Ryann Makenzie Salter, center, is pictured with PSC President Ed Meadows and Chelsea Weaver, Gallery Coordinator for the Visual Arts Department, at the unveiling of Salter’s photo, “Sunset on the Line.” The framed image is on display in Barfield Administration Building’s second-floor foyer.
‘Sunset on the Line’ hangs in Barfield Administration Building
A golden hour sunset photograph captured by a Pensacola State College student now graces the Barfield Administration Building’s second-floor lobby.
Ryann Makenzie Salter, a graphic design major, snapped the image of the sun setting on the Gulf of Mexico from the roof of the Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar in Perdido Key.
Titled “Sunset on the Line,” the photo was selected as the 2023 President’s Choice Award from the 2023 Annual Student Art Awards Exhibition. It will hang in the Barfield Building lobby for a year.
“When I took the picture, I was looking from Florida into Alabama since we are right there on the state line. I thought it was a perfect moment,” said Salter, who used a Nikon 3300 to take the photo at around 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 3.
“The colors drew me to the scene. I saw all the colors, and the building was a perfect silhouette.”
“Sunset on the Line” features a crescent moon in an ombre sky transforming from reddish-orange to a deep blue. A Washingtonia Robusta Palm Tree and the balconies of a condominium are silhouetted in the forefront of the photo.
“When I saw the photo, I was struck by the sereneness of it and all of the beautiful colors and hues,” said PSC President Ed Meadows, who selected the photo for the award.
“The composition of ‘Sunset on the Line’ resonates with me. There is something breathtaking about the sun setting on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a calming experience and puts everything in perspective.”
Visual Arts faculty members are not surprised Salter’s work was selected for the President’s Choice Award.
Chelsea Weaver, Gallery Coordinator for the Visual Arts Department, said Salter’s talent as an artist is “beautifully demonstrated” in the photo.
“In ‘Sunset on the Line,’ Salter creates a wonderfully calm and tranquil image through her aesthetic decisions, and her consideration of details provides the viewer with new discoveries as they continue viewing the sunset at Flora-Bama,” Weaver added.
Salter said she was shocked the photo received so much attention.
“I love my picture and find it interesting, but I wasn’t expecting anyone else, especially Dr. Meadows, to like it as much. I’m surprised, delighted and humbled,” said Salter, who grew up with a mother, Teresa Salter, who loved photography.
“She took a lot of photos of us – my sisters Kayla and Baylea ─ as children, so we all grew up around a camera and were never shy about taking pictures,” recalled Salter, 23, who plans to graduate with her associate degree in August.
“I loved art and enjoyed watching old movies – Disney, DreamWorks movies. I got into animation in middle school, but someone told me that graphic design is a good way to do what I love and earn a good living,” said the 2018 Escambia High School graduate.
After receiving her associate degree, Salter hopes to intern with the Flora-Bama marketing team or the Pensacola Ice Flyers.
“I just want to get my foot in the door and gain more knowledge,” Salter added. “Eventually, I hope to return to Pensacola State College for my bachelor’s degree. Later, I want to continue and get my master’s degree.”