Featured News

Vinny Award Winner Announced at Photoshop World

Yesterday at Photoshop World in Orlando, Florida, Bessmarie "Beamie" Young was named winner for the coveted Vincent Versace Award for Excellence in Digital Photography.

Nicknamed “The Vinny,” this competition is open to all attendees of the conference and the prize is awarded during the opening keynote presentation.

The winner receives an extensive list of sought-after industry goodies from Epson, Dynalite, Xrite, Hoodman, Wacom, Lowepro, and Adobe, and includes a one-week tuition scholarship to Maine Media Workshops. "I'm thrilled that this prize includes a Maine Media Workshop experience for the winner," says Versace " Maine is all about intensive imaging education and moving forward as an artist."

MMW looks forward to welcoming Beamie, a Maine native, to Rockport in 2011. Vincent is back on campus October 17 - 23 teaching his workshop Return to Oz - The Environmental Landscape. 

MMW’s Brenton Hamilton Makes His Debut at the SMFA Gallery September 3

Brenton Hamilton, head of Maine Media Instructor and Photography Chair of the Professional Certificate Program, joins the ranks of Ansel Adams and August Sander at the Susan Maasch Fine Art gallery in Portland, Maine. Hamilton’s show, Brenton Hamilton Cyanotypes and Gum Bichromate Works, opens at 5 pm Friday, September 3.

The exhibit features a combination of Brenton’s past works and new, unreleased works from 2010. “This is my inaugural exhibition with the Susan Maasch Fine Art in Portland. I am a new gallery artist there which is really exciting,” explains Hamilton.

Hamilton, an innovative, contemporary visual artist, is renown as a master of the 1840’s cyanotype process. Through expertly mixing anatomy, astronomy, and botany in his images, Brenton creates dreamlike visions reminiscent of Renaissance paintings.

Brenton is an accomplished and dedicated teacher as well as photographer/visual artist and a founding member of Obscura, a non-profit organization that supports arts education for youth. His first monograph, The Blue Poet Dreams, was published earlier this year.

The Susan Maasch Fine Art gallery is located at 567 Congress Street in Portland. The public is invited to Brenton’s reception held from 5 – 8 pm September 3. The show runs through October 23, 2010.

MMW’s Postmen Produce 5-Star Film

Every Sunday evening, students arriving at MMW are introduced to the entire Workshops staff, all in about five minutes. Thanks to the 2010 Post production team, Staff Infection, a staff introduction and campus tour video, offers a hilarious kick-off to student orientation.

Filmed by Post Production Manager, Chris Lehmann, the short film features Staff Editors Nik Siefke, Ian Bibby, Kevin Brown and Post Intern Cole Christine, and takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of the school - with a little help from students in The Steadicam Workshop.

Kevin Brown, recalls, “We didn’t think anything would come of it. The Steadicam class shot us moving; they did some really professional work. We have a very enthusiastic and energetic staff here; we have a lot of fun while we learn.”

Enjoying his eighth summer at MMW, Joe O’Brien, Final Cut Pro student from Washington D. C., notes, “The environment at Maine Media Workshops is both intensive and fun. This video proves that you can have a great time working hard.”

Amelia Holmes, senior at Bennington College and Narrative Portrait student, describes the film as, “very catchy.” Interested in the relationship between people and the environment through art, Amelia views the video through a psychological lens, “It’s an amusing and wonderful way to give students information about who can help and how to find things.”

Robert Stevens, in Writing and Developing the Documentary reports, “The video makes it clear that this is a professional school. The media skills people have here are impressive.”

Go beyond your boundaries! View The Postmen in Staff (Infection) Introduction.

Coyle's Kitchen Is the Hit of the Summer

This summer saw the first of the culinary stylings of new chef David Coyle. His cuisine has been the hit of the summer, refueling photography, filmmaking, and multimedia students through their intense workshops. Coyle joined MMW in early March and is enjoying a successful first season at the Workshops, feeding as many as 250 students, faculty and staff three meals a day. 

David and his staff work tirelessly to provide workshoppers with the best dining experience. He has been incredibly accommodating to dietary needs, providing vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options at every meal. A weekly menu is given out to students at the time of their arrival on Sunday so they know what to expect from every meal. 

Lottie Hedley, a Photography Residency student, says of the food, "It has been such a joy being able to sit under the dining tent with my fellow students after a long day of classes and enjoy a delicious, hearty meal. The food has become quintessential to my experience here. Every meal brings us together as a community."