CSU Summer Arts at California State Monterey

CSU Summer Arts at California State Monterey by Aline SmithsonSeptember 7, 2014

©Joan Arhelger

This past July, I had the pleasure of participating in the Summer Arts Program at California State Monterey. Photographer and Educator, Nicole Jean Hill, created a wonderful program titled: Photographic Story Telling with Light and Color. Students explored how the time of day and direction and quality of light affect the photographic print and developed a photographic series that exploits light and color as a narrative device. The course was divided into four parts: Light & Color, Storytelling, Printing, and Editing & Presentation. She invited 5 additional educators to carry out the program: David H. Wells, a master of light and color, Holly Andres, a well celebrated photographic story teller, Erika Gentry, a magician at photoshop and printing, Douglas Dertinger, all around expert, and me, to assist with editing, sequencing, and final touches.

I was blown away by what the participants created in such a short time, these images reflecting only one photograph created for a larger narrative. Bravo to all the talented photographers and to the dynamic educators. And thank you to Nicole for her vision and guidance.