Woooooo! I just finished my program at Academy of Arts and it's definitely been an amazing learning experience for me. It was awesome to study the works of many different photographers around the world and to find out why they are as successful as they are. I was also able to build a foundation on the skills that I already slightly knew, and this program helped me feel a lot more confident as a photographer. I now understand lighting a lot better, and I learned how to fully utilize my camera. My professor was also a very skilled/ prestigious photographer, and he made the class engaging and fun. I just want to give a huge thanks to my sponsors and donors because without y'all I wouldn't have had this experience! Thank you so much for believing in me and allowing me to partake in this program with your support!

Posted below are some of the shots in my final project called "Chasing Staircases"

Although there were a bunch of programs available for summer 2016, why did I, Wesley, choose the photography classes at Academy of Arts? First and foremost, I've always lived by motto "Know Your Roots," so I take a lot of pride in living in the Bay Area. Growing up, I explored San Francisco a lot and I've heard a lot of great things about the Academy of Arts. My cousin who was into fashion had a goal of attending Academy of Arts, so when I was little I always wanted to take classes here (sometime in my future) if I ever got into art. Luckily, I got into photography not too long ago and I have an undying passion to push my skills and take my photos to the next level. Up to this point I've been teaching myself, so now I really want to have a solid understanding of photography- starting with the fundamental basics. I'm super excited to learn more about this art form!