Learning Photography At Rowan University

PUBLISHED ON: August 8 , 2024

These photographs, taken at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, will inspire you to improve your creativity. This post will critique these images taken by The Traveling Photographer. One of the best ways for you to improve your photos is to examine existing photographs and evaluate them.

The University has a beautiful campus with a nice mix of older buildings, modern structures, and picturesque landscaping to provide you with ample opportunities to practice the craft of photography.

First Critque

We start by taking a deep dive look at a photo taken in the "Old College" part of the campus near Bunce Hall.

Rowan University flowers near Bunce Hall

Red Hibiscus and Gazebo near Bunce Hall
Rowan University

When we look at this first image of the red hibiscus and the gazebo we see a photo that has objects in the foreground, mid-distance, and background that create depth and gives the viewer's eye several places to travel to in the composition.

The angle of the strong sunlight brings out lots of shadow and highlight areas which add to the contrast and provides visual "punch" to the image. The darker corners help to frame in the main subjects of the photo. This photo would also have a pleasing composition is it were cropped to a square format, thus eliminating some of the extra space on the sides of the image.

Edelman Planetarium and Science Hall

On the other side of Rt. 322 from "old college" is the planetarium and science building, a good subject for you to try a few different compositions. Late in the day the sun will be behind the building, so if you want to photograph this area you'll find the lighting to be better earlier in the day.

Rowan University Planetarium

I chose an ultra-wide angel zoom lens lens (16mm on a full-frame DSLR) to emphasize the flower bed in the foreground. I positioned myself so that the curved brick pathway would serve as an entrance into the photo and lead the eye toward the structure of the planetarium.

I shot this photo early in June, mid-morning, so that the direction of the lighting would bring out the curved surface of the planetarium. If I were to shoot this scene again I would move ever so slightly to the right. That would create a little bit of visual separation, a narrow gap, between the small tree and the left side of the planetarium.

While you're visiting Rowan in Glassboro, NJ if you'd like a change of pace on subjects, you can switch to the natural world as subject to practice your photography with. Consider visiting Glen Lake, right on the edge of Glassboro and Pitman to enjoy landscape photography.

Rohrer Business Hall

I was intrigued with the set-up of chairs on the side of the Rohrer College of Business building.

Rowan University Business Hall
Taken from Meditation Walk

REPETITION and SYMMETRY are two compositional techniques that are at play in this photograph. Both the repetition of the 4 chairs and the 4 steps add visual appeal. I often use the rule of thirds as a compositional guideline, but in this case, with this the subject, it made more sense to compose this photo symmetrically.

I got lucky with the timing of my visit as I admit that I did not plan to capture the two splotches of light hitting the two potted trees positioned near the building.

l chose a longer telephoto setting (126 mm equivalent on a full-frame) on my lens to intentionally "flatten" the image as I want to achieve more of an equal size emphasis to the lawn chairs and to the background. I was interested in the visual contrast between the sundrenched colors and the muted, shadowed background.

Tips For Photographing Rowan

IMITATE. When you see a photo you like try to take the same photo to get the same result. Once you've done that try to shoot a few different of your own variations to see if you can take a photo you like even more than the original.
CRITQUE. View the photos you've taken on a larger screen than the one on your camera. Use a tablet or computer monitor to view your photos, once you've returned from your photo shoot. Judge them on several different characteristics like brightness, contrast, color, spatial balance, perspective, lens choice, context, etc.
FEEDBACK. Seek out comments about your images from a variety of both experienced shooters and NON-photographers. Ask for opinions on social media. Get opinions on what they first noticed, as well as their overall feedback on the photos you've taken. After teaching classes to both adults and children, I am still to this day amazed at how much insight you will get from different people from different backgrounds when evaluating photographs.

Vertically Composed Photos At Rowan

Turning your camera to a vertical, portrait orientation, rather than shooting with a horizontal, landscape orientation will instantly give you new possibilities for interesting compositions.

Vertical Composition #1
Business Building

#1. Flat lighting on the business building, but the clouds were perfect. Diagonals lead you to the subject

Vertical Composition #2
Parking Lot B Selfie

#2. Reflection photo using a tripod and self-timer. Repetition of puddles. Specific vantage point to reveal specific body parts.

Vertical Composition #3
Rowan Courtyard

#3. Geometric lines of bricks interrupted by my feet. Strong diagonals in bottom third of composition.

Hollybush Mansion

Hollybush Mansion - 2013

One of the unique buildings to photograph at Rowan is the historical Hollybush Mansion. Built in 1849, the outside of the building, along with the beautiful landscaping, offers you may opportunities for some creative photography.

The mansion and the grounds surrounding it make a great backdrop for portrait photography as you can see below from a senior portrait session I did back in 2015.

For a little more on the background of why it's so well known, visit this post on the History of The Hollybush Mansion.

Using an Historical Location For A Portrait

FRAMING and VARIETY are two theme that are used in this collection of portraits taken at the Hollybush Mansion. Not only are the individual poses framed within this 4-pose composite, but each individual pose is framed in by elemnts in the background.

The collection includes a variety of both close-up and distant perspectives as well as a variety of backgrounds.

Additional Resources

See my Pinterest board here: Rowan Photos on Pinterest.

Link to great ideas with Locations for Photographing Rowan graduates on campus.

Link to Rowan PDF for taking great photos: Rowan Photography Tips.

Interactive Map of Rowan University Area

Rowan Photography FAQ

What are the best times of day for photography on Rowan's campus?

Photography is all about lighting, so the best photos at Rowan come from the times when the light is best. Early morning and late afternoon often produce the most dramatic lighting emphasizing shadows and textures. Change of classes time will add the human interest element to your photos because more people are present.

What kind of equipment is recommended for photographing the Rowan campus?

You can get great photos with any camera-yes, even a smartphone-but the best results will come from using a digital camera that's equipped with a good zoom lens. A polarizing lens filter will enhance contrast and color vibrancy.

Is drone photography permitted at Rowan University

Drone photography is permitted at Rowan with restrictions. Drones cannot be used to harass or annoy anyone and camera-enabled drones can not be used near campus housing without advance written permission from Public Safety.

Does Rowan University have a photography program?

Rowan does have a collection of photographic arts classes.

From Rowan's website: "The photography program at Rowan stresses the development of a unique voice that is in conversation with contemporary art and society. The curriculum emphasizes individual artistic development while integrating theory, experimentation, critique and professional preparedness."

How can I capture the vibrant colors of Rowan's campus?

Vibrant colors can be captured at Rowan in the spring, summers, and fall. Photograph emerging growth in the spring, shoot the various flower beds in the summer, and capture the splendor of the fall colored tree leaves in autumn.

What is a powerful, underused tip for editing photos of Rowan University to enhance their visual appeal?

Use the crop tool to improve your photos. You can dramatically enhance your photographs by using the cropping option in software. You can eliminate distracting elements in your composition as well as change the width and height ratio to revamp your images.

Photography is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the process. The more you look at scenes, analyze, and practice the craft of photography, the closer you'll get to capturing great photos.

I hope this post has inspired you to improve your photography and perhaps even travel to Rowan University to shoot your own images with your own unique style. Feel free to share this article with any of your friends or colleagues that are looking to improve their photography too.

For more learning opportunities with some of my other travel photography trips see the links below my signature.

Bruce Lovelace is the publisher of TravelingPhotographer.com. Bruce shot portraits full time for over 35 years. Now he shoots more travel photography. Read more about him on the About Page. He also publishes how to articles and camera gear reviews at the Photography Tips and Canon Geek websites.

The Traveling Photographer Location on Google My Business