library had checkout limits, and I wanted more photography books than I was allowed to bring home. So I slipped the books in my backpack, then left the library through a second door we weren’t supposed to use. I always returned the books when I…