Tish Triplett is a native of Bluffton now living in Cincinnati. Her mother, Jean Triplett, still lives in Bluffton, and she is the daughter of the late Morris Triplett.
Q. What year did you graduate from Bluffton High School?
A. I graduated from BHS in 1980. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do yet, but I knew I'd be going to college, so I focused on the college prep classes.
Q. What do you remember about school (elementary, middle, high)? What was your favorite cafeteria food? Any favorite teachers?
A. I was strong in English and Mrs. Naylor was one of my favorite teachers. Also, Mr. Herr, Mark Ehlen, a six grade teacher whose name was Mrs. Roach, good ol' Gary Brown, Mrs. Weaver; fifth grade teacher Alice Niswander...Well, I guess I had a lot of favorite teachers.
Cafeteria food: I don't know...I ate what I had to. I do remember on Fridays going with Doris Dyck, Anita (Kauffman) Badertscher and Greta Hiebert to the bakery to get pizza, and we'd go to the Mennonite church to eat and visit. Our senior class picture was taken out at the college farm. My class lost several class members in those next few years and during high school due to car accidents or freak-accidents, and I think often about how sad their lives ended so early, and what they would be like today. I have attended all reunions except for one, and plan on being there next year with camera in hand.
Q. What year did you graduate from BC? What was your major? When did you become interested in photography? Did you plan all along to become a professional photographer? Did you move to Cincinnati immediately or go elsewhere first? What drew you to Cincinnati? What type of photography do you do?
A. I enjoyed my years at BC. I started out as a nutrition major with Barb Stettler, and ironically should have continued on with that, as most of my work in the last eight years has been in the food service industry, including quality control and research and development. But I chose an art major with Darvin Luginbuhl and Jaye Bumbaugh, and it was at Bluffton that I first chose to become a professional photographer. It was Karen Glick-Colquit that gave me a start working for the public information office, and I did numerous photos for the annual. I believe it was with Fred that I first saw the latent image come up in the developer, and I was hooked!
After graduating from BC in 1984, I chose a photography school in Ft. Lauderdale that I only stayed at one quarter, and then transferred to Ohio Institute of Photography in Dayton. OIP was a much better fit for me, as I needed the technical skills to enhance my creative skills. I graduated 3 1/2 years later with a technical degree, and it was my first two photo jobs that brought me to Cincinnati. I have loved the city ever since and call it home, although I am forever a country girl at heart.
Since 1989 I have had my own business which was at its peak all through the '90s. After becoming a step-mom in 1998, and with 911 (yes, that affected my work: People didn't travel near as much or have the big events and conventions that was a lot of my business), and now the general state of the economy, I only have a few professional clients left. Other areas of my work included doing models/artists/musician portfolios. I did weddings starting out, but now only assist on an occasional basis. My favorite photography, though, is wishing I could have my camera with me at all times, as it is the everyday life I see in my world that I wish I could record, but regretfully most only remain as mental images.
Q. Where do you live? Do you enjoy living in a city? You used to have and ride horses - do you still? If not, do you miss that part of your life?
A. I have lived in many areas of Cincy: East, central, north, west; and I know the city well. My work taught me the city, and I am fortunate as I know where not to be as a single woman after dark. I am fortunate to live in a pleasant neighborhood at this time: Green Hills, which was actually one of seven plans across the country developed by Eleanor Roosevelt to keep our living spaces green.
This neighborhood butts up along one of the Hamilton County parks, Winton Woods, where there is a lake, trails, camping - a wonderful place to live near. I live with a long time friend and fellow photographer (we have been friends since photography school), Kim, who grew up in Green Hills, and I am her housemate and have an apartment in the basement. We have a good living/working relationship together, and there is enough of a back yard to have a bit of a garden, but mainly I do container gardening.
I no longer have a horse of my own, but until a few years ago was an active member of the Cincinnati Horsemen's Club, and could catch-ride, and still enjoy horse-camping when I get the chance. Kim, who also is a horse lover, just got back from Hocking Hills on a horse-camping trip with a friend of hers.
Q. What do you miss about living in a small town?
A. I think what I mainly miss about a small town is the comfort and peace I feel there when I visit Bluffton. And, I definitely can tell a difference in the air quality and quietness that is hard to find in the city, although Cincinnati does have a good park system.
Q. Do you plan to live where you are for the rest of your life? Any plans or thoughts about changing careers?
A. I am pretty well rooted in Cincy, and I definitely would like to not have to move out of the Green Hills area, unless I had enough money to buy a small farm or something. But, that is doubtful.
Careers: Yes, I am in a transitional period of my life where I need to make some decisions about going back to school, as I do not yet have that "real job" that I can support myself on until retirement (IF I ever retire!) The last company I worked for had programs for disabled individuals in which I was a supervisor/program assistant to oversee the individuals in the laundry division.
I really liked that work, and they liked me, so I am thinking of pursuing a masters in special education. Or, with my love of cooking and the food service experience I have had, I may go into food science/culinary. I wish I was 20 years younger in having to make these decisions, but each day is a new day, and God will show me His purpose for me.
Q. What is on your list of "things Tish wants to do"? Do you like to travel? If so, where have you been and where will you travel next?
A. First on the list of what I want to do is write a book. When I worked for Mason City Schools in their food service and latchkey departments, the children inspired me greatly, and I began to write fun children's poems. I also write spiritual poems. I have the book all planned out in this head of mine, including title ("Scattered Batter"), but my poems need a lot of work and organization, and although I am an art major, I really would need to find a good illustrator that can draw figures well. I can also incorporate some of my photos as well.
But all of this is on the back burner, as life happens. I also have an idea for a business to turn recycled items into art. That, too, is more of a dream at this point, but I would love to make it happen someday. Traveling: I am more of a homebody, maybe because I have been fortunate to have travelled a lot in my earlier life. Give me a garden spade and a park to live next to, and I am perfectly content to stay close to home!
Q. Can you explain your "Christmas in July" photo?
A. My "Christmas in July" photo was taken where I lived prior to moving in with Kim. I found this good, Christian family through Roommates.com, where I lived in their basement for two years. All was good but they never fulfilled their promises of getting the basement finished, as when I moved in it was understood that I would be able to have more room.
As they continued to finish the basement, it was obvious I was being pushed out (they have four teenagers and they were making it their home, and I had less and less privacy). In any case, one thing they had was nature and a garden that they pretty much let me consider mine as well. So, last summer was a great yield of tomatoes, peppers, and the like.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. Sadly, my Siberian Husky of 10 years had to be put to sleep this past August. She had hip dysplasia and general old age problems. This was a very grieving time for me as she was my constant companion for those years. I had a Ford Ranger truck at the time that I called her truck, as it had the cubby in the back, and she would stick her head out the back window. Her issues got so bad that she couldn't even jump into a car, let alone her truck. It was time.
Kim does have a cat, though, who has made it through 17 years, and she has bonded with me since Nutmeg is gone, and that helps with the grief.
