BW students learn about the big picture in photo classes

Center offers instruction in camera work

By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink

In a world saturated by media, it is hard to find your own voice and means of expression. Through photography, though, people can explore aspects of their perspective on the world.

An image can capture who we are and how we see our friends, family and society in our culture. Taking photos of the world allows us to see things in new ways. Photography is not only important as a tool for documentation, but also as a medium for artistic creativity. Moments in time become preserved memories that might have been forgotten; with pictures, people in the future can be part of those moments.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts’ Project: Identity Photography class is a wonderful program that teaches students ages 14 to 18 about Adobe editing software and how to capture their story in photographs using DSLR Rebel T7 Canon cameras. The students get to take photos of Bethel Woods’ beautiful historical scenery from their own perspectives while learning about the rich history of the Woodstock festival in 1969 at the center’s museum.

Students get to use a newly upgraded, state-of-the-art digital media lab with twenty Mac computers. In addition, there are brand new Epson printers and two large streaming televisions that teachers use during demos. In the class, students learn from two extraordinary instructors – Kaitlyn Danielson, the lead teaching artist, and Michael Vorrasi, the assistant teaching artist. Both have a lot of experience in the field of fine arts.

When Candace Rivela, the assistant director of Museum Education and Creative Programs, was asked about the benefits the photography class offers teens, she said, “It gives them an opportunity to get out of the house and explore new surroundings, and gain some inspiration by learning new creative skills and seeing new places.”

During the class, each student works on understanding photo composition and the functions of the cameras. In addition, students explore photography in a creative way in an effort to find what speaks to them. At the conclusion of the class, there is a final showing where the students get to present three photos of their best work created over the program’s ten weeks.

Bethel Woods plans to hold additional Project Identity programs, like the new class Project: Identity Music Production, starting May 9 and running through June 15. In it, students will learn how to do sound mixing and audio engineering for music recordings.

Another class is Project: Identity Media Studio, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 23. Participating students get to learn how to manipulate photos and edit content, and will have the opportunity to use various online image-editing platforms such as Adobe Photoshop and many more.

Students are encouraged to apply for these exceptional classes. To find out about them and other events at Bethel Woods, go to the center’s website at bethelwoodscenter.org.