2008 Woodie Awards
Images of 'another country'
Art exhibit showcases Yuba professor's digital photography
John Saiz
Issue date: 11/15/02 Section: Campus Life
Photography instructor Rick Murrai had an interesting start to the millennium. He went on a sabbatical to Turkey, Greece, Cambodia, Thailand and Russia. His purpose: to photograph other countries and learn more about digital photo processing beginning in June of 2001.
He applied his newfound knowledge about digital photography in Asia and Eastern Europe from the summer of 2001 to spring 2002. Until November 30, Yuba-Sutter residents can experience a part of Murrai's sabbatical in "Another Country," an exhibition of digital photographs taken during his sabbatical.
Before Murrai could create the digital prints that make up his exhibit, he had to do some fine-tuning on his digital photography knowledge. Murrai took classes in digital photography and digital imaging at the University of Maryland in Salisbury, Maryland. He then took some photo classes at local colleges, and worked at the Calicolors photo lab in Sacramento. While working at Calicolors, he retouched photos, did color correction, and worked with ad agencies in the Sacramento area.
"I learned a lot at Calicolors," said Murrai. "It was a hands on experience. Working there enhanced what I was learning in class, and helped me apply it to a working situation. It wasn't a very fun job, but it was very intense and educational."
In preparation, Murrai also converted his darkroom into a digital photo lab, or lightroom. In the lab, he uses office and desktop-grade Epson printers with special software which had finer resolution and could use carbon pigment inks.
"After a lot of time, expense frustration and anger, I was able to put together a lightroom," said Murrai. "It was difficult to put together, because unfortunately the computer industry is not the most perfect industry. There's a lot of misrepresentation of product. Also, the archival permanence of digital photographs is still a concern, although the output quality has increased tremendously."
Murrai began traveling, starting with Cambodia in Angkor Wat, an archeological site that is still used as a practicing religious site.
He applied his newfound knowledge about digital photography in Asia and Eastern Europe from the summer of 2001 to spring 2002. Until November 30, Yuba-Sutter residents can experience a part of Murrai's sabbatical in "Another Country," an exhibition of digital photographs taken during his sabbatical.
Before Murrai could create the digital prints that make up his exhibit, he had to do some fine-tuning on his digital photography knowledge. Murrai took classes in digital photography and digital imaging at the University of Maryland in Salisbury, Maryland. He then took some photo classes at local colleges, and worked at the Calicolors photo lab in Sacramento. While working at Calicolors, he retouched photos, did color correction, and worked with ad agencies in the Sacramento area.
"I learned a lot at Calicolors," said Murrai. "It was a hands on experience. Working there enhanced what I was learning in class, and helped me apply it to a working situation. It wasn't a very fun job, but it was very intense and educational."
In preparation, Murrai also converted his darkroom into a digital photo lab, or lightroom. In the lab, he uses office and desktop-grade Epson printers with special software which had finer resolution and could use carbon pigment inks.
"After a lot of time, expense frustration and anger, I was able to put together a lightroom," said Murrai. "It was difficult to put together, because unfortunately the computer industry is not the most perfect industry. There's a lot of misrepresentation of product. Also, the archival permanence of digital photographs is still a concern, although the output quality has increased tremendously."
Murrai began traveling, starting with Cambodia in Angkor Wat, an archeological site that is still used as a practicing religious site.