The End

Editor's note: One more in our series of student blog entries.  You will hear and see images from our students themselves: their thoughts and reflections on the course, their work, and the work of others. Come back often to see what is happening in the Lambton Digital Photography program.

The End 
by Sarah DiDonato

Well we are here at the end of our journey together, and I have to say I am so sad to see everyone off. I still remember the first day walking in to the studio and sitting down at one of the tables.  We sat in a circle and Richard introduced himself to us. I was so scared to be back as a student.  I’ve never really done well with school and being in the working force for so long I was a little afraid, but little did I know how amazing these last two years would be and how close we would all become; none of us knew that we would end up becoming a little family.

Sarah (on the right) with some of the
 students from our very first class, during field study in NYC.
photo by Richard Beland

Being the first group to go through this new program at Lambton has been challenging, but we have not let that get us down. We have all done some amazing and unforgettable work. The studio was like our second home. As I said before, school has never been very easy for me, and finding friends has been equally hard. But since day one, everyone was so welcoming, friendly and supportive, it makes me humbled that I was lucky enough to have such wonderful people in my classes.

Now to our teachers: our teachers are so amazing! They are so educated, supportive and compassionate. They would help us any way they could. They pushed us to be better and to make sure we came out of this program ready for real life challenges and they showed us how important it is to be professional at all times. I came in to this program never having touched a DLSR camera before, and now I have a piece of my work forever in Lambton College Art archives. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to be part of the first round of people through this program and to have had such amazing teachers.

I am so proud to see all my classmates become the amazing photographers we are today.  I’ve enjoyed seeing how much we have all excelled. The work we have all put out is incredible. You can tell there is so much passion, emotion and hard work put in to everyone’s pictures. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us all. It has been a pleasure working with such wonderful teachers and classmates. I wish you all the best for a bright future!

In the Spot Light

Editor's note: One more in our series of student blog entries.  You will hear and see images from our students themselves: their thoughts and reflections on the course, their work, and the work of others. Come back often to see what is happening in the Lambton Digital Photography program.

By Kaitlyn Eastman

When I was thinking about this blog post, a ton of ideas came to mind. As my mind raced through so many ideas, I figured I could sit here and tell you all about how this course has changed my life in the best of ways, how our teachers (more like mentors) have taught and inspired us, but then I thought why not let a first year student tell you her thoughts and experiences. So, I decided to put a first year Digital Photography student in the spotlight!

            Our teachers have always taught us to pay attention to detail: never freeze a moment in time without thinking about what you want the outcome to be. They’ve taught us about composition and quality; they’ve taught us how to store emotion and feeling inside a frame. As I’ve come to really start searching for meaning, composition, lighting, and details in everything I look at, I’ve come to admire a lot of photographers and their work.  

I’m in my fourth semester of the Digital Photography program, and the first years are in their second semester. We have been able to view one another’s works of art. The first year who specifically got my attention was Cheyann. I’ve come to admire her attention to detail, her subject matter and also her compositions.

Photo by Cheyann Howard

          Cheyann Howard is a first- year Digital Photography student. Recently, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with her and getting to know her. Cheyann is 20-years old and a student here at Lambton College from Exeter, Ontario. She found her love for photography when she was around 13 years old. She saved up all her babysitting money for just over 2 years in order to purchase her first point-and-shoot camera. A few years later, in grades 10-12, she took a number of communications technology classes, from animation to photography. When asked how she felt about the Digital Photography program she said, “ I love this program!” 


            When I asked Cheyann what she has learnt so far about the program, without hesitation she said, “One of the biggest things I have learned in the program is how to control light. Over the last several months I have improved both my studio lighting as well as natural light. A great deal of these improvements have come from learning the basic equivalent exposures, sunny 16 rule, as well as how to properly use a light meter.”  After she is done school, Cheyann wants to run and manage her own photography studio, specializing in weddings, new life and family portraiture.

Photo by Cheyann Howard

            While I was talking with her, Cheyann said something that stayed with me: “Choosing Lambton was an easy decision for me, due to the fact I felt so much at home”. I can completely relate! The DPH program is a home away from home and I’m so thankful to have learnt so much from this program and to have a great support system from faculty and my classmates. Being in my last year, it’s bitter sweet, but seeing students like Cheyann (and others) grow because of the program makes it so exciting!

Cheyann’s photography adventure is to be continued…

To all first years as Ernst Haas said;
“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”

I wish you the best of luck in your photography journey!

Here are a few of Cheyann’s photographs for you to view and admire.

Photo by Cheyann Howard

Photo by Cheyann Howard

Photo by Cheyann Howard

The journey from Lagos to Lambton

After a quiet summer on the blog you will now start to see regular updates on what is happening in the Lambton College Digital Photography program.

Classes start in just a few days.  The faculty has been preparing and all met yesterday to discuss and plan for an exciting new year.  We are eager to get going!

We were very pleased to see our Oluwasegun Alawode, or as we know him "Bisi" featured in the newest edition of the Sarnia This Week newspaper. http://eedition.sarniathisweek.com/doc/Sarnia-This-Week/swpr_28-08-2014_/2014082701/    Bisi will be starting in the second year of our program next week.

Bisi is a talented and friendly student who has made a big impression around the school and community.

Here is the article, please have a read and visit Bisi's Facebook page to see more of his images:

www.facebook.com/photo.by.bc

Mac Education pricing

Well it's summer and our first ever group of students have moved on after a successful initial completion of the Lambton Digital Photography program.  We wish them well and most certainly will be in touch!  Don't be strangers.

September isn't too far away and we will have a new class of first years!  The registration numbers are looking great, so we will see you soon.

For those who are looking for their Mac laptops for the program, you may not be aware that Apple has special education pricing that you are eligible for.

You can purchase your equipment anywhere, and we are certainly happy if you support a local business, but you might also want to take a look at the Apple offers.

We are not endorsing this or any vendor, but simply making you aware of the option if it interests you.

LINK to Back to School Offer from Apple

Front Page photo

Angela Smolders who just graduated from the Lambton College Digital Photography program has her photography featured in today's National Post newspaper.  You will find her photos on the Front page and page 3!  As well as additional images on their website (link below).

The images are of members from the Lev Tahor Jewish sect, who have been in the national news over allegations of child neglect.  While in Guatemala Angela spotted individuals who appeared to be those who fled from Canada and photographed them in the small village where they have relocated.

Angela showed great photojournalistic instincts that led to the national newspaper following her lead and assigning two reporters to investigate the story that accompanies the images.

Great work by our Dean's Honour list grad! Way to go!

An interesting twist is that both Lambton faculty Dave Chidley's Canadian Press images, and Lambton student Angela Smolder's exclusive images appear with the article.

Link to the Online Story and Additional Photos

Our First Graduates

It was a memorable day as the Digital Photography program had our very first graduates receive their diplomas at Lambton College's 47th Convocation on June 14th, 2014.

Our initial two years has been an exciting time as we have had endless "firsts" as the program developed and grew.  From breaking in our brand-new studio, to the New York City field study, the learning experience has been unforgettable.

We are proud to see our ground-breaking initial class make it through.  Ten students made it to the end of their two-year program education and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Convocation was an exciting milestone as four of the students were in attendance to receive their honours.  Included in the grads was the very first student to register for the program, Mary Miller.

Our first registered student Mary Miller stops under the lights, mid-stage to pose for a photo with her Diploma

Joining Mary on stage to receive their diplomas were Spencer Drake, Karah Schultz and Angela Smolders.

Spencer Drake who was involved in many extra curricular activities at the school including the Students' Administrative Council gets a hug from Lambton College President Judith Morris. 

Our first Graduates, l-r Karah Shultz, Mary Miller, Spencer Drake, Angela Smolders

Angela Smolders was recognized with a Dean's Award for her academic standing in the program.

Faculty Dave Chidley, Mark Russell and Program Coordinator Richard Beland were in attendance to participate in the Convocation and congratulate our grads!

Great job!

Our first Graduates, l-r Spencer Drake, Coordinator Richard Beland, Mary Miller, Angela Smolders, Karah Shultz and faculty Dave Chidley

Lambton Digital Photography featured in Sarnia Journal newspaper

The Sarnia Journal newspaper, this week published a feature article on the Lambton College Digital Photography Image Challenge.  The feature and images were also posted on their website virtual newspaper, and a Gallery of the 12 winning images can be found in the Photos section of the website.  

The article is very complimentary to the quality of the images our students produced.  Thanks, to the Journal for recognizing our students and their work! 

Link to Virtual Newspaper

Sarnia Journal Website

Two-page feature article with photos from the Lambton College Digital Photography Image Challenge. 

Image Challenge Awards presentation event

The Lambton College Image Challenge awards were presented at a fun gathering of students and faculty at Paddy Flaherty's Pub on April 22nd.

Winners were announced and received their awards, and everyone got to relax just a little, as the semester comes to a close.  Here are a few photos of the festivities and our overall winners.

Thanks to everyone involved from the judges, sponsors, faculty and of course the students for making the competition such a tremendous success.

Students applaud one of the winners.  Photo by Joan Elliott

Students gathered for the presentation of Image Challenge awards.  Photo by Joan Elliott 

Faculty Dave Chidley (left) and Richard Beland present one of the category winning awards to Nathena Lightheart.  Photo by Joan Elliott

Dave Chidley watches as Richard Beland shows a keepsake photo composition of thousands of individual images taken by the second year students before presenting a copy to each of them.   Photo by Joan Elliott

The Overall Image Competition - Geri Freeborn Memorial Award Winners:
Kaityn Eastman, Second Year and Christina Duizer, First Year (on the right).    Photo by Joan Elliott

Image Challenge Winners

Lambton College Digital Photography program Image Challenge

The Image Challenge is our print competition where students submit their best work from their portfolios at the end of the term.  Each image is judged and scored with the top score in each category and overall winners being declared.  

Judging took place in the Digital Photography studio and was conducted by three respected photography experts; Leonard Segall, Executive of the Sarnia Photographic Club; Petro Tiahur professional commercial photographer; and veteran Sarnia photojournalist Glenn Ogilvie.

The judging was intense and took over six hours to complete.  The competition was very close and many of the winners are separated by extremely small scoring margins.  

The competition involved a total of 130 images entered into seven categories

-22 first-year students must enter four separate images.  They have four categories to choose from (Nature, Portrait, Commercial, Un-classified)

-10 second-year students must enter five separate images.  They have three categories to choose from (People, Places, Product)

We held an exciting awards ceremony held April 22^nd at Paddy Flaherty’s pub on the waterfront in Sarnia.  After the ceremony we were treated to a live band courtesy of Angela Smolders and the staff at Paddy Flaherty's.  It was a great time, thanks to everyone involved!

Thanks to sponsors who generously provided prizes for the student winners:

-Camera Canada / Forest City Image Centre

-Vistek

-Carman’s foto source, Sarnia

-Paddy Flaherty’s

The Overall Competition winners receive a plaque and financial Scholarship Awards from The Geri Freeborn Memorial fund.  The winners are decided by the total score on all their images entered in the competition. 

The Geri Freeborn Memorial Awards were created by program faculty in honour of a former Digital Photography student who passed away suddenly in January 2013. At age 57, Freeborn was the oldest student to enroll in the College’s Digital Photography program. She has been remembered as a hard working student who was creatively driven.

Congratulations to all our students.  The level of competition and quality of your entries was superb.  

All of you have made us all proud! 

The winners are:

First Year Competition

Overall winner – Christina Duizer

Second Place - Jessica Dillon

Third Place - Elizabeth Bosma

First Year Category Winners

Portrait – Jessica Dillon

Commercial – Christina Duizer

Nature – Alexa Coupland

Unclassified – Nathena Lightheart

Second Year Competition

Overall Winner – Kaitlyn Eastman

Runner up – Fera Kennedy

Second Year Category Winners

People – Jeff McCoy

Product - Fera Kennedy

Places – Angela Smolders

 

One image from 1st Year Overall Winner - Christina Duizer  "Tea Tower"

One image from 1st Year Overall 2nd Place Winner  - Jessica Dillon  "I'll Drink to That"

One image from 1st Year Overall 3rd Place Winner - Elizabeth Bosma  "Transfixed"

1st Year Commercial category winner - Christina Duizer  "Pulleys"

1st Year Nature category winner - Alexa Coupland  "Frosty Tree"

1st Year Portrait category winner - Jessica Dillon  "Roar"

1st Year Unclassified category winner - Nathena Lightheart  "Universal Beauty"

One image from 2nd Year Overall Winner - Kaitlyn Eastman  "Beautifully Broken"

One image from 2nd Year Overall Runner Up - Fera Kennedy  "Not Einstein" 

2nd Year People category winner - Jeff McCoy  "Strength of Character"

2nd Year Product category winner - Fera Kennedy  "Balloon Girl"

2nd Year Places category winner - Angela Smolders  "A Warm Invitation"