Dia Dead Sold!

Congratulations to DATA Di junior, Caroline Parra, for selling her first digital photograph! The Dia de los Muertos image, purchased by Brian Lentz, has been exhibited at the Desert Art Center, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the 4th Annual PSUSD All District Visual and Performing Arts Showcase, and has earned a RIMS Scholastic Art & Writing silver key. 

"One of the best composed photos I have seen in recent memory."

-Brian Lentz

Fine Arts Awarded

For more then 10 years now, DATA Di students have earned recognition, display, awards, and scholarships from the Palm Springs Art Museum's Fine Art Creativity Awards program.

Congratulations to this year's award winners!

Rachel Soper

$250 Museum Associates Council Award

Happiness, Digital Photograph (shown above)

Joshua Bell

$2,500.00 Judy Gelfand Scholarship

(to pursue video game design at UC Irvine)

View all of this year's submissions here!

SkillsUSA Workshop at Kaminsky Productions

In preparation for the SkillsUSA state conference and photography competition in San Diego, CA, local pro Ethan Kaminsky, owner of Kaminsky Productions, hosted DATA Di students at his studio on April 7th to share his experiences and hold a one-hour photography challenge.

Ethan, a SkillsUSA/VICA photography alum, discussed with students the importance of good light, composition, professionalism, and the changes in commercial photography. He also discussed his business experiences working in the Palm Springs area advertising industry for over a decade since graduating from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

A huge thank you to

for providing a great learning experience for DATA Digital Imaging students!

Where Art is Happening

DATA Di students had an amazing opportunity this spring to photograph the 2011 Indian Wells Arts Festival from April 1st through the 3rd at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Students worked in teams each day shooting professional artists and the art's community for the event's producer, Dianne Funk. After working long hours in the hot sun, students edited their work with Apple's Aperture, then uploaded their best shots to the Festival's website for professional judging. Selected student images will also be displayed at www.indianwellsartsfestival.com.

A very special thank you goes out to  

Dianne Funk Enterprises, Inc.

for providing DATA Di students this great experience!

Chris Miller Workshop

On Monday March 28th (during spring break), 22 Di students attended an off-camera lighting workshop with local professional photographer Chris Miller. Chris, a great friend of the DATA Di program who led the DST Fashion | Energy shoot in early 2010, is known around the Coachella Valley for shooting venues like the Coachella Music and Arts Festival and The Show at Aqua Caliente.

Chris graciously took time out of his busy schedule to work with students and share professional techniques he often uses while shooting music industry talent, fashion editorials, and portraiture.

Please visit his website @

 www.Imagine Imagery.com

Fine Art Photographer Michael E. Gordon

On April 4th, professional fine art photographer Michael E. Gordon spoke to DATA Di students about his highly creative image making and his passion for photographing in the southwestern United States.

Michael, in town as a finalist for the Earth Through a Lens awards and reception at the Hyatt in Palm Springs, took students on a journey through his online portfolio. He emphasized the importance of good light, excellent composition, and the elegance of line while shooting in locations such as Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the Salton Sea, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

He shared his approach to black and white as a means of capturing the form and texture of a landscape and color "when it calls to you." All of Michael's work is shot with a 4x5" view camera and scanned as a high resolution digital file for printing. His images have been seen in publications such as Backpacker magazine; View Camera magazine; Rangefinder magazine; Broughton Quarterly; T-Mobile; The Wilderness Society; Campaign for America's Wilderness; USDA Forest Service; Brooks/Cole, and Body-Mind Music,

You can view his portfolio and learn about his workshops @

www.michael-gordon.com

El Paseo Fashion Week 2011

For five nights during the week of March 21st, ten DATA Di students had the special opportunity to shoot the 2011 El Paseo Fashion Week. This annual Coachella Valley event focuses on the fashions of El Paseo, student designs from FIDM, and the television show Project Runway. DATA students were given all access passes by Palm Springs Life magazine's fashion editor, Susan Stein, to shoot alongside professionals at the runway, from the photographers platform, and also backstage.

New for the 2011 year, Di students also photographed the opening night reception sponsored by The Girlfriend Factor, a local professional businesswoman's group, and worked as event volunteers.

A special thank you to 

 

for providing an opportunity for our students!

Adobe Education Leader Awarded

DATA Di instructor Matt Cauthron was selected to join a globally exclusive group of educators recognized for their innovative work and vision for effectively using technology to enhance learning. As an Adobe Education Leader (AEL), Matt will have access to specialized training offered by Adobe Systems, be encouraged to publish and share the amazing products created by Di students to a global audience via the Adobe Education Exchange, and learn from colleagues from around the world.

Checkout the Adobe Education Leader program!

View Adobe Leader profiles!

Preparing for IWAF with Mark Cieslowkowski

On March 24th,  local photographer Mark Cieslikowski visited the Di studio/classroom to speak to students as they prepared to photograph at the Indian Wells Arts Festival (IWAF).

In addition to sharing his long-time experience working in the Coachella Valley photography market and passion for image making, Mark spoke to students about on camera lighting techniques and provided tips for shooting public events. It was truly a pleasure having Mark in the Di studio/classroom!

Please visit his website @

www.mcieslikowski.photobiz.com/

LiveArts Student Photography Winners

On April 8th, the following Di students were awarded for their creative photography by the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission. The awards were held as part of the annually occurring LiveArts! event at the Mary Pickford Theatre. Performing arts entertainment was provided The Lions Pride Chamber Singers and the Cathedral City High School Jazz Band.

High School Advanced

 Jasmine Mikulak

1st Place

Bianca Sosa

2nd Place

Jasmine Mikulak

Honorable Mention

High School Beginning

Marissa Lazalde

1st Place 

Pedro Hernandez

2nd Place

Courtney Stump

Honorable Mention 

Student Winner Interviewed by Coachella Valley Green

DATA Di junior Reymundo Hernandez was interviewed by Coachella Valley Green, an environmental group dedicated to promoting green and sustainable living here in the Coachella Valley. Reymundo was interviewed based on his role as the 1st place high school winner in the Earth Through a Lens photography contest.

Check out the article here!