Category Archives: Photography and Imaging

Mystery Photo: Can You Help?

Guest post by Art Center Archivist Robert Dirig

This photograph of Art Center Photography and Imaging students comes to us from the collection of Lorraine Streeter, who served as director of the department from 1956 to 1993. During her tenure, she collected images of students, photo shoots and student work. Streeter passed away in 2004, and her wonderful collection of 81 photographs was generously donated to Art Center’s Archives in 2006.

We know that this mystery photo shows a group of Photography and Imaging students, but that is about all we know about this image. We don’t know the names of any of the students, the photographer or the year it was taken. Do you recognize anyone? If you know any information about this photo, please let us know!

In addition to archiving Art Center’s collections, the Archives also accepts donations of papers, photos, video, publications, and objects related to the College. Do you have any Art Center materials that you would like to donate to us? If so, please contact Archivist Robert Dirig at 626.396.2208 or robert.dirig@artcenter.edu.

To visit the Archives or to donate materials, contact Art Center Archivist Robert Dirig at 626.396.2208 or robert.dirig@artcenter.edu.

Ad and Photo Students … Join Biker Gang?

On a recent afternoon on the south lawn of Art Center’s Hillside Campus, Advertising student Tyler Jensen and Photography and Imaging student Lena Bujbara were part of an impromptu, Hollywood-style biker gang.

Jensen and Abujbara recently met up with several models from L.A. Casting to work on a collaborative project for Cazadores Tequila.

As part of the Advertising Department-sponsored ShootSell class, the two art-directed and photographed a series of retro biker scenarios for an integrated ad campaign that takes a visual cue from “B” movies from the 1960s.

There were no fights reported.

In other Advertising Department news, don’t miss today’s Advertising Department Speakers Series, in which Monotype Imaging will be talking about developments in Web fonts. Today at 2 p.m. in room A13. Open to all students.

Students Win Big at the ADDYs


Advertising students Adam Chang, Melissa Ploysophon, Becky Ginos and Jack Collier, in collaboration with Photography and Imaging student Jeremy Jackson, recently won a gold and two silver ADDYs for their work at the local ADDY Awards, the first of a three-tier, national competition.

Chang and Ploysophon went on to beat out over 1,000 other entries from across the country to win a National Gold ADDY for their Atomic Fireballs campaign. Film student Ian Kammer won a gold for Boxer.

Congrats on these well-deserved honors!

In Case You Missed It

Photo by Eric Curry

As you know, there’s always something going on when it comes to Art Center alumni, students and faculty.

Some of the latest:

Welcome Home!

Like we shared last month, two recent alums from Art Center’s Photography and Imaging Department, Christie Hemm and Maeghan Henry, were among eight artists who recently completed the fifth annual Jeunes Talents photography program. This cultural tourism initiative combines tourism and the arts, photography and real-life experience, travel and inspiration, and American and French sensibilities to show life in France today.

Hemm and Henry are back from France. Watch the videos below to hear about their adventures in France:

Art Center Grads Participating in Jeunes Talents

Two recent alums from Art Center’s Photography and Imaging Department, Christie Hemm and Maeghan Henry, are among eight artists who recently completed the fifth annual Jeunes Talents photography program. This cultural tourism initiative combines tourism and the arts, photography and real-life experience, travel and inspiration, and American and French sensibilities to show life in France today.

Neither Hemm nor Henry had been to France before the program. Watch the videos below to hear their thoughts on their upcoming adventures:

Be sure to follow along with Christie, Magehan and the other artists at Jeunes Talents.

Shattering the Glass Backboard: Alumnus Chronicles Lakers Championship

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein, from Journey to the Ring

Like many of the professional athletes he captures on film, Photography and Imaging alumnus Andrew Bernstein is recognized as an all-star in his respective field. As NBA Senior Official Photographer and NBA Photos Senior Director, Bernstein’s photography has appeared on thousands of magazine covers around the world.

What’s different about Bernstein’s work is the unique personal rapport that he’s developed with the athletes he shoots, allowing him exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments. His work has been exhibited in solo shows around the country, including a 20-year retrospective of his work in 2004. Bernstein is among just four photographers whose work was selected for permanent exhibit in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also instrumental in the development and use of the multiple-camera Flash Wizard II system, which revolutionized indoor sports action photography. His most recent book, Journey To The Ring: Behind the Scenes With The 2010 NBA Champion Lakers, written by Lakers coach Phil Jackson, chronicles the team’s season leading up to the championship.

Just in time for the NBA playoffs, we caught up with Bernstein to talk to him about basketball, photography and everything in between.

view slideshow

Dotted Line: Tell us about what you do.
Bernstein: I am the team photographer for the NBA’s two local teams, the Lakers and Clippers. I travel with the teams and cover all the major NBA events—Olympic Games, USA Basketball, WNBA, All-Star Games, Finals. As a senior director, I oversee various team photographers, mostly in the Western Conference. With my boss, the VP of NBA photos, we manage photography throughout the league.

I started working as a freelance photographer for the NBA in 1983. That year’s NBA All-Star Game was my first assignment. I continued freelancing for them and in 1986, helped create the position of official NBA photographer. It was a contract position, and I continued that in that manner until I became an employee of the NBA.

I’ve worked as the team photographer for basically every team and every venue in L.A. since then. I was the Dodgers team photographer from ’84 to ’95. And I’ve become the director of photography for AEG’s two main facilities, the Nokia Theater and Staples Center. I have a crew of five or six people, depending on what’s going on that time of year. We’re responsible for photographing every event in these venues, sporting or otherwise. In addition, I’ve been fortunate to run a successful business, Andrew D. Bernstein and Associates Photography, Inc.

Dotted Line: Which sport do you enjoy photographing the most? Is there one that’s more difficult to capture?
Bernstein: I’ve shot every sport known to man. Baseball was very tedious and challenging because of the boredom factor— sometimes you can go an entire game without really getting a great picture.

When you shoot a hockey or football or a basketball game, though, something’s always happening. It makes it fun to shoot. I love shooting football—I shot UCLA football for five years, and shot the Raiders and Rams when they were in L.A. Hockey is probably the hardest to photograph, because we’re physically limited to where we’re allowed to position ourselves and shoot—we have to shoot through a little hole cut in the boards beside the rink. Not to mention, it’s very fast moving, with players coming toward and away from you at a fast speed. It can get crazy.

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Reflecting Back at 80: A Department is Born

Guest post by Art Center Archivist Robert Dirig

The year was 1931. Nevada legalized gambling. The Empire State building was completed. And Art Center created its Photography (now called Photography and Imaging) Department.

Pictured: Advanced Photography students shooting dancers outside, 1949 (photographer unknown)

Initially led by Will Connell, the department offered coursework in amateur and professional photography.

By 1935, there were 12 faculty members and in addition to the core classes, there were specialized courses in portraiture, color photography, 16mm cinematography, and composition and lighting.

Ansel Adams joined the growing program’s faculty in the early 1940s, joining such faculty members as Fred Archer, Otto Halmer, Edward Kaminski, Albert King and Charlie Potts.

In this photograph from 1949, advanced photography students are shooting dancers outside. Do you recognize anyone in the photo?

What are your memories of our Photography Department? To visit the Archives, or if you recognize anyone in the photo, contact Art Center Archivist Robert Dirig at 626.396.2208 or robert.dirig@artcenter.edu.

In Case You Missed It

As you know, there’s always something going on when it comes to Art Center alumni, students and faculty.

Photo by Jennie Warren

Some of the latest:

  • Photography and Imaging alumna Jennie Warren shot a recent cover and feature story for LA Weekly. Even more interesting—the image was created in camera with no post-production. LA Weekly
  • Product Design alum Spencer Nikosey introduces new products, including the iPad 2 carrying case, all made in his downtown L.A. studio. KillSpencer.com
  • Professor Yoshio Ikezaki has a solo exhibition of washi sculptures—The Poetry Of Paper, The Earth Breathes – Mind Landscape—at PYO Gallery through April 23. PYO Gallery
  • A collection of four video works by Graduate Art alumna Emilie Halpern are on display in Cafe Hammer through April 10. Hammer
  • Graduate student Yuin Chein shows us what the Web would be like if Google were a lackluster employee. Sloppy Google

OutNetwork Presents Mapping at Brewery Annex

OutNetwork, Art Center’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, Intersex and Allies (GLBTQIA) student club, will exhibit the work of a dozen artists and designers the L.A. Artcore Brewery Annex in downtown Los Angeles throughout March. The exhibit, Mapping, examines the GLBTQIA community and their location geographically, politically, internationally and locally.

Mapping is an extension of the mission of OutNetwork, which not only supports and embraces a variety of individuals from every socio-economic background, but also provides opportunities for networking and advancement for its members.

An opening reception will be this Sunday, March 6, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Brewery. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Art Center students exhibiting in the show include:

  • Lauren Coffin (Advertising)
  • Adam Cottingham (Environmental Design)
  • Natalie Embrey (Photography and Imaging)
  • Richard Funsten (Graphic Design)
  • Braden Graeber (Environmental Design)
  • Jaime Lopez (Graphic Design)
  • Jessamyn Prince (Photography and Imaging)
  • Rene Rodriguez (Photography and Imaging)
  • Bryce Shawcross (Graphic Design)

Alumni exhibiting:

  • Takayuki Shimada (Fine Art)
  • Jason Shorr (Illustration)
  • Jennifer Whitney (Illustration)

The exhibition will be on display through March 31 at L.A. Artcore Brewery Annex. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.