Staying committed to your studies is already pretty tough, especially in the past two years. While the pandemic led to countless students throwing in the towel, a pair of local twins not only persevered, but thrived in their three-year course.
In 2019 Cassidy and Dustin Scott started studying towards a Diploma in Professional Photography.
“Photography was an interest of mine since I was a young boy. When I became a teenager I saved up some money and bought a camera. I have been taking pictures ever since. My brother on the other hand simply likes the idea of capturing moments and emotions in a single image,” Dustin explained.
Let’s face it: the past two years have not been what any of us would have expected. Needless to say, this pair of passionate photographers had no idea what was waiting for them.
According to CityVarsity Photography lecturer, Ryno Smook these students had to go from a hands-on, face-to-face curriculum to an online, virtual class space.
“Instead of having the opportunity to use class time to practise their craft with the facilitation of their lecturers, their class time became predominantly theory-driven with practical assignments left to work on in their own time between classes. Virtual fatigue became a real struggle for students across the board,” he explained.
During this time they had no option but to make do with what was available around them. Their studies ranged from technical assignments – where they learned to work with their cameras and all the technical specs available for them to use – through to studio lighting with models and objects, all the way to concepts that had to be planned and executed based on various historical art movements, or their own creative ideas.
While it was tempting to curl up and binge on their favourite series all day, these twins remained committed and focused on their goal.
“Being passionate about photography for many years, and working and investing into our passion motivate us to keep going and work harder through our challenges,” Dustin explained.
Cassidy went on to say it was his dream and passion for the art that made him choose to continue and persevere.
As they are officially nearing the finish line and graduating on April 6, the twins are excited to enjoy the sweet fruits that came with three years of hard work and determination.
While Dustin’s hope for the future is to become a professional sports photographer (working and travelling for Red Bull), his brother hopes to one day become a combat photographer or photojournalist.
“From a lecturer’s point of view, it’s important to always keep your end goal in mind, never give up and take just one day at a time. That’s exactly what Cassidy and Dustin did. They were patient and they worked very hard,” Ryno said.
While Dustin has hustled and managed to get a job on a cruise ship, Cassidy is focused more on the lifestyle scene and dipping his toes in the wedding photography industry.
They are proof that you should never let your circumstances determine your outcome. With hard work and consistency, anything is possible.
