Kaminsky Productions Kicks Off Light Painting Challenge

_______________________________________________
On November 2, 2009 thirteen DATA digital imaging students
spent a day learning and shooting with local professional Ethan Kaminsky at Kaminsky Productions.  Students learned about the business of photography, were provided a lighting for creative portraiture challenge, and had the opportunity to kick off the upcoming Paint the World with Light global challenge for high school photography students.

Discussion topics for the day included

• Ethan's learning experiences in high school and at the Art Center College of Design
  
• The type of projects the studio produces
• The history of the local photography business
• The various levels of art vs. the business of photography
• What its like to work in advertising photography
• Techniques & lighting equipment for creative portriature
  
• The effects of the current economy on business ownership

As a follow up to the creative portrait challenge he provided, Ethan graciously critiqued work in the Di studio at CCHS while students presented their completed imagery via the Digital Arts Education Ning.

___________________________________________

DATA Students Visit Cal-State Fullerton

_______________________________________________

Over 100 students from the Digital Arts technology Academy at Cathedral City High School visited Cal-State Fullerton on Nov. 12. 

The students received a campus tour, met with an admissions director, toured the CSUF Performing and Visual Arts Department, and talked to four DATA grads who are now students at CSUF.

Professor Larry Johnson, chairman of the school's visual arts department, and his faculty provided the DATA students with a visit to several classes while they were in session to give the students a feel for the breadth of the program. 

Johnson emphasized the idea that "our department seeks to turn out students who are problem solvers, creative thinkers, and people who can create something out of just an idea."

 

___________________________________________

DATA Students Consider Setting Full Sail

_______________________________________________
On November 12, 2009 Full Sail University provided DATA digital imaging students with an in depth view of the the University and programs offered in Game Art, Graphic Design, and Digital Arts & Design.

One of the many amazing features of the campus includes a giant Jumbo Tron that showcases student work pumped in from the student lead Full Sail Network on Vimeo.

___________________________________________

DATA Photography Students Assist Desert Photo Lab

_______________________________________________

Seventeen DATA photography students worked with photographers from Desert Photo Lab for six days in October photographing Cathedral City High School students and senior portraits.  The hands-on experience taught students about photographing people, lighting, and the professional work flow used by the lab for managing and processing bulk images. 

"I was fascinated by how taking a single portrait involves a team of people to select and process it for a customer." -Jessica Hernandez

"I enjoyed working with the photo management software and learning about how it works to support a photography business." -Thomas Genera

 "I learned the importance of complimenting a person with your camera work and the use of good people skills." -Brenda Magana

 "It was great to get a first hand look into how group portraiture works." -Melissa Wilson

"It was an interesting experience seeing how the images were processed from camera to print." -Brandon Aponte

"It was cool to see how photographers position their subjects to capture emotion." -Anthony Lamb

___________________________________________

DATA Student Techies Assist CUE Teachers

_______________________________________________

Seven DATA students with professional interests in education, writing, technology, and digital arts assisted the Cahuilla CUE Mini Tech Fair on Saturday October 3, 2009 at James Workman Middle School.  Students
had the opportunity to hear Ted Lai, an Apple Distinguished Educator and author of Pod Piper Productions, present his keynote: Celebrate Success, Save Paper, and Get Your Fifteen Minutes, participate in sessions ranging from Second Life to RSS, Twitter, and Ning, and assist the general work flow of the mini conference which serves teachers from throughout the Coachella Valley.

 ___________________________________________