Caitlin Peterson
In Motion Staff Writer
This month commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Daytona State College School of Photography, as well as the 35th anniversary of the Southeast Museum of Photography. In honor of the occasion, there is an abundance of activities planned, the highlight of which will be a return visit from alumni Stephen Crowley and Lawrence Cumbo.
As part of the annual L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial lecture series, their discussion will be the climax of the anniversary celebration on Oct. 21. There are two sessions available for attendance — one at 10 a.m. and another at 6 p.m. — and both are free and open to the public. The talk promises to be a celebration of a truly groundbreaking photography program by those whose participation has made history. Reservations are required and seats can be obtained by calling 386- 506-4723.
Both sessions take place Tuesday, Oct 21. The morning edition will be at the Daytona State College News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. The second session will be at the Daytona State College Hosseini Center at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. The center is in Building 1200.
Crowley was named one of the “100 Most Important People in Photography” by American Photo Magazine, Photographer of the Year by The White House News Photographers’ Association and is a Pulitzer Prize winner for Feature Photography.
Cumbo is the former Executive Producer of NHNZ TV, a former Producer/Writer for National Geographic TV & Film and is current owner of Opera House LIVE in Shepherdstown, W.Va. He also directed the acclaimed National Geographic documentary “Search for the Afghan Girl,” which chronicles photographer Steve McCurry’s famous cover for that magazine.
The Daytona State College School of Photography was started in 1964 and began offering an associates degree program in 1969.
Dan Biferie, the current department chairperson, said of the program, “We’re really one of few technical programs in photography in the Southeast.
Our students get a different kind of photographic education then they would find at other universities.”
Second-year photo student Jinsong Weeks raved about her experience so far.
“I love the photography program here. I think it’s a great value for your money. It’s been enjoyable and I’ve learned a lot so far.”
The other commemoration of the month is the 35th anniversary of the Southeast Museum of Photography, one of only 13 facilities in the country dedicated solely to photography.
“The gallery,” Biferie noted, “started with only a $400 display case in the former Baker Hall. It’s amazing that a couple hundred dollar investment has become what it is today.”
The museum formally opened in 1979 showcasing its inaugural exhibition, “Dorothea Lange: A Collection of Photographs.” Since then, the gallery has grown exponentially, now housing over 5,000 photographs, ranging from the 1840s to present day.
The combined celebrations kick off Monday, Oct. 20 with an Alumni Exhibition Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at SMP, which is housed in the Hosseini Center. Like all exhibits at the museum, “The Growth of a Collection Part I” is free and open to the public and features more than 4,500 photographs selected from the Museum’s permanent collection.
The Welcome Back Open Tour of the photography building begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 in Building 530. Following the tours at 10 a.m. will be a group presentation, “Life Lessons,” presented by the Student Photographic Association. All alumni are invited to participate in discussing important lessons they learned in the program, as well as pass on advice to today’s students.
After soaking up important advice, participants can make their way to room 118, where a panel presentation, “The Art of Commerce and the Commerce of Art” will be held at 11 a.m. It will be presented by members of the American Society of Media Photographers, including DSC professor Steven Benson, David Monroe and Pierre Deiurte.
Activities break for lunch at noon, then resume at 1:30 p.m. in room 118 with, “An Oral History of the Photography Program,” another panel discussion consisting of alumni and faculty who will highlight formative years of DSC’s school of photography.
Room 118 will also host the event, International Street Photography at 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 21. Following will be “A Photographic Tribute to Bruce Moyer and David Martin” which will be held in Gallery 202 from 4 to 5 p.m.
“Dave Martin was an excellent photojournalist, a consummate and dedicated professional and a wonderful person,” said AP Vice President and Director of Photography Santiago Lyon in a biography on the late photographer.
Martin was a well known Associated Press photojournalist who covered ever major news event in the South in the past 30 years, including Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Oil spill and the Alabama tornadoes of 2011. He died of an apparent heart attack in December 2013.
Biferie, one of the most instrumental faculty members in the expansion and creation of the SMP and corresponding photo program, takes pride not in his own successes, but more so in those of his former students.
“The program has very accomplished alumni working in every field of photography one could imagine, working throughout every corner of the Earth. The school has grown and evolved over the years, but continues to stay in the forefront,” he said.