If you’ve been debating what creative expression to take to finalize your core classes or are just wanting a fun elective, look no further than digital photography. For years, the class has held a special place in the hearts of Elizabethtown College’s students. It has given them a chance to exercise their creativity and dive headfirst into the world of photography.
“I like to make it fun and not to be too stressful. I want you to enjoy the class, you have enough stressful classes,” Director of Student Media Andy Williams said.
Many students come away with fond memories of fun assignments, surprise Truman visits and a special field trip.
“We went on a field trip to the alpaca farm nearby and were allowed to take pictures of them. There was even a llama that I was able to snap a few pictures of,” senior Luke Hatzell said.
Hatzell’s enthusiasm reflects the feelings of many students who have taken the course, myself included, the alpaca farm was an awesome experience that won’t be easily forgotten.
Students come away from the class with more than just happy memories, they learn tangible skills that translate to lived experiences. Lilit Parvaza, a first-year digital media production major, said, “The most useful thing I learned was the patience that photography requires, if you have a vision, you have to wait until the timing is perfect.”
Parvaza is right—photography will train you to have more patience than you thought possible. Thankfully, all that practice pays off because patience is a skill that can be applied to almost anything. For example, it can increase understanding for loved ones during a fight or give you the persistence needed to endure tough times.
Speaking of patience, you may need a lot of it to prepare for how long the wait-list is. No matter how many semesters pass, demand for the class never fades. In order to properly fit in the number of students that want to take the class, the professor must teach two sections per semester instead of one. “That’s not the norm when it comes to some of these core classes,” Williams said, which is even more reason to get on the wait-list early!
As a communications major, I’m certainly thankful that I was lucky enough to be placed into the class. It gave me a headstart in finding like-minded people and making friends; many of the friendships I made in that class are alive and well. Even the people I didn’t become friends with are friendly faces who I know share a love for the arts.
If you still need more convincing, let Hatzell summarize my thoughts, “Professor Williams is a fantastic professor who I would recommend to anybody… He was always very friendly with the students and very lax about assignments. And the best part, we got to see Truman frequently since he is Truman’s owner.”
Overall, I adored my time in digital photography and would recommend it to anybody who has even a slight interest in photography. The class isn’t time demanding, the assignments make you think creatively and you might even make some new friends.
