By Evie Miller
Photo by Evie Miller
Have you ever considered taking a double-blocked CA but weren’t sure you could commit that much time to one pursuit?
Consider Willow’s CA media arts program. A CA, also known as a certificate of artistry, can be hard to commit to, considering that it’s a four-year program of class every day. But if you like photography or movie making, then this CA might be for you, as many incoming freshmen have decided.
“I feel it’s very compact,” freshman Nolan Dasilva-Gonske says. “Even though Mr. Billings spreads out the projects, it’s always like there’s another project coming. Although, I feel it’s good because I get to learn more varieties and different camera shots, which I really like to learn about.”
In some perspectives, the workload is very manageable and reasonable for the CA.
“For double-blocked classes, I feel like the due dates are somewhat reasonable even though they are double blocked and they are more often,” freshman Naomi Gugel says.
The workload is double because the class is double blocked, so you have to work hard in class, especially because you cannot take the cameras home to work on the work at home. Some ways to balance the work is take photos in class and do the writing at home if needed.
“Due dates are not hard if you do the work in the time you are given,” freshman Mable Marshall says.
Mostly, the class time students are given is enough for the people in the class, but it’s every day so they have to make sure they stay on task.
“It is a little hard to keep up in media arts, but if you’re paying attention it is not that hard to keep up with,” freshman Evan Bostock says.
The work they do in the CA depends on what students have done before. If students finish a project assigned, they have to do a critique where they show all the photos they took and the class critiques the photos. If it’s a project day, students just go straight with the camera to walk around taking photos.
“I’m either learning a technique, watching a movie, planning and shooting a project or critiquing,” freshman Couper Harowski says. “Specific skills I’m learning are look space, focus/exposure, photo size, composition rules.”
The work really helps to broaden the knowledge of the material to a passionate extent.
“In class daily, I’m broadening my knowledge,” Gugel said. “I like to work with my classmates to help me get more creative with my photos and enhance them. This year, I’m learning how to use a camera and use camera angles. The different shot sizes enhance my media artwork.”
If you’re interested in a future in media arts, whether as a CA or elective, talk to Mr. Billings or Mr. Soileau for more information.
