About
The RIT Big Shot has been making striking, dramatic photographs of well-known structures and historical sites since 1987.
The project began as a way to teach RIT students studying biomedical photographic communications how to solve complicated problems with simple tools and teamwork. More importantly, Big Shot founders Michael Peres, Bill DuBois, and Dawn Tower DuBois wanted to have fun.
Over the years, The Big Shot has traveled the country and twice crossed the Atlantic Ocean on its way to becoming a signature RIT tradition. Through their viewfinders, RIT Big Shot photographers, with the assistance of a legion of volunteers, have captured local, national, and international landmarks.
The Big Shot is best described as a “painting with light” event that engages students, faculty, staff, and community members. The volunteers use flashlights to provide the primary light source of an otherwise darkened subject while RIT photographers capture a vibrant image that shines bright in the night.
The Big Shot has always relied on the generosity of countless volunteers — both when it was a small, departmental activity and also as it evolved into a marquee event on the RIT calendar. Since day one, the project has maintained a commitment to building community in the name of creative photography.
The Big Shot is sponsored and organized by the College of Art and Design’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, National Technical Institute for the Deaf’s Department of Visual Communication Studies, Nikon, and the Estate of Henry D. Navas MBA ’74, MS ’77 and Deborah L. Robbins.
Above photo by Travis LaCoss