Lauren Ditchley was born and raised in Indianapolis, where she finds the inspiration for many of her photographs. Lauren received a B.F.A. from the University of Indianapolis in 2007, with a focus in Photography, Ceramics, and Psychology. Lauren is an art teacher and art assistant at Sycamore School and currently teaches a photography class to non-art majors at the University of Indianapolis. As a member of INvision: Alliance of Photographic Artists she continues to explore the media of photography with artists from varying backgrounds.  

“As I became interested in photography near the end of my college career, I wanted to capture things that I came in contact with every day. It seems that I get the most inspiration when driving, from one place to another, taking in what I see outside my window. Many of the places I drive past each day during my commute to and from work, while others maybe only once when taking a new route. There is something special about these places, maybe it is a hand written sign, a color, a glimmer of hope that life still exists there, that I want to capture. As my work has evolved I have been able to find connections between the buildings I see every day, with the places I find inspiring during my travels. Places thousands of miles away that seem to speak to each other. With these photographs, I want to inspire the viewer to see what is around them and create their own story. Look at the mundane to find a little piece worth capturing.

Being an art teacher has given me a new perspective on the creation of art, because I am constantly challenged to think of interesting connections between art and the world around us. During class I encourage students to share their life experiences that they relate to the element of art, artist, culture, or time period we are exploring. My goal is to provide a safe and open learning environment that allows students to grow as individuals.”