Amanda Shopa

Film Photography & Fiber Arts

Category: Photography

  • Chasing Light Leaks (and Still Thinking About It)

    Chasing Light Leaks (and Still Thinking About It)

    I needed to make my darkroom light tight. I figured I’d need a cheap caulk gun and a few tubes of caulk and I’d be done in an evening.

  • 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

    This year it feels like we skipped from November to March. This winter was snowy and cold and it felt like winter—except we didn’t get that winter rest.

  • 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…

  • Minnesota, 1/24/2026

    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…

  • Weeks 49–52 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 49–52 of 209 Weeks

    Week 49 of 209 Weeks: “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” —Victor Hugo. Photo Notes: This photo was taken at Soudan-Vermilion State Park in October 2025. A large robin was snacking on this very tiny apple near the lakeshore. Because of the robin, I found a long abandoned, spindly apple tree!…