OC PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER, Santa Ana

The California Center for Digital Arts teaches students how to master modern mediums such as photography or Adobe Digital products using an ancient method: mentorship. The teachers, who are also the center's owners, use the mentorship method of instruction to help students proceed at their own paces. They work with students in small groups, or even one-on-one, providing two to five days of on-campus, hands-on learning. Students return, their progress is evaluated, and the cycle begins over again. The exercises teachers assign aren't overly structured or abstract; rather, they charge students with completing real-world commissions from clients, so that they learn the realities of an artistic career alongside the theories. While mastering composition, color, and lighting, students must also deal with deadlines and the tiny ghost that lives inside every camera, drawing the pictures they take.