Photography Class for Veterans
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) is always offering fun learning opportunities to Veterans, and one such offering is the photographer class taught by Air Force Veteran and VAPIHCS Visual Information Specialist Henry Villareal.
The class had approximately ten Veterans in the first year. One of these Veterans is Marine Corps Veteran Jackie Woolf.
“I took pictures all the time when my kids were little,” Woolf said. “But that was just sports and events. I also didn’t know all the cool technical things you could do, like blurring the background or adjusting the light exposure as you are taking a picture.”
Photography locations so far have ranged from locations like the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens and Ko Olina to photographing the Koa Challenge Veteran Games, giving participants a variety of experiences and opportunities. They will continue to focus on new and different environments as they move forward. This will allow Veterans the opportunity to practice every style of photography.
“I started the classes with the idea that it would give Veterans another way to express themselves and be creative,” said Visual Information Specialist Henry Villareal. “Photography is just another kind of art, and art is a good way to express different things.”
For those who have taken a photography class in high school or college, they may remember it as a negative experience. Some teachers put up pictures from each student to criticize them. However, Villareal would instead share his favorite photos that students took and explain what was good about them. This helped students to feel excited about the subject and interested in learning.
“The way Henry found good things to say about my work made me feel like this was something I could do,” said Woolf. “The positivity was helpful, and I felt really inspired.”
Although Villareal has handed over his instruction duties, he will still stop by the classes when possible to offer tips. They will continue Fridays from 9am to 11am at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic in Kapolei, and those who are interested should contact Recreation Therapist Micah Monzon at micah.monzon@va.gov. All Veterans are welcome to attend.
“I think it’s really helpful to get out and learn new things,” said Woolf. “The class has been a lot of fun, and I’m glad I got involved.”
Other classes offered at the Daniel K. Akaka clinic include art classes every first and third Wednesday from 9am to 12pm and guitar classes from 10am to 12pm on Thursdays. The Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) is involved in coordination of times and spaces and Veterans may reach out to CDCE Chief Schoen Safotu at Schoen.Safotu@va.gov.