For a recent film project, Ashley Carvajal, BFA Photography ’25, wanted to capture local skateboarding culture. So she grabbed a camera, hopped on the Manhattan-bound F train, and walked to the LES Skate Park under the Manhattan Bridge.
“It was nerve-wracking at first, but you learn that people are very encouraging,” said Carvajal. “They said it was cool to film, and they came over and talked about their boards. I interviewed someone who had been part of the community for 10 years.”
Carvajal often steps out of her comfort zone at Pratt. She uses campus resources and New York’s many opportunities to make friends, find mentors, and broaden her skill set. She’s minoring in Film/Video, works different jobs on campus, juggles internships and freelance assignments, participates in clubs like the LatinX Student Alliance, and even spent a semester abroad in Berlin.
“Studying abroad was an incredible experience of learning how to be independent,” she said. “I learned German, explored a city, and became more extroverted.”
Mastering Techniques
Carvajal became interested in photography after going with her mom to get disposable film developed. She remembers carrying a digital camera around on vacations, snapping photos of sunsets and cityscapes, but didn’t realize photography could be a viable career path until her first retail job in high school.
“I was working as a sales associate and my friend, who was modeling for the store, asked me to take photos for her,” Carvajal said. “Since then, I’ve been taking professional photos.”
Transferring to Pratt after a two-year break from college during the COVID-19 pandemic opened her eyes to the conceptual and technical sides of photography as she took classes and explored the museums and galleries of New York.
She experimented with cameras from the Film/Video building to learn how to use different lenses, worked with various print formats, studied black and white photography, and took advantage of the digital lab on campus to hone her editing skills. Different classes helped her to think outside the box and challenge her primary photography style, which she describes as “very clear cut, editorial style.”
“In one class, you’re asked to make work that you feel hasn’t been seen or represented before,” Carvajal said. “It was very liberating. It showed me how to break the rules of art, which allowed me to break barriers for myself and my work.”
Learning With Purpose
Carvajal has explored documentary filmmaking through her minor in film/video, which has given her new perspectives on photography.
“For observational film, you don’t really interfere with the environment that you’re capturing,” she said. “That’s why I was drawn to it—you’re filming what you see. It’s taught me a lot about framing and how each shot adds to the film, which has really helped with the sequencing and storytelling I do in photography.”
Carvajal also loves horror films, an interest she gets to indulge through regular screenings with the Horror Club.
“I really love the campy 80’s films like Killer Klowns from Outerspace or slashers like Maxxine, but if we are talking about the psychological ones, I really love The Menu,” she said.
Carvajal’s major projects have woven together the various threads of her Pratt education. For HEADLINES, she crafted a newspaper-based narrative exploring an alter ego as a commentary on celebrity and parasocial culture.
Her senior thesis is a reflection on identity and family, shaped by her experiences growing up in Connecticut and Texas. While working on both of these projects, Carvajal said that mentors across campus were essential, providing encouragement and fresh perspectives on her work.
Real-World Success
Carvajal has found opportunities on campus and in the city to build her portfolio, develop her creative skills, and gain clarity on possible careers.
During her first and second years, she photographed events such as an outdoor fashion show, where she captured the runway and surrounding pop-up markets. By doing some research and connecting with public relations contacts online, she expanded her portfolio to cover high-profile events like the Met Gala red carpet and the Governors Ball music festival, opportunities that she says are within reach for any student willing to put themselves out there.
“I write emails that emphasize that I’m a freelance photographer building my resume and portfolio,” she added.
Carvajal’s internship with Modern Day Auctions has given her the opportunity to work on set designs. She thinks that some of her most useful professional experience comes from her on-campus job at the Student Union, where she sets up and organizes events, and her work as part of the Orientation staff, where she leads tours for new students and their families and helps with social media. She also has a position on the student-run WPIR radio, where she helps with programming and events.
With Pratt students reporting a high employment rate within a year of graduation, Carvajal’s diverse work experiences on and off campus reflect the practical and professional skills that help set Pratt students up for success after graduation.
“I’m really interested in social media, project management, and potentially becoming a director of photography or creative director,” she said. “I love running events and I’m learning what it’s like to run a team. I would love to do my own team building one day.”
A Community for Life
Carvajal has embraced the vibrant spirit of New York during her time at Pratt, exploring thrift shops and cafes in Williamsburg, strolling through the community gardens of Bed Stuy, and absorbing the energy of Manhattan. But beyond these adventures, it’s the sense of community on campus that has truly defined her experience. She loves spending time at the Student Union, the E Lab in the Photo Department, the Sculpture Park, and along Myrtle Avenue, where friendships and shared creative pursuits have flourished.
“One of my favorite memories at Pratt was during the solar eclipse, when everyone was on the lawn looking up, and people were sharing glasses,” she said. “I feel like my time here has been so community-based. My teachers and supervisors have been so supportive, steering me creatively and professionally to where I needed to go.”