Developing adaptable photographers in the COVID-19 age

RMIT Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging educator Martin Reftel talks about students embracing adaptability while completing photography assessments during COVID lockdowns.

Photography at its core is about storytelling. The success of a photographer in being able to capture a moment in time and tell a story doesn’t just come down to technical skill with a camera or a flare for post-production. To be a photographer is to be a problem solver; someone who is able to adapt to changing situations, has the confidence to think on their feet and enough technical know-how to overcome challenges as they emerge.

Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging students (and staff) had to call upon all of these skills when COVID-19 lockdowns severely limited students’ access to shooting locations and equipment to process images.

Students who were able to rethink their assignments on short notice, adjust how they were going to approach it under lockdown restrictions came out of the course as very competent, highly skilled photographers, Teacher Martin Reftel said.

Students changed with the program and gained skills in adaptability and the process of creativity. They had to push themselves further working out how to do shoots via video link and how to work to a professional level while working in a corner of their kitchen.

In between lockdowns, students fortunately had the opportunity to participate in more traditional learning opportunities. This included a pilot initiative run between the RMIT Photography course and RMIT Experience (marketing) where students were teamed up with other RMIT programs and areas to provide photography services which not only contributed to student course work but were used for RMIT materials like publications.

“You can never teach everything in a program but you can give students the building blocks and foster their resilience and creativity,” says Martin and partnering with RMIT Experiences to get students on-the-job experience was an excellent way to develop those skills in his students.

The cover of the 2021 Flight Training Bendigo pamphlet. A man is pulling a light plane down a runway

RMIT Graduate and Photography student Updesh Kaur had their photograph featured on the front cover of RMIT's 2021 Flight school brochure

2021 RMIT graduate Updesh Kaur was one of the students who participated in the project. She provided photographs for a recent RMIT Flight Training brochure and one of her photos was chosen for the cover.

That was the first time she had her work used as a cover so that was quite emotional. RMIT was able to facilitate that for her as a student and that's a really powerful thing to be able to do.

The project was a win for both students and RMIT and they are looking to expand the project to include more areas of the university so that more students get the opportunity of real work experience to build the skills they will need as future photographers.

It's extraordinary when the person is given opportunity at the right time. When they're ready for growth and you can see them grow with it.

Story by: Kelsie Kruse

20 June 2022

About Martin Reftel

Martin is an RMIT BA photography graduate with more than 20 years of professional experience photographing commercially for clients in Australia, Sweden, UK and USA.

At RMIT he teaches in the Photography and Digital Imaging program in the College of Vocational Education. He has taught a range of subjects from digital image enhancements and colour management to studio photography.

Connect with Martin on LinkedIn

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20 June 2022

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Developing adaptable photographers in the COVID-19 age