Program: Photography
After a crash course on how to make an exposure, Tim Arroyo took photos of his eighth-grade class using his father’s old Minolta 35mm camera.
His passion for photography developed when he attended Ray Vogue College of Design, where he studied graphic design but was required to take a photography course.
“The class was a large format course, so we only used 4x5 cameras. I needed quite a bit of hand holding because this was the first time I had ever used a camera so big that was not as convenient as an SLR,” he said. “It was also my first introduction to a light meter and the darkroom. Loading, unloading and washing film was done in complete darkness, so I was able to really get in tune with my vamp-side, which has served me well over the years for feeling my way around in the dark and in the transition to digital photography. This one class really lit my passion for photography, and I continued to take photo classes along with the design classes.”
During his final semester, Arroyo took a course in Photoshop, which he had been using in his professional and personal work. He used his experience to help classmates, who remarked that he should be teaching the course.
“Upon graduating, I walked my resume and portfolio to all the local colleges in downtown Chicago. I was called within a few days, hired over the phone and began teaching immediately,” he said. “The feeling of sharing my knowledge was exhilarating, and I loved working with the students and my peers. I found myself not just inspiring students, but also being inspired by them. There is never a dull moment in teaching because I am also a constant learner, as I find myself learning new tools and techniques as the fields of design and photography are constantly changing with new technologies almost daily.”
I hope each student walks away with the confidence that they can do well in the field of photography because they have the knowledge to be successful.
Tim Arroyo
Arroyo taught part-time while working for Harris Bank (BMO), where he started as a student and worked his way up to senior designer in the Desktop Publishing department. Three months shy of his 15-year anniversary, he left to pursue a full-time teaching career and began at the International Academy of Design and Technology in the Graphic Design program, where he taught Adobe Illustrator, QuarkXpress/Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.
He then taught at Harrington College of Design when they introduced a Digital Photography program. Through the photo community, Arroyo met Glenn Hansen, professor of Photography at College of DuPage.
“We had known each other for a number of years when Harrington’s parent company announced they were going to close the school,” he said. “Glenn heard about this and felt I would be a good fit for the Photography program at COD, so he invited me to be an adjunct. I am now a full-time assistant professor, so his gamble has paid off so far.”
His classes vary from commercial studio, printing and software-based courses. While the outcomes vary with each, Arroyo wants his students to feel comfortable with the skills they are learning and approach him with any help they need.
“I hope each student walks away with the confidence that they can do well in the field of photography because they have the knowledge to be successful,” he said. “I also want them to know that my door is always open to them. At the end of every semester, I invite them to visit me anytime to talk about class assignments, get a second opinion on work, ask for advice or just to come in and chat about how their day is going.”
Arroyo finds inspiration from both his students and his family, especially his two daughters who are accomplished swimmers and musicians.
“They work very hard at school and in the pool, and I try to push myself to show them that I can work just as hard as they do, even though I know I could not physically keep up with them,” he said. “I am inspired by my students and the work that they produce. I like working alongside them, especially in the studio where together we come up with very creative ideas for photoshoots. I am also inspired by life around me, as cliche as it may sound, and because I always have a camera with me, I am constantly looking for things to photograph, apply what I teach and share.”
Learn more about the Photography program at College of DuPage.