DIGITAL PHOTO ACADEMY
ready for a fun and educational experience?
we hope to see you next summer!
what comprises the digital academy experience?
Our academy experience focuses strongly on engaging students in a creative dialogue by encouraging participation– including network-building skills and self-promotion–and extending visual literacy. We start with the basics: how to interpret, understand and make use of the camera's manual functions to achieve creative and technical control over the image-making process. Students learn to control depth of field, implement the rule of thirds (cropping in-camera) to create attractive compositions, and adapt to shooting a variety of subjects such as landscapes, people, sports, nature and food in order to create evocative and compelling imagery.
Students are introduced to a wide range of photographic styles, and learning opportunities extend beyond the traditional classroom. This program coordinates directly with talented alumni, current instructors, and commercial photographers to introduce techniques that turn the act of looking into seeing–skills that encourage our students to think critically–and to shape their unique vision and share it with others.
who participates?
The academy experience is open to students (ages 14-17) who wish to broaden their knowledge of photography, work closely with their peers, and build a beginner's portfolio. We work closely with high school instructors–from Flagler, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia Counties–to gain our participants. The cost for the full two-week session, running Monday through Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm is $360.
what is the cost?
The cost for the full two-week session, running Monday through Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm is $275
The academy offers a unique opportunity for teens to work alongside professionals, gain valuable input, and experience the various aspects and applications of photography in a vibrant and creative environment.
what are the benefits?
The Digital Photo Academy places an emphasis upon learning fundamental skills, enhancing perceptual abilities, and building a beginner's portfolio. The best of each student's portfolio is showcased in a gallery exhibition open to the public. Learning to edit, prepare and display work in a professional setting is an invaluable skill for our students.
Our participants also gain a first-hand knowledge of the Daytona State College campus and what it has to offer, and many choose to officially enroll as students upon graduating from high school.
PORTFOLIO GALLERY
STORIES OF SUCCESS - STUDENT PROFILES
Our students may be young, but they are extremely talented and highly motivated. They are eager to learn–attentive to even the smallest of details–and ready to take on any challenge. We try to emphasize the tools and technical abilities necessary to prepare these young artists for success, and to get them thinking beyond the present moment–to college and eventual career in photography. Camille Shaw, now a college student, was outspoken about her experience: "The Digital Photo Academy is a space for like-minded young artists to collaborate and learn through first-hand experience. My time there promoted my growth as an photographer and as a student of the arts."
It is a privilege to watch our academy alumni continue on their creative journeys and encourage fellow students to follow their steps to success.
camille shaw - academy alumni 2011
"When I was younger I would travel to the island of Antigua, where my father grew up. Their annual carnival consisted of women draped in elaborate costumes accessorized with headdresses up to two feet high off their head. The colors and unusual proportions, as well as the countless number of pristine beaches and calming sunsets inspired my photographic eye and my stylistic choices. My usual subjects are portraits and landscapes, and I try to convey some kind of feeling for the viewer to hold on to with every photo I take."
Camille is now a graduate of the University of North Florida where she studied Advertising and Photography. Her passion for photography is deeply rooted in her ability to bring conceptual ideas to life, convey emotion, and channel the essence of her subjects' personalities through her camera lens.
ASHER ADAMS - ACADEMY ALUMNI 2015
"I truly found my interest for photography when I started taking photographs for a few friends in the Entertainment Division of Universal Studios. Being able to capture the complexity of the human form, to convey personality and character through the simplicity of a photograph–there's just no match for it. You can tell so much about a person, and truly relate to them, just by taking their photo. I've been freelancing for about two years now, and there's no looking back. This is what I'm meant to do."
Asher is now studying Commercial Photography at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Colorado. He is also a talented actor and musician.