Joe Johnson
\nSpecial to In Motion<\/p>\n
To keep up in a rapidly evolving world, Daytona State College continues to introduce video and multimedia courses into its longtime curriculum based on \u201cfreezing moments,\u201d also known as photography.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive years ago we didn\u2019t have a video course. Now we have two video courses and one multimedia,\u201d says Eric Breitenbach, Senior Professor at DSC\u2019s Southeast Center for Photography.<\/p>\n
Three classes may not seem like much, but other courses in drawing and design also have been added and traditional darkroom classes are on their way out. And this is only in the long-standing photography major. A new major is now entertain its second year. Offered as a two-year Associates of Science degree, the Interactive Media AS is proving to be a popular draw among media-savvy students.<\/p>\n
The new degree offers classes in journalism, music, web design and web publishing, graphic design and of course photography and video. Five writing classes are required because the focus is on storytelling.<\/p>\n
In fact, DSC graduates such as Steven Katona \u2014 who landed the job of managing editor of the Independent Florida Alligator based on his editing and writing ability \u2014 are finding their multimedia skills come in quite handy in the real working world.<\/p>\n
Katona came back to DSC at the end of spring term to talk to students about what it takes to succeed in the media in the Digital Age. Speaking to the Journalism 1100 students, as well as the Mass Media and Popular Culture class, his message was clear: read a lot, write a lot and be able to present your work on multiple platforms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about story telling,\u201d says Breitenbach. \u201cThey come into the program already knowing the software, it\u2019s the story telling that is the focus and technology has offered a new story telling medium.\u201d<\/p>\n
Breitenbach recalls a student that asked if he could shoot an assignment on his phone. \u201cAt the time I thought that didn\u2019t make any sense, but it makes perfect sense. That was 10 years ago and the quality is much better now. It just shows how video and phones are the biggest change in the profession and they\u2019re everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some fundamental darkroom classes will still be offered but only as hobby, or elective classes. The schools primary focus is on professionally ambitious students.<\/p>\n
One recent graduate, Daniel Dorsa is currently working in Brooklyn as a freelance photographer and at the studio Root. Just out of college, Dorsa and a friend began a music and art blog based out of Orlando called Tiny Waves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe worked on Tiny Waves for about a year before it spawned into a collaboration with the strictly music review blog, Portals,\u201d says Dorsa.<\/p>\n
During this time he reviewed bands throughout much of Florida but after being offered an internship with VICE, Dorsa moved to New York City. Most of his work with VICE was based on music reviews but it was his knowledge of photography that landed him a job at the studio Root.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s gnarly. It\u2019s really insane. Sometimes I work 17 hour days. I hardly work less than 12, but it\u2019s a great platform for meeting people and learning,\u201d Dorsa says about his experience at Root.
\nWhile Dorsa mostly works in the equipment room and as an assistant during shoots he is thankful for what he learned at DSC and can see its benefits further down the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t override photo altogether but I agree that a strong focus should be placed on video,\u201d Dorsa says. \u201cIt\u2019s super important to start learning it. You can\u2019t do just one thing anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dorsa went on to describe the people he\u2019s seen who\u2019ve worked in fashion for many years and unfortunately the videos he\u2019s seen them make. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of terrible videos because they weren\u2019t trained. But it\u2019s part of the industry now.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Dorsa praises DSC\u2019s focus on video and multimedia he half jokingly criticized their poor selection of industry standard equipment and lack of training as assistants.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone wants to be the photographer,\u201d Dorsa says, \u201cbut you\u2019re not going to start as one. If you know your equipment you can be a better assistant and the more jobs you get the more connections you make.\u201d<\/p>\n
More importantly Dorsa says, \u201cNo one is good at it right away, and no one is good at every aspect of it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Joe Johnson Special to In Motion To keep up in a rapidly evolving world, Daytona State College continues to introduce video and multimedia courses into its longtime curriculum based on \u201cfreezing moments,\u201d also known as photography. \u201cFive years ago we didn\u2019t have a video course. Now we have two video Continue reading Multimedia instruction continues to rise on campus<\/span>