GIT hosts Canon photography workshop

  Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

As an aspiring photographer, Pitt State senior Hope Joyner has long been a fan of and loyal user of Canon products.

So when a Canon representative brought to campus more than $100,000 worth of new Canon equipment for students to observe and use, Joyner was in photography paradise.

“Being a strict Canon user, I was more than ready to see everything they had to offer,” Joyner said. “To not only see, but get to have the hands-on feel for these high-class lenses and camera bodies was an experience I won't soon forget.”

Bobby Malish, a senior professional market specialist with Canon, visited the Kansas Technology Center on Tuesday to host a hands-on educational workshop for students interested in photography. The equipment he brought included several top-of-the-line camera bodies and lenses.

After a verbal demonstration and lecture inside the classroom, students got the chance to use the equipment to shoot photos at the KTC.

“Experiential learning is absolutely vital to a student’s educational experience,” Malish said. “We like to conduct these workshops at universities across the country so that the students are exposed to the very best in today’s camera technology.”

Assistant Professor Rion Huffman said the workshops give the students a hands-on lesson in equipment that today’s professionals are using.

“These types of experiences are wonderful for our students, because it gives them the chance to use equipment that we don’t have here on campus,” he said. “This is some of the very best camera equipment on the market, and to have the chance to use them and learn on them is very beneficial to their overall educational experience.”

Senior Caitlin Shepard said the experience enhanced her passion for photography.

“I think these kind of experiences are important for students because they give us the opportunity to experience what's beyond the classroom,” she said. “We're able to have a chance to actually use equipment that leading professionals use, and that's not something you get to do every day. I think it also motivates and excites us to pursue the things we are passionate about.”

Joyner said she is grateful to Pittsburg State for providing these types of experiences for the students.

“As an aspiring photographer, I am very thankful for the opportunities we continue to have at Pitt State,” Joyner said. “The professors go above and beyond what is asked of them, and they truly give us the experience we need in order to be successful.”

To view some of the students’ photos from the workshop, visit https://www.flickr.com/groups/2891659@N23/pool.