Life at PrairieView

Life at PrairieView eh…well here it goes! Like anything new, it’s always scary at first. My first day was a bit of a blur; all I remember was being super nervous and being completely confused. Not confused in a bad way, it was just that everything was so new and I didn’t know anyone. That all changed after the first day when Christine (a fellow classmate) had asked if I would mind driving her to her car. The rest is history folks… the end. Just kidding!

Dian and Sarah shooting in Stephen Juba Park

One of the major things that I discovered within the first month or so at PrairieView is that your mind will quickly be blown away with all this new knowledge. I personally was blown away by the good old histogram I never thought I’d use, and that quickly changed. I feel like I’ve learnt so much already and were just creeping up to that half way mark and I know there’s still so much more to go!

A scared potato for a Creative Imaging assignment

I would like to say that I feel like we’re a family at PrairieView. There’s not many of us so everyone knows who everyone else is and get along great! If you are ever having any problems there’s always either a teacher or a fellow student you can talk to and get advice from. I feel like we all support each other and it’s really a great place to be! The atmosphere at PrairieView is awesome because we all get to hang out with each other whenever we want and its just very easy going. We often get into some in depth conversations about our future assignments from Paolo or what Ross is having for lunch that day or even asking Aaron every question in the book. It’s quite entertaining at most of our lunches, breaks and whenever else we are all together. I'll talk about all the classes now, which is why were all here at PrairieView!

A slide film shot.

Analogue Techniques was probably the most nerve-wracking class for me because the darkroom was a scary, scary place to me before school. I didn’t know anything about developing prints or film and the fact that it had to be done in almost complete darkness was a terrible thought. Now the darkroom is a fun place to be and have fun with your work. It’s very exciting to see that first print and to keep on improving on them afterwards too!

Portrait of a dog.

Digital Techniques is awesome too! In this class though we have learned all about Lightroom, which was also a foreign concept before school started but now I definitely could not live without it. I’m already starting to feel the same about Photoshop and we just started learning all about it. The reason why I enjoy this class is because it gives you a chance to alter your images after you take them and be completely creative without really any limit to what you can do.

Portrait of Steven

Creative Imaging is all about being creative and shooting lots (which I have to work on). In this class we have so many opportunities and unique assignments, which drives you to work harder with each one. We also get a chance to learn about different types of photography there is out there and maybe help you decide which genre you would like to pursue.

Experimenting with Bokeh at Christmas time.

Industry Studies I find is very helpful with learning all the key business aspects that go along with being a photographer. There is so much that you need to know and is a little bit overwhelming at times, but overall a great class. I cannot wait to learn all about contracts, pricing and how to run my own business over the next few months!

On location portrait shoot.

Video Capture is definitely different than any of the other classes and adds a different aspect of the industry. I do enjoy taking video and editing it together almost as much as I like to take photos. Video and photos go well together because they both can tell stories equally as well. I would like to be able to incorporate video into my photography business somehow too because its something more to offer to clients.

Rusted old truck.

Last but certainly not least of the classes is Image Capture. This class I have to say has taught me the most thus far. I’ve learnt so much about how to properly use my camera that I never even knew existed. Histograms have definitely become my best friend along with my tripod! Never would have thought I would say that though. Image Capture has taught me most of the ins and outs of my gear and how to get the best results in most situations. I know how to be a ready shooter and be prepared for a lot of things that I wouldn’t have a clue about before.

Portrait of Dylan.

Overall PrairieView is a great place to be, meet fellow photographers and learn more than you’ll ever image. I feel like I can truly say I’ve become a better person and photographer even after only being here for five months. Thanks PV!

Alyssa Arnold

PV Diploma Student

2011-12