David Akiba - Emerson College, Boston, MA

Professor: David Akiba

Department: Fine Arts

College: Emerson College, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

David cares about photography, cares about his students' photography, and is one of my all-time favorites. This review doesn't really matter because he is retiring so goodbye David!! Thank you for everything and teaching me to love photography.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHO1100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is good at what he does (film photography). I still can't figure out what he likes and dislikes because the course is very subjective. Expect to spend a lot of time taking photos and developing them.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: VM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

David is a great professor who isn't afraid to give you constructive criticism. As a photographer himself, his insight and criticism really helped me grow as a photographer and notice things I didn't before. Art takes time, effort, and passion, which is something that David definitely emphasized.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHOTOI
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dave is tough, and will call you out on BS'd, last minute.poorly made photos. He randomly has students he favors, but it's not to a degree that will negatively affect you/your grades.You're going to end up with a B, so prepare yourself. You definitely grow as a photographer/printer, and that was enough for me. Also, be prepared to spend money!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Excellent

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very nice, helpful, great introduction to photo. Not the easiest grader, but fair.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

People gripe about how hard he is, but the guy is an awesome and experienced photographer. Just put in your time in the darkroom and consult him on your photographs. I'm taking him for as many photo classes as I can.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

It's tough for my to accept getting a bad grade but this class was more than a grade for me. Even though the grade didn't reflect it, I felt like I learned a lot and improved. I wouldn't have if David hadn't been honest with me and forced me to not accept sub-par work.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

this guy really does manage to suck all joy out of photography...he's unfriendly and completely unwilling to help his students in any way, almost as if teaching for him is a chore (which is standard fare for most emerson professors..) i was waiting for him to simply say "where's my paycheck?"

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHOTOIII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

One of the few Emerson profs who doesn't coddle students by praising shoddy work. At the time, his willingness to give low grades pissed me off; now, looking back at my photos I can see he was obviously right, and I probably deserved worse sometimes. Awesome sense of humor, too.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1AND2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ah, yes, a teacher actually makes his students work, and gets crap for it on internet polls. Part of taking good photos, and creating good art in general, is about learning to see and to notice things you might not notice. David tried to emphasize this. If he gives a bad grade, it's generally because you're lazy or not listening. He is pretty open to accepting your choices if you can back them up, which is cool.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Knows His stuff.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The only B I got at Emerson. He's tough as nails, which can either discourage you or make you work harder.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's so smart that I felt stupid the whole time... although I gues that's my fault, not his.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The worst professor I had at Emerson; prejudiced, unhelpful, and lacking any sort of curriculum. He managed to suck the joy out of photography.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHOTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

david is smart, friendly, knows what he is talking about, but likes things done a certain way.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHOTOGRAPHY2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHOTOGRAPHYI
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gave continuously improving grades over the course of the semester, then without making any real negative comments gave me a C- on my final project

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: VA221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

good guy, definately knows what he's talking about, you could learn a lot from him. he HATES it when you crop photos unless it makes the picture markedly better.