Professor Jeff Jankos’ “Light and Lens” exhibition features 65 photographs taken by 23 students taken over the course of 12 weeks.
The exhibition, which opened Aug. 25, allows visitors to purchase the photos.
“I think it’s important for a photographer to learn how to take great photographs but to also learn how to market their work to the public,” Janko said. “It gives the students a chance to invite the public to their exhibition and to meet the public and talk about their work.”
Each semester Janko teaches three photography courses: beginning digital photography, intermediate digital photography and advanced digital photography. Each class is four weeks long, and the photographs that are featured are from students who attend all three classes. While these classes teach photography basics, students also learn how to market and create an exhibition of photographs.
Each student selects five of their best photographs under one central theme of their choosing to be featured and sold.
“The most difficult part of selecting the top five for the show was narrowing down the choices to five and also considering what the public might be receptive to buying,” said Marjorie Boudreaux.
The students learned many lessons including how to operate a camera, working with Adobe software and marketing their photographs. While these are the core lessons, students also learned the art of photography — the things that can’t be taught in a classroom.
“I learned that with photography, you need to have patience and flexibility,” said Cassandra Hinojosa. “Preparation for the unexpected is a must.”
The exhibit will be up in the lobby of the DMC Center for Economic Development through Sept. 23. Photographs will be available for purchase until they are taken down.
