DSU’s Photography Study Tour offers an immersive view of Europe
August 3, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State University students will have the opportunity to experience Europe through a photographer’s lens during a 15-day Photography Study Tour planned for spring 2027.
Led by DSU Professor of Digital Art Dr. Thomas Jones and Mathematics Lecturer Dr. Kimberly Jones since 2011, the program will take participants to England, France, and Scotland. Tentatively scheduled for May 12-27, the trip will include time in London, Paris, and Edinburgh, along with possible day trips and surprise destinations selected by the Joneses.
The study tour is designed for experienced photographers and beginners alike. It is open to students from any major, as well as alumni and community members. No previous photography experience is required.
“Even though it says ‘Photography Study Tour,’ you don’t need photography experience,” Thomas said. “If you want to learn photography and you want to travel, this is the trip for you.”
Participants will photograph a wide variety of subjects in changing environments, experimenting with daytime and nighttime photography, composition, perspective, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. Thomas provides individualized instruction throughout the trip, often encouraging participants to approach familiar landmarks from new angles or consider different ways to frame a scene.
The academic expectations can also be tailored to participants’ goals. Students pursuing the photography minor may use the experience to develop a portfolio and prepare work for a public exhibition, while students taking the course for general education credit may complete a photo journal or another individualized project. Participants who are primarily interested in travel can also learn photography fundamentals while exploring Europe.
For students completing the course for credit, the learning begins before departure. The group will meet periodically during the spring semester to discuss camera equipment, packing, travel safety, and other preparations. After the trip, students will select and edit their strongest photographs, and their work may be featured in an exhibition in the Ruth Habeger Science Center or presented through an online gallery.
The experience extends well beyond photography. Rather than following the tightly structured schedule of a traditional bus tour, participants will navigate cities primarily through public transportation. They will use buses, trains, and subway systems, travel beneath the English Channel aboard the Eurostar, and move between destinations much like local residents.
“We try to create a full immersion into what it is like to live in a European country and travel without a car,” Kim said. “Some students have never used public transportation or even been on an airplane. They learn how to use the subway, find the right train, and become comfortable navigating a large city.”
The trip will begin in London, where the group will visit major attractions and become familiar with the city’s transportation system. Participants will then travel to Paris for approximately three days before continuing north to Edinburgh. The tour will conclude with a return to London, where participants will have opportunities to explore more independently.
That return to London is often an important moment, Kim said, because students recognize how much more comfortable and confident they have become.
Although London, Paris, and Scotland remain central destinations, each trip is slightly different. The Joneses may add day trips, lesser-known attractions, or unannounced experiences alongside visits to major cultural and historic sites.
“When we come back to London, they feel like they have come home,” she said. “By that point, they understand the transportation system and feel more comfortable going out and exploring.”
Thomas has seen that confidence continue long after the trip ends. Former participants have used what they learned to navigate other major cities, and one student later recreated the European itinerary for her family.
“It’s amazing how they come out of their shell,” Thomas said. “After the trip, they will tell us about going somewhere like New York and taking the subway because they knew they could do it. The experience encourages them to travel more.”
Deposits to reserve a place on the spring 2027 trip will be accepted beginning in October 2026, but interested participants are encouraged to begin planning early. For more information about the Photography Study Tour, contact Thomas Jones at Thomas.Jones@dsu.edu or Kim Jones at Kim.Jones@dsu.edu.