The Photography program is a two-year diploma program that provides students with the opportunity to obtain the skills needed to succeed in the commercial photography industry. Each course offers insight into a different aspect of photography, which not only allows students to build upon their experience in the field, but it also provides them with space for creativity and storytelling through various techniques.
Joseph Marranca, Program Coordinator, says, “We teach real-world experiences while keeping in mind where the industry is going in the future. Many of the faculty are working professionals, so much of what is taught is not just from the curriculum, but also from experiences that are happening presently, often the week of a class. The smaller class sizes allow for better hands-on experiences led by the professor.”
Experiential learning is a major component of this program, as Joseph explains that students gain real-world education, along with some of the real-world realities. “We try to educate them like a photo assistant in training, instead of just a student in a program,” he says. Accordingly, some of the top names in the industry are present within this program, as Joseph explains, “Nikon, Canon, Sony and especially Vistek, have always been a strong presence with this program. The support they have given us is always appreciated and well-received, and they are industry leaders, so we listen to what they have to say. It is not just about cameras and lights; they know where the tech is going. Their approach and seminars they have presented to us have been quite impactful, and we hope that will continue.”
A great representation of experiential learning within this program is through Storyworks – a course that provides students with bite-size industry experience as they work with real industry professionals. This year, students collaborated with KITE – UHN, the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (part of the University Health Network) to work on the second volume of their kiteWORKS magazine.
“Jennifer McIlroy was a great force getting us together, and I thank her. Otherwise, this connection would not have happened. The people at KITE – UHN are terrific and patient. Anthony Palma and Janitha Shanmugarajan are very understanding of the issues during COVID, and their creative input was very helpful with the photo students,” Joseph shares.
Current Photography student, Zach Smith, worked on this Storyworks project and says, “Working with KITE was an incredible experience. It allowed students to interact with the real world in a business setting, while still being tutored throughout the project. Anthony and Janitha understood that this was a project new to my groupmates and were incredibly patient and supportive.”
He continues, “Our goal when pairing up with this company was to create a collaborative magazine with our imagery, combined with the wonderful writing and design of other Centennial College students. I personally took on the role of project manager for my group. All communications between our group and the client went back and forth through me. I also created and edited some of the imagery for the final output of the magazine. All in all, it was a stressful assignment due to COVID-19 limitations, but as a group, I believe we overcame these challenges and provided creative images.”
Having just completed his first year of the program, Zach says it has been an overall amazing experience. “Being around a group of individuals who share the same passion for photography is not something I have experienced before. We all strive to improve and push each other where or whenever we can. Coming out of this program, I feel there’s a lot that I will take away with me, mostly to just have fun with it. We spent this time learning the technical and artistic aspects of photography, as our professor famously says, ‘learn the rules, so you know when to break them.’ All of this together has helped me improve as a photographer.”
As for advice to future photography students, he shares, “For those interested in this program, take the chance. The facilities and equipment we have at our disposal are invaluable. The teachers all greatly care for your success in and out of school, and the environment is incredible.” He adds, “I have so much love in my heart for the other students as we interact in such a small group, and for the teachers who always go above and beyond to do their best for us, while not only providing their feedback to make us better and more successful photographers but also receiving our feedback and thoughts for ways we think they might improve the program. They strive to take our suggestions into account to make this program better for all who attend.”
Discover more about the program in the 2022 Photography program graduation book.
THE 2022 CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL
Image by: Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival
A significant component of the Photography program this year was the 2022 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival that students and alumni took part in. Joseph says, “Dean Nate Horowitz at SAC was the force to get us interested [in the festival] at first. CONTACT has been three years in the making due to the pandemic, but we are finally a part of the festival. The TD Centre/Cadillac Fairview has been amazing and graciously provided us at no cost the space to host the show. I have to give credit to one of my faculty, Christopher Lawson, for connecting us as they are a client of his. Melissa Paterson at Cadillac Fairview has been so helpful; I doubt we could ever repay her and Cadillac Fairview. An opportunity that we could not pass by.”
The exhibition ran from May 6 – 15th, and since it was the first time the program took part, Joseph says it was important to showcase some amazing student work, with a couple of past graduates adding to it as well. “Showing your work to the world is the most frightening experience one can have. Putting your heart out there for others to view and possibly critique? That’s hard to swallow at times, but it creates personal growth that can only be learned through life experiences like this. As with anything worth doing, the more you do it, the better you get.”
“This program, in my belief, is like no other photography program,” Joseph shares. “I see the results, and it inspires me, so I hope that they too, the students, get inspired.” If you are interested in learning more about the Photography program, be sure to check out the Program Overview page for details about courses, photography resources, and more.
Article by: Alexandra Few
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