A Student’s Point of View: What is Photographic Sciences?

I hope you had a great break and the spring semester is going well. I thought my first blog post of this semester should investigate the various programs in RIT Photo and I chose to start with Photo Sciences. Yes, there is a photo science major at RIT and it is one of the few schools in the world that provides this major. It is highly rated and I think RIT is ahead of the game to offer such a special curriculum! If I had to provide a summary of what students in the major work on, it would be combining science and imaging assignments. Students study how imaging is used to collect scientific data. Taking classes such as information technology, computer science, optics, biology, or imaging science contributes to solve imaging problems that use advanced photographic technology. Sounds pretty awesome and intense right? Well, it’s not as intense as you think. Who better to give insight into the major then a few students?

I invited a few photo sciences students to share their perspectives.

Emily Bishop is a sophomore and from Hamden, Connecticut. Her favorite thing about the program is its small size which leads to the family-like environment students enjoy. With the smaller class sizes, she has become close to the professors and teaching assistants which creates a positive learning environment for her. Emily’s hope from her degree is to learn how to capture different images using various equipment that are scientifically accurate and beautiful images, while taking deep dives into how an imaging process works.

Jackson Glozer – is a sophomore. He believes RIT had good foresight way back in the 1940’s to develop the photo science major. Its history and decades of contributions to the field makes it much more desirable to be a member of. Jackson looks forward to combining technology with photography to create amazing results! He’s interested in furthering his ability using in-camera technologies to help advance the industry.

Mia Guariano is a junior from the Syracuse, NY area. She admires how unique the photo sciences program is. She enjoys it’s smallness and finds that allows its focus to be on students. Mia is stoked about finishing her general education classes so she can put all her attention into her major classes such as Scanning Electron Microscopy with professor Ted Kinsman. Mia thinks something really cool about the program is how helpful the alumni are and how in touch they are with currently enrolled students sharing amazing opportunities. A great example is Apple. Mia was able to contact an alumnus in the field and gain an internship!

Lydia Dye is a senior. While college hunting, she found this program “phenomenal” because it allowed her to blend science and photography together. She thinks anyone who has love for both would thrive at RIT. She shared a deep appreciation for her professors who have become close mentors and display their passion for all to see which helps students succeed. Their real-life experiences are invaluable and their attention to their students shows how their diversity opens student’s eyes to “plethora” of opportunities where students can go after school.

Lydia is looking forward to completing her capstone project that will give her the ability to focus on her interests. One thing that stuck out to Lydia that is different about RIT is its “deep roots” in photographic education and its historical connections with Kodak and alumni connections. That history and many innovations created in here Rochester is deeply appreciated by her.

It seemed to me that the students who shared their perspectives all had one common answer when asked what people might not know about this major. All students who answered shared how the curriculum co-mingles science, art, technology, with investigation.

The Photo Sciences major is amazing because of its professors who make the program so great. The success might be found in how the program inspires the student’s passions to learn and be curious about new things.

I hope these student perspectives helped raise your awareness about the photographic sciences program at RIT.  

It has been a pleasure writing for RIT PHOTO and something I have come to enjoy. I’m excited to share what I have in the works for you this semester!

About Emily Sudock
Emily is a second-year advertising photography student who is also cross-registered in the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. I have been hard of hearing most of my life. I was born in China adopted by my loving family. They are a big part of life. I have a Nikon 600 with a 35 mm lens which I love taking portraits with.