Goodbye COM!

This is where I spent the last 10 months. I bid adieu to the hallways and classrooms at COM (College of Communication) last week. It was empty that Thursday as classes had ended (but not my deadlines) so I didn't go with the rest of the class to the BU pub for drinks.
I enjoyed my time here overall. I've learnt a lot, not necessarily in how to shoot better, through no fault of the school, but having worked at ST for so long, one can't expect to crunch all that experience into a classroom lesson in less than a year... I've learnt several computer software programs which I've always wanted to learn, but never got round to it. I still have a long ways to go...but at least I'm now quite competent in Final Cut Pro, Adobe Bridge, Dreamweaver, Quark and Indesign. I'm pretty interested in web design and dreamweaver but I suck at it. It took me such a long time to get my website up, and I'm not happy with it. I want to learn flash and change my entire website. I just had to get it up quickly so my prof could grade it. I came away from the course realising that the photojournalist cannot just take pictures anymore. The world of multimedia has thrusted itself into print journalism and like it or not, that's the way we're going. A typical undergrad at BU's COM is a multimedia journalist. They don't just learn photography, they learn how to gather sound, and add that to their pictures in a multimedia clip. And to produce it under deadline too. We didn't learn video, only the broadcast students did, but a multimedia piece can consist of just pictures and sound. WashPost has one of the best multimedia websites around...and everyone models after them. ST's site, sad to say, needs a total revamp and has a lot of catching up to do. It's look is outdated and it's not edgy (a term the eds like to use) enough. And I'm not saying this because I think I'm an authority now, after a mere 10 mths in journo school. I've felt this way for a long time, but now I feel I have enough knowledge of the standards out there to say this without doubting my initial reservations. I hope I'll remember my time at BU and COM for a long time to come. It's been a significant period of my life, going to school at middle age, and seeing my college education with a different pair of eyes than the typical young twenty-something. I will always be grateful to those who provided me this opportunity, starting with God.
It's been swell, goodbye and good luck!

Four of my classes (out of 5) were held in this lab. That's my usual spot, where my laptop is...
The wall of fame, so to speak, where student works are exhibited. Here's one of three of my pix which made it on the wall, of Obama on the right.
Another one of Hillary. I never got to meet Bill nor Chelsea though...One of the best experiences I've had here was shooting the New Hampshire primary. I have my prof to thank, for encouraging us to cover it, saying it's right at our backyard, (which is so true) and a very significant political event which officially kick starts the whole campaign for America's next president. Seeing how the American press work and cover these events was priceless. Their 'live' setups are big time and everyone is very pro.
Last one of kissing dogs at an animal blessing in the church I go to, St Cecilia's.
See that sign "VII" on the door? There's a New York Photo festival on next weekend and the timing is so perfect, except that my mum arrives on Friday, and it would be next to impossible to go...well we've chosen not to go (regretfully) cos family comes first, right?