For Taney Basinger, a senior at PennWest University’s Edinboro campus, spending a summer creating digital content at one of America’s most iconic architectural landmarks was both a professional milestone and a creative inspiration.

Basinger served as the Fawcett Digital Multimedia Intern at Fallingwater, the world-renowned home designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in the scenic forests of southwestern Pennsylvania, the historic site is preserved and operated by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

“I wanted to apply for the digital multimedia internship because it encompasses many aspects of my skills and interests, including videography, photography, writing and editing,” Basinger said. “Also, it is located in an absolutely beautiful part of Pennsylvania.”

As a double major in animation and film, Basinger brought a strong storytelling background to the role. Her coursework at PennWest helped prepare her to create engaging visual content that captures both the artistry and experience of Fallingwater.

“My animation and film majors hugely contributed to my interest and success in this role,” she said. “In both programs I have practiced composition and storytelling, which helped me capture compelling images and accompany them with written words. Additionally, the equipment and software skills I gained from the film program were extremely important in my day-to-day tasks.”

During the internship, Basinger created a wide range of multimedia content to support Fallingwater’s digital presence. Her work included photography for the organization’s website and social media channels, as well as short-form videos highlighting the landmark’s popular summer camp programs.

She also photographed portraits of fellow interns for the website, an assignment she particularly enjoyed.

“I had a great time doing so,” she said. “They were lovely to work with, and I really enjoy photographing people.”

Living and working at the historic site allowed Basinger to draw daily inspiration from its unique blend of architecture, nature and history.

“I approached my daily tasks by immersing myself in the nature, history and artistry of the site,” she said. “No matter where I was on the grounds of Fallingwater, I was never lost for inspiration.”

While the architecture and landscape provided striking visuals, Basinger often focused her lens on people.

“When capturing images, I often highlighted people as well, because the staff and the visitors are the reason Fallingwater remains such a special place to this day,” she said.

The experience also strengthened her professional communication skills. In addition to producing photos and videos, Basinger developed written copy to accompany the digital content she created.

“This internship really helped me develop a professional voice to go along with my images,” she said. “I got to practice the art of writing copy for photos and videos and saw marked improvement in these skills as the summer went along.”

For Basinger, the internship reinforced her long-term career goals of working as a visual storyteller.

“Whether through film, animation or another visual medium, my dream is to tell stories for a living,” she said. “Using my camera to help tell the story of Fallingwater and its many different facets was such an amazing opportunity for me that I’m very grateful for.”

Basinger continues to build an impressive portfolio of creative work and leadership experiences while preparing for a career in film and digital media.