Photography I was a course I took while studying abroad in Florence, Italy during the fall semester of my junior year. Before taking this class, photography had mainly been a personal hobby, but this experience introduced me to it as both an artistic medium and a form of visual storytelling.

Working with my Canon Rebel T6 in full manual mode, I developed a strong foundation in exposure, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, composition, and natural lighting. Each six-hour class was split between photographing on location and editing our work, giving me the opportunity to immediately apply what I had learned.

 

One of the most rewarding aspects of the course was photographing throughout Florence.

Nearly every class included an excursion to a different historic location, from the Boboli Gardens and the city's bustling streets to panoramic views from Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence. These experiences challenged me to adapt to changing lighting conditions and capture authentic moments in unfamiliar environments. The photographs featured in this collection reflect a variety of styles, subjects, and themes, documenting both my technical growth as a photographer and the unforgettable experiences I had while traveling abroad.