Visiting undergraduate students from all over the world have the opportunity to spend a semester immersed in professional artistic training at Tisch School of the Arts. Spring at Tisch allows these students to select from a myriad of disciplines, from Dramatic Writing to Game Design, which opens up new paths to storytelling.
Emma Christense
Emma Christense, a student at the Danish School of Media and Journalism in Copenhagen, participated in Spring at Tisch: Photography and Imaging. She decided to stick around New York City for the summer so we had a chance to catch up with her and ask about her time in Spring at Tisch.
Why did you decide to come to Tisch?
I've wanted to move back to New York, ever since I lived here for six months in 2015. While I was studying a bachelor's degree in photography in Copenhagen, I began to research the opportunities for studying a semester at Tisch, which I've heard good things about.
Please tell us about your campus life while at NYU. Were you involved in any activities or internships?
Because I've spent a lot of time in New York, before coming here to study, I already had a large network and therefore didn't engage in campus life at NYU. However, I found that it was easy to talk to other students in class.
What has surprised you most about studying in New York City?
The amount of work and participation in class that is expected from you was what surprised me the most. The start of the semester was rough, because I had to adjust to another workload than what I've had while studying in Copenhagen. The education system was also completely different for me.
Why was it important for you to study away from your home school?
It was important for me to get a perspective on what it means to work as a photographer in another country. You have to understand the culture, to be able to work and thrive in it, and I plan on staying in New York for a couple of years. Studying here was a great way to get my foot in the door.
What did you learn about your craft while taking classes at Tisch that has made an impact on your art?
My thought process has changed and evolved, while studying photography at Tisch. I come from a more commercially-focused education in Copenhagen, whereas most students at Tisch are more focused on making art and working on projects. In the start of the semester, that was also the most difficult thing to adjust to.
What are your plans for the summer?
I plan on looking for an internship for the fall/winter semester and work on different projects, while building my portfolio as a photographer. And I might travel to Denmark later in the summer to visit my family.
What else should we know about you?
Not much, I would like to think that my work speaks for itself. You can see some of it on www.emmasilke.com.