A Student’s Point of View: Visual Media at RIT Photo
This week is about Visual Media! Is that a form photography? Well it is a photography major at RIT! Visual Media is a BFA program that explores the professions of photography, graphic communications, media design, and business. Students focus on areas of graphic work, print media, multimedia and social media, and take classes that investigate those topics. Some of the classes are Visual Media Career Research and Visual Media Capstone. Want to know more? This post will share the perspective of sophomores to seniors.
Natasha Richards is a sophomore and she chose Visual Media because of its multiple avenues going forward. Natasha doesn’t want to just produce photo shoots but rather she wants to have a multimedia orientation. She’s excited to learn new tools like the Adobe programs and become more knowledgeable with them. This knowledge will help her to combine all of her interests into future projects and a career. Natasha’s main goal is to push herself to grow in a technical way and see the world in a unique way where she can bring her skills to life!
Paris Benson is a junior and says that Visual Media gives her confidence by studying multiple disciplines. She feels this will lead to a variety of career positions. Paris enjoys the diverse skills that give her “flexibility” allows her not to feel stuck with only one subject area. She believes VM allows her to also expand her life skills through her involvement in Visual Media club. Her participation has led her to collaborating, exploring and including others as they appreciate Visual Media as a whole! Paris also wants to shout out the two professors of Visual Media, Laurie O’Brien and Frank Cost, for helping her grow!
Ben Haley is a junior. A philosophy he subscribes to is to build close relationships with his professors and take classes that he is interested in. He suggests taking other photo classes to expand your ideas for future Visual Media projects. His end goal after college is land a great job that relates to doing Visual Media. Ben wants to show the world the different formats Visual Media has to offer!
Amelia Hamilton is a senior NTID students who is crossed-registered in Art and Design. Amelia appreciates watching her fellow peers’ growth in their photography and other skills. This is because it gives her a sense of passion watching other people show off their work! Visual Media is where Amelia feels “at home” and wants to share her story through her work! She wants to endlessly explore and create more art while learning new techniques. It’s her advice to future students to keep making art and stay creative!
A trend I noticed among the students’ perspectives was Visual Media is more than just photography. Visual Media gives students an opportunity to expand their knowledge and grow in lots of areas of study. I believe it’s awesome that Visual Media exists because it shows that photography can expand and still be part of the conversation!
About Emily SuDock
Emily SuDock 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.
