Today, the interview introduced by natural light is a student who likes to "talk" with pictures. His photography major has studied abroad in the United States and won the favor of 5 top art schools, including NYU New York University, SVA New York School of Visual Arts, Pratt Pratt College of Arts, SAIC Chicago School of Arts, and RIT Rochester Institute of Technology! More generous scholarship! She is Xie, a student studying abroad majoring in natural light photography.
Xie is currently studying at New York University Tisch During her interview, I learned that she not only loved photography, but also was a cool girl who loved philosophy and art history. She said that she began to like photography in the year of junior year. At first, she wanted to seek psychological release. But gradually, in the process of learning, her understanding of photography became more and more sophisticated, and she was attracted to this major. So she felt very lucky to find something she loved and learn from it. I was also very lucky to encounter natural light, which broadened my understanding and dimension of this major.
Xie's application experience for studying abroad in the United States in photography:
Q: How do you feel about receiving offers from 5 TOP art schools?
To be honest, the mood of receiving the email at that time was actually quite calm, probably because it was usually a person who was not surprised. The thought in his mind at that time might be: it was a new journey, and he hoped that photography majors could settle down well in the next four years when studying abroad.
Q: How long have you been in the course of Natural Light Works Collection? Do you have basic courses?
The portfolio course lasted about half a year, because the total application time is only half a year. I also took several basic courses of painting.
Q: How many works are there in the collection? Let's talk about these works?
He has done two works, "166-1" and "Book of Answer". "166-1" is a work that records my grandparents' works from my perspective, while "Book of Anwser" is more like a work of interaction between me and my friends, and then creates image files for everyone from my perspective.
Q: Which of these two works is your favorite?
My favorite is "166-1", because, especially today, it means a lot to me. At first, the original intention of doing this work was to find a way to break the gap between me and my elders. Because I was independent when I was young, I didn't get along so well with my family, so I didn't know how to say something when I wanted to. Therefore, I spent a month recording their lives with images, and at the same time, I used this way to accompany and retain a memory.
This work is more precious to me today, because my grandfather passed away in the first half of this year, and it is difficult for me to touch the paper with his image for a long time. But I am lucky that I left this period of time in this way, which also made me feel for the first time that my work is not just a work, but it means more.
Q: Which work is more difficult in the process? In this work, how does the teacher help you solve problems?
In fact, we didn't encounter any real difficulties in the process, and there may be a little inspiration blocking occasionally, but in that state, many problems will be solved quickly. I think the most difficult thing is the idea of the work at the beginning. The biggest thing I learned from the teacher should be to see the big from the small. Because it's easy for me to think too big of the pattern at the beginning, and it's easy to make things that are flashy and have no intrinsic.
Q: How do you understand photography?
When I first came into contact with photography, I actually regarded it as a way to adjust my mind. But after I slowly came into contact with it, photography was not only to record that moment, but also a very diversified existence. It has its historical and social influence. It can also be a way to express itself. It can not only exist in the camera, but also choose not to express the truth and beauty.
For me, the most attractive thing about this major is not to make images, but to explore meaning. As Sontag mentioned in her book, "The most brilliant achievement of photography is to give us a feeling that we can collect everything in the world like a collection of images." To understand photography in depth, in the process of learning, people will not be blind, and photography is not just photography.
Q: Is there any difference between going abroad to study photography in natural light and going to school before?
The biggest difference between learning in natural light and learning in school before is the ability to learn professional knowledge and different learning environments. Before coming to the natural light class, I didn't really understand much about my major. I not only received professional knowledge training here, but also learned a lot from my professional course teachers. For example, after you have seen the three bodies, your world view will be magnified, and what my teacher has done is exactly this. He has broadened my understanding and dimension of this major.
Q: What do you think is the greatest help to the works collection in the teacher's teaching?
The teacher's influence on me can be said to be very great. He did not bring me into the "routine" of direct photography, but gave me a wide range of knowledge popularization. The feeling at that time was "I will go and play like this!" And the teacher's guidance made me realize that he has extremely rich knowledge reserves and can really learn a lot of things.
In the process of preparing my photography major's collection of works for studying abroad, my teacher proposed many different forms of works for me. He also attaches great importance to cultivating students' independent thinking, does not "influence" me with his ideas, and often encourages me. What impressed me most was that at the end of the class, he said to me, "You will remember to treat what the teacher said as nonsense, whether now or in the future. Do what you want to do, and don't idolize a certain direction blindly."
Q: Do you have any suggestions for younger students who want to study abroad in photography in the future?
I think it is very important to have multiple knowledge reserves no matter which major you are, so I suggest that you should go to see more exhibitions and read more books when you have the opportunity. Don't limit yourself to one scope, but contact multiple cultures.
Q: Did the teacher give you some advice during school selection?
Yes, the teacher specially helped me to see the ranking of photography departments in different colleges and universities when planning the list, but the final choice was mainly my own decision.
Q: At present, you are New York University What's your experience? Is it different from what you think?
Now that I have finished my freshman study in New York, I am still a little different from what I imagined, and these differences are more surprises. New York is a city with many opportunities. You don't know what you will face next.
In this year, I met many people and things that I had never thought I would have the opportunity to meet before, experienced many different activities, recognized many interesting souls, met many like-minded friends, and had the opportunity to communicate, cooperate with them, and brainstorm together. To be honest, the past year has been the happiest year for me, not only the excitement brought by new things, but also the inspiration and motivation to improve myself brought by meeting a group of excellent people.
The above is the interview content of Xie's photography major studying abroad in the United States! It can be seen that as the final support of the natural light tutor, we not only have professional knowledge training, but also attach great importance to the cultivation of students' independent thinking. We reject the stereotyped photography routine, and do not blindly worship a certain direction. Different works have different forms of expression.
Natural light shares more topics for you:
How to divide photography majors in American universities and recommended by American photography colleges!
Several directions for photography majors to study abroad, and the ranking recommendation of American photography colleges and universities to study abroad
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