Riverside, Calif. (July 12, 2019) – Several high school students walked around Harden Square at California Baptist University, photographing the blooming rose bushes and the distinctive arches of the James Building. They were learning how to configure a camera’s depth of field option.

The College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD) hosted nearly 40 high school students who received creative training at the CAVAD Summer Academies during July 8-12. The high schoolers could enroll in one of five options: architecture, film, photography, graphic design and fine art.

Miguel Esparza, a senior at Patriot High School in Jurupa Valley, California, was one of the students who attended the weeklong photo session.

“I wanted to improve my photography and learn how to think outside of the box while also using the technical side to help me get that end result,” Esparza said. “We’ve learned a lot on the technical side, how to control your camera, know how your camera operates. It’s essentially like your partner so you have to know how it works.”

Throughout the camp, students worked with CBU faculty, learning techniques in their field of interest.

Christopher Kern, assistant professor of photography, taught the students the technical and creative aspects of photography.

“It’s all hands-on and practical. I want them to practice,” Kern said. “Yesterday I talked. Now we’re applying it all and fumbling and figuring it out. There is a very academic approach to what we went through yesterday so that they’re empowered to use this tool to create or document.”

Students enrolled in the film session worked on elements needed to create a film throughout the week. The students planned a storyline for a psychological thriller, created a set and then learned about lighting and camera shots.

Katherine Tucker, a sophomore at Sky Mountain Charter School, an online school, said the process of creating a film was fun.

“I really love film. I wanted to learn more about if this is something I want to go into,” Tucker said. “I love how you can piece together all these different pieces of the puzzle and together it makes a story that makes you feel like you’re actually there.”

Mark Roberson, dean of CAVAD, said the Summer Academies serve both as a recruiting tool and community outreach.

"We really hope that giving students real exposure to these disciplines before they officially decide on a college major is a big step toward them being able to ‘Live Their Purpose.’ We want to help them make informed decisions about their future and their lives by letting them experience these pursuits firsthand,” Roberson said.  “These students get a real idea of what these pursuits will look like in college and beyond.”