A Fogged Lense: Media arts alumni gives advice to students unsure of their future

By: Nicole Vickers '16 and Mahala Nelson '16

When a student chooses a major, it is generally because they have a specific job in mind. The degree is just means to an end. But for a lot of creative majors such as studio art, creative writing or media arts, sometimes the path isn’t always so clear. 

For Daven Sprattling-Mathies ’07, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his media arts degree, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying every moment of his college life. 

“I still get teary-eyed thinking about my time at Pacific,” said Sprattling-Mathies. “I remember the big picture, the undocumented value in the experiences I had and the people I met. Not all of those experiences were good, either, but they were all important to who I am now.” 

For many who walk into college with an idea of what they want to become, that can change during the course of their four years of undergraduate. Students may find that what interests them may not be what they originally thought. 

This applies to all students who feel as if they aren’t sure where their education is going to take them. No matter what major a student chooses, there are always options and different doors being opened. As long as they feel that they are going in a positive direction then who knows what kind of opportunities might present themselves. 

“You get out of your education what you put into it, and that goes beyond the classroom,” said Sprattling-Mathies. “I think that's incredibly important for any student to realize, but especially for Media Arts majors who don't have a clear path to follow. You have to motivate yourself to keep going even when it feels like you're stumbling around in the dark.” 

Sprattling-Mathies started as a media major and realized that it was in the technical side that he belonged.

“I think media arts represent the union of the arts and the sciences,” said Sprattling-Mathies. “I also love to write, but I felt I had lot more to learn from video production because of all the tech involved.” 

Once out of college, Sprattling-Mathies found a job working in a bank, but soon realized that it was stifling and so decided to start up a photography business with a fellow Pacific graduate, Corey Bennett ’09. Currently Sprattling-Mathies works in a marketing department and has been able to make seemingly small decisions that have large impacts in his work. He has a personal investment in his company and enjoys his work there. 

 While it isn’t always advisable to quit a career, it is advisable to make sure that whatever job you are working in, that it allows you to have whatever creative freedom you want. If you are stuck in a stifling career, it never hurts to try and do something about it. Whether that is being open to a pay drop or to a new and completely different career path than originally planned, Sprattling-Mathies advises to never forget your passions, be open and know that everyone walks their own path at their own pace.

Pacific's Class Trip to Vancouver BC: Year 21

Stephanie Haugen '12

A couple weeks ago, I returned from Vancouver BC with a new excitement for continuing my education and the possibilities for my chosen career path.

I participated in Pacific’s photography field class in its 21^st year. The intense week-long workshop was more valuable that I could have ever anticipated. I learned so much in that one week—as much as I could’ve learned in an entire semester.

While in Vancouver, we got to experience A LOT. These experiences were both fun and eye-opening. The week we spent in Vancouver BC was intense. We started early and ended late. We shot all day, and uploaded and edited our photos when we returned to our rooms at night. Upon our arrival, most of us were shocked by the size and atmosphere of the University of British Columbia, where we were going to be staying. In stark contrast to Pacific, UBC is big and bustling, looks like a city, and is located right on the coast. It was educational to be able to experience college life in such a startlingly different way. In that week, we all got a taste for what it would be like to attend a university that is opposite to Pacific in many ways.

The next day was a full day. We visited the Buddhist temple and the Japanese gardens. Both were beautiful and educational in their own ways. Both offered a look into another culture while providing the opportunity to take great photographs.

Throughout our trip, we visited more tourist destinations including the Bloedel Floral Conservatory where we photographed exotic birds and flowers, and the Museum of Anthropology where we got to see and take pictures of ancient artwork.

We also visited Stanley Park, where we waited until it got dark, looked across the water and photographed the Vancouver skyline. While we perfected our nighttime photography skills, we also bonded with each other and viewed the breathtaking city from another angle.

My favorite parts of the trip were the spur-of-the-moment ones. We went to Granville Island where the indoor market, resembling Seattle’s Pike Place, bustles with people and the flavor of different foods, products and cultures. The market opens up onto the docks where seagulls fly and beg for scraps of food, families eat their market meals, street musicians sing (in French when we happened to be there), and brightly colored water taxis take customers from dock to dock. The joy of the market shows on everybody’s face, making them prime photographic subjects.

Each individual had their own favorite stops, but I think all of us left with new photography skills and an appreciation for each others’ talents.My trip to Vancouver BC will always stand out as one of my favorite and most influential memories from my time at Pacific University.

Haugen '12 has worked in the Office of Alumni Relations as the Communications Assistant and is an editor for the student newspaper, The Pacific Index. She studied journalism at Pacific. 

Searching for the Best Light

Reese Moriyama '10

During my four years at Pacific University, in the midst of the classes, the socializing, and the adventures, I discovered I had an unwavering curiosity and fascination with photography. Pacific helped foster my love for the camera for which I am forever grateful.

Thanks to MarCom and the Photography Department, I attended more events, met more people and pushed myself more than I had ever imagined because of my photography. Many people spend their lives searching for something that really inspires them and I’m fortunate to have found a passion that has both guided and enriched my life.Today I will cover a topic that makes many photographers cringe: weddings. My exploration in this venture began about a year ago, and eight weddings later, I realize that I’ve found a dynamic and challenging world to immerse myself in.

Weddings are exhausting, but energizing, stressful, but rewarding. As a wedding photographer, I am being entrusted with the delicate task of capturing images that narrate the unique story which accompanies every wedding. To the bride and groom, the biggest day of their lives is often a massive blur, and images become central to reminding them of how special their wedding truly was. If my clients can laugh and cry and reminisce about the wedding when they view my photos, then I have done my job as a wedding photographer.
 
Shooting weddings is commonly held as one of the most stressful endeavors in the photography industry, and this is absolutely true. You have one chance to shoot the bride coming down the aisle, one chance for the first kiss, one chance for the first dance. A broken lens, an overheated flash, or a corrupted memory card is no excuse for missing those fleeting moments, so as a wedding photographer, I try to prepare for multiple scenarios. This is what I normally bring to weddings:

    2 camera bodies
    4 lenses
    2 flashes
    2 lightstands
    shoot through umbrella
    softbox
    5 sets of AA batteries for flashes
    6 batteries for camera bodies
    cleaning supplies
    48 GB of memory cards
    gels
    rain covers

 However, wedding photography is also incredibly rewarding. When you think about it, everyone at a wedding is looking their absolute best, especially the bride and groom, and this provides some truly unique opportunities for photos. In addition to the dazzle of colors and dress, the entire gamut of emotions is present at a wedding, and when I am able to capture a sliver of this visual energy and convey it in a beautiful However, wedding photography is also incredibly rewarding. When you think about it, everyone at a wedding is looking their absolute best, especially the bride and groom, and this provides some truly unique opportunities for photos. In addition to the dazzle of colors and dress, the entire gamut of emotions is present at a wedding, and when I am able to capture a sliver of this visual energy and convey it in a beautiful light, I am as eager to pull it off my memory card as a kid opening presents on Christmas Day.

Moriyama '10 holds a degree in history and uses photography to become more observant and appreciative of the world. When he is not photographing weddings or simply daily life in Honolulu Reese is pursuing a graduate degree. More of Reese's work can be viewed on his blog Observe. Compose. Capture.