In the summer of 2008, Whitten Sabbatini made plans with a friend to attend Lollapalooza music festival.  He had the money. He had the ride. He had the pent-up excitement. And then a week before the show, Whitten spent his savings on a camera.
“I kind of make decisions like that, but I’d never been into art before. I don’t know. I just stumbled into it,” Sabbatini said.
Now, four and a half years later, Whitten is preparing to graduate with a Masters of Fine Arts in photography and several international photography awards beneath his belt.
Sabbatini’s work was recently chosen for display in the Portraits 2013 series at The Center For Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colo. Two of his digital images, “Tim’s House” and “Jeffrey and Jr. Skinning a Deer” were selected by juror Charles Guice for his gallery in New York City.
Professor Marita Gootee confirmed the significance of such an achievement in an interview with the Mississippi State University Department of Art News. “Two images into an international exhibition is fantastic. To be selected by a juror such as Charles Guice is extremely impressive and could really open doors for Whitten.”
Sabbatini’s success this year does not stop there. His photo “October 12, 2012″ was also selected from 1,000 entries to be displayed in the fall 2012 New York Center for Photographic Art International Call for Entry.
When asked what his vision for these photographs was, Sabbatini said he was shooting portraits with a lot of detail.
 ”You can get a sense of location. (I) am focused on themes like people of place or spirit of place, and that’s why I shoot portraits of people right now of the South. Spirit of place.”
Sabbatini says his interest in photography began with a genuine interest in seeing a shallow depth of field, like a blurry background against a sharp image.
In a world where Instagrammers consider themselves photographers, Tweeters think themselves comedians and now Vine-ers believe themselves filmmakers, artists like Sabbatini are often pushed aside.
“It gets idealized. Like, oh, it’s cool, you’re creative, la de da, I don’t know. I’m just passionate. Life is weird,” Sabbatini said, shaking his head and smiling.
While Sabbatini’s humility is refreshing, one can truly get an idea of his talent by talking to those who have watched him grow as an artist.
“It is a privilege to work with a student so talented and excited about the medium of photography and the work he is making. I have no doubt that he is going place,” assistant professor Dominic Lippillo told the Department of Art News in an interview.
When asked for advice for aspiring photographers, Sabbatini’s words of wisdom are simple: be passionate.
“It’s necessary to learn from what’s come before you, to allow yourself to be influenced by everything,” he said. “If it’s just photography, don’t be intimidated by buying a camera. Crave knowledge and ask questions.”