A Student’s Point of View: Fine Art Photo at RIT Photo
This semester I have been blogging about the various BS and BFA programs at RIT Photo. My last post but not my least post will discuss the Fine Art photography option.
What is fine art photo? It is a BFA program that nurtures a photographic artist’s personal vision by helping them develop self-expression. From my experience since I am currently taking the Fine Art Photography elements class, it has really been eye-opening to see how a “deeper” meaning is often embedded into artwork. I highly recommend taking the elements class if you are not a fine art student. Fine art students take courses such as, Fine Art Core I and II, Professional Development for Artists, and Fine Art Portfolio classes. I don’t have experiences in these classes but I interviewed a few students who experienced them as fine art photography majors.
Hank Tilson is a second-year student and was originally a photojournalism major. He had a change of heart and changed majors, which is pretty common in the school. After taking Elements of Fine art this past fall semester, fine art photo felt right to Hank . He enjoyed learning conceptualism, emphasis, introspection, and freedom. Fine Art assignments challenge him to think creatively about his artwork but also for solutions that allows his audience to understand his work. Fine Art classes have helped him NOT overthink his work and let the “art manifest and speak for itself”. Hank is a perfectionist, and it often consumes his mind. Being in Fine Art has helped him appreciate that it’s okay if it’s not perfect because the work is part of the process and a journey. After School he sees himself working in printmaking because he appreciates the craft that is required. Hank worked on a project three years ago he called the “American West”. He has recently re-visited that project and felt an emotional connection to it. He decided that he wanted to bring this work to life and made some of his images into cyanotypes. This process has opened new territories to expand future exploration! You should go check out his work on his website, https://www.surrealidad.com/ .
Tahlia Q is a second-year fine art photography student. In her two years at RIT, she has never felt confined by the major. Being a fine art student constantly encourages her to step out of her comfort zone and not be just a rectangular print. That’s what separates Fine art students from other majors. For Tahlia, it’s easier for her to portray her emotions and thoughts with the freedom the assignments provide. Tahlia’s advice is don’t be fixated on one project because not every piece is going to make it into your portfolio. So, experiment a lot and push your boundaries and create what you desire using other techniques. Tahlia’s favorite fine art project from Elements of Fine art was bedazzling 30+ items for an installation. Each piece represented the struggles that come with being a powerful feminine woman in a world where femininity is sometimes looked down upon. This project allowed her to go against traditional implications of how women should be seen and break out of that stereotype. Tahlia’s goal in the future is to continue exposing herself to new artists, collaborate when possible while experimenting with more mediums. She also wants to work in a gallery and curate work. She believes RIT can help her achieve this goal with the amazing resources, teachers, and access to endless technology that she can use!
Joseph Matty is a third-year student and his advice for other students, “do not be afraid to try new things and be ready to take yourself in your own direction”. He believes that being dedicated to personal projects that you believe are meaningful is how to stay on path forward. His work makes him feel most alive and allows him to explore many things in the Fine art program curriculum. It gave him the opportunity to explore the application of historical and non-traditional processes which became the principal element in his work. Fine Art Core I and II has allowed him to explore subject matter and concepts with an open curriculum style that he continues to carry forward. Joseph believes he still has a long way to go and currently is learning how to talk about his artwork. It’s hard but he continues to consider new techniques to do so! After graduation Joseph hasn’t figured out where he is headed but knows he will succeed by building a great network of connections to find something that “feels right”!
Tia Weiss is a fourth-year student and she enjoys making books. It’s the most valuable and interesting subject she works on ever since she took a book making class. Making books inspires her while she takes all of the steps to make a book before it comes alive. Enjoying book binding led her to secure an internship in NYC with photographer Kris Graves. She plans to publish, curate, collect and create her own book projects after the internship. Tia was also originally a photojournalism student but over time she felt more connected to Fine Art which seemed more like her process and style. Fine Art has offered her the “freedom to conceptually think and find personal growth and to fall in love with making things”. Tia’s advice to future students is to take time and figure what your process is and what makes you happy. By trying new things to better understand what works, the sooner you find out how prepared you are for your capstone. New skills and thinking will be an immense help when you graduate and help you establish an even greater presence in the future. Tia she sees herself moving to Los Angeles to find a job relating to fine art printing or book publishing. She may also go to grad school and become a professor!
I found Fine art to be an interesting major just like the other four photo majors. What I saw in common for all of the students was that there is a lot of artistic freedom that comes with this major. This freedom allows students to explore outside the normal photography image. Showcasing fine art was interesting and I found it creates an opportunity for a student’s passion to be expressed in very unapologetic ways and the drive comes from the heart of the students imagination!
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.
