By Jennifer covington/photo editor

Imagine waking up in a private Italian villa off the beaten path. The day’s tasks include exploring historic sights and documenting the imagery all around. Imagine strolling through a market and capturing the local color with a camera or dining on gourmet cuisine.

Imagine doing all of this while earning class credit.

That is exactly what TCC students and interested participants can do this summer through courses offered in Italy and France through the photography department.

Patricia Richards, photography associate professor, encourages students to go to expand their horizons.

“The trips provide external stimulus not experienced in daily life in the states,” she said. “They open one up to cultural and historical experiences that may have been read about in class, but not lived.”

Two trips are offered, one to Tuscany May 15-26 and one to France July 2-14. Course credit can be earned for Photo II, Expressive Photography or Photo Digital Imaging I.

Students will spend the days making pictures and participating in nightly critiques.

Andrea Hoback traveled to Italy and France two summers in a row with TCC in 2006 and 2007.

“I really love photography, and I wanted the one-on-one experience,” she said. “It’s not in a traditional classroom and it really helps you discover who you are as a photographer.”

For Hoback, the trips were about more than course credit.

“The trips were an investment in my future,” she said. “The pictures and experiences I brought back from this trip will last a lifetime.”

The experience of life in a foreign country is as much a part of this trip as photography. Traveling with TCC gives students a chance to be exposed to things that a normal tourist would not see.

Students will stay in villas or homes, where they have an opportunity to observe daily life.

“Many of the places we visited were off the beaten path, and we went to more than just tourist places,” Hoback said. “Communication was not hard. Everyone was extremely nice, and the professors on the trip teach you key phrases to get around.”

Also students have access to private photo archives and take part in sessions with professional photographers.

The sessions and daily practice helped Hoback focus on what aspects of photography she wanted to pursue. In Italy, she discovered her love for fashion photography.

“The trips gave me confidence, and the things I learned have really benefited me in the long run,” she said.

Students will also return with images to build their portfolios and to exhibit in a student show.

“Your work will hang in a show, which is great for your resume,” Hoback said.

Interested participants should contact patricia richards by e-mail at Patricia.Richards@tccd.edu. Non-TCC students can enroll at TCC to participate.

Hoback said the two study trips expanded her horizons.

“For people who are serious about photography, this is one of the best trips,” she said.