Rochester Institute of Technology - School of Photographic Arts and Sciences

Imaging and Photographic Technology is a unique major in photography. It blends a contemporary professional photography program with specialized education in technical, industrial and scientific imaging applications. You can examine the outline of the current program requirements by selecting Program Outline

Graduates of this program are well rounded individuals, with a background adaptable to a variety of photography and imaging related fields. Their technical skills are complemented by traditional coursework in mathematics, computers, science and liberal arts, including technical writing. There is a note you can read that attempts to answer why anyone would choose the Imaging and Photographic Tech program.

See a bunch of Techs in a Photographic Chemistry laboratory or see freshmen toiling in a Materials and Processes shutter testing lab. Here are some SEMs (Scanning Electron Micrographs) and a small Exhibit of Photographs also by current first year students.

The picture making aspects of photography are covered through courses in basic and advanced courses in traditional photography, color photography and printing, multimedia and video production, etc. The required technical courses include photographic sensitometry, optics and chemistry, C++ programming, computer systems, color measurement, digital image processing, electronic sensitometry and high speed photography. Also available within the departmental offerings are a variety of technical and photographic electives such as Holography, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Architectural Photography, Nature Photography, Special Effects Photography and Photoinstrumentation Applications.

Select the thumbnail image to the left to see a larger version of this Schlieren photograph made in the High Speed Photography class of the schock waves associated with the compression of air in front of a supersonic bullet. Or, click on animation to see this action in motion.
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• Select Informational Files to go to links with program details, current students, graduates, scholarships, transfer info, etc.
  
• Choose What's New, for timely info on departmental activities, visitors, etc.
  
• Go to Gradjobs to see a listing of all graduates of the program (along with summary salary information).
  
• Ask for printed information to order a catalogue. Or, just read on!

The solid base of skills that students aquire throughout the program allows graduates to obtain a variety of positions in the field of technical imaging, scientific photography and imaging applications engineering. In their last two years they may specialize in an individualized CONCENTRATION TRACK that could include such specialties as photographic instrumentation, optics, graphic arts, imaging chemistry, motion picture and video, multi-media production, still photography, color science, processing and finishing, business, and science and engineering.

Select the thumbnail image at right to see an enlarged image of Crystal Embrey, a Tech student in 1997, having a bit of fun on the famed NASA Vomit Comet. Choose Microgravity Project to see more pictures and read about how she and three other Photo Tech students got on the plane in the first place.

It is important to note that while the core program completed by each graduate is similar, the actual background of the students varies with their choice of Concentration area(s). As a result, it is difficult to define specifically the specific career that the students are preparing for. On the other hand, an examination of the positions secured by graduates of the program shows that the broad based education associated with the Imaging and Photographic Technology program allows them to consider a large variety of career options in the broad discipline of imaging and related fields.

Select the thumbnail image at left to see an enlarged version of this photograph of two Tech students hamming it up for the camera. It was taken during an underwater photography class which is part of the photoinstrumentation seminar.

Now that you have seen this much of the program description, it is up to you to decide to find out more about it. To do so go on to the next page that lists Coop Education Requirements and Opportunities, the Dr. Ronald Francis Scholarships, the Technical Photography Student Association (TPSA) as well as providing links to additional information regarding the program such as links to the faculty pages, links to program outlines, recommended supplies, student exhibits, etc.