Student Filmmakers' Jody Michelle Solis shares candid photos with MMW from the University Film & Video Association Conference at Champlain College in Burlington, VT, going on NOW - August 10 - 14.
News
Could he be named, “The father of architectural portraiture?” Brian Vanden Brink, a former Maine Media Workshops student and internationally renowned photographer, waits for the image to match the potential he feels before he captures that image. Sometimes this means waiting while sun and clouds move to create perfect shadow and mood. Always this involves an emotional connection with the subject, be it house, grain elevator, or ruins; a connection much like portrait photographers make with human subjects.
“I saw the Workshops ad in a photo magazine, came here one weekend, and knew this was the right place for me. The Workshops helped me make some critical life choices at an important time and staged me to begin earning my living in photography which is what I wanted to do. The key is learning to see the shot and the critical piece is being aware of how light falls on the built environment. Light defines the architecture; it illuminates the built structure and makes it come alive. And detail, be diligent in your attention to detail. It’s got to be right.”
Brian’s newest book, Ruin, was named the New England Journal of Aesthetic Research’s best book of 2009 and was named one of the best photo books worldwide by Photo District News. After only one year, Ruin is in its second printing.
Brian will teach Photographing Residential Architecture at MMW October 3 – 9.
Maine Media Workshops has teamed up with Camden National Bank to provide scholarships to six Maine teens, hailing from Yarmouth to Monroe. The Maine Youth Scholarship provides the opportunity for recipients to spend part of their summer immersed in the creative environment of Maine Media Workshops, surrounded by peers who share their interest in photography and filmmaking in the Young Artists Program.
The new scholarship plays a key role in Maine Media’s efforts to reach out to the local community, a primary goal of the school since its transition to a non-profit organization in 2007. “We’re excited to welcome more Maine teens to campus, thanks in large part to the generosity of Camden National Bank,” says MMW President Charles Altschul. “The success of this scholarship program is encouraging, and we hope to provide even more opportunities for Maine high school students in 2011.”
Pictured above: Olin Jenner, Gregory A. Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Bank, and Hila Shooter.
A series of exhibitions and events in August will celebrate the life and accomplishments of renowned portrait photographer, Arnold Newman (1918-2006). Newman was defined largely by the 30-plus summers he spent teaching at Maine Media Workshops and is widely recognized as the “Father of Environmental Portraiture”.
In conjunction with the first award of the new Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture, Maine Media Workshops and the Farnsworth Museum have collaborated on a series of events to honor this master photographer. The public is warmly invited to join the celebrations.
From July 26 – August 14, The Influence of Arnold Newman will be on view at the Maine Media Gallery, 18 Central Street in Rockport Village. This exhibition features fifteen artists who were once assistants and/or students of Newman and are now renowned photographers in their own right.
On August 14 at 2 pm, Maine Media will present a multimedia piece derived from Arnold’s lecture entitled, “What is a Portrait.” This turned out to be his last presentation at the Workshops and was given in the summer of 2005. Following the multimedia presentation, members of the MMW faculty will discuss the impact of Newman’s work in the context of 20th century photography and his role as mentor and teacher. This event will take place in Union Hall at 2 Central Street in Rockport Village.
Also opening August 14 is a solo exhibition featuring the work of Emily Schiffer, winner of this year’s Arnold Newman Prize, will open at the Farnsworth Museum. The Arnold Newman Prize was offered through the 2009 Photo Annual competition of Photo District News and recognizes an individual for their innovative approach to photographic portraiture. The prize is sponsored by the Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation, with support from Maine Media Workshops, the American Society of Media Photographers, and Photo District News. This exhibition will be on view through January 2011 at the Farnsworth Museum, located at 16 Museum Street in Rockland.
Applications are currently being accepted for Maine Media College’s Professional Certificate program, which begins on September 5!
With tracks in Photography and Filmmaking, the Professional Certificate (PC) program is a 30-week, 3-term, intensive learning experience. Being at MMC allows students the chance to work with the latest technology and provides access to our extensive facilities. Students are offered the opportunity to explore their personal creativity, while at the same time mastering the tools they will need to continue a career in their chosen field.
PC in Filmmaking grants students the opportunity to learn about the entire filmmaking process, from screenwriting to production and cinematography to post-production. By the end of the spring term, each student will have produced his or her own film, as well as crewed each classmate’s film.
PC in Photography immerses students in all photographic mediums. Students learn the fundamentals of Digital, B&W, and Alternative Process Photography. After exploring the basics, students choose a specific area of study to specialize in.
Click here for information on MMC’s application process.
We will - don't forget to stop by Maine Media's booth and say hi!
The 64th Annual University Film and Video Conference takes place this August 10-14 at Champlain College in Burlington, VT. Screenings, panels, script readings, new media exhibitions, and workshops will take place in the buildings surrounding the main quad. Learn more about the UFVA here.
Congratulations to Multimedia Instructor Sarah Kramer on her Emmy nomination! Sarah was nominated in the “New Approaches to News & Documentary Programming: Documentaries” category for her work on the New York Times piece entitled One in 8 Million.
One in 8 Million tells the story of one New Yorker each week for a year. The project strives to highlight the individuality and distinctiveness of each and every subject in such a vast city, focusing on a person's passions, dreams, struggles, and stories rather than accomplishments or facts.
“With One in 8 Million, we hoped to create a portrait of New York City as it constantly changes and evolves, personalizing what is often a city of anonymous faces,” says Sarah. “Our aim is to combine compelling photographs with singular voices to give our audience an impression of New Yorkers rather than a definition of New Yorkers.”
As a producer of the project, Sarah says, “We are thrilled and honored to be nominated for an Emmy. “One in 8 million is a project close to the hearts of the people who worked on it, and we couldn’t be more excited.” The 31st Annual Emmy Awards will be announced on September 27.
Sarah will be in Maine teaching Audio Narrative, October 17-23. To read more about what Sarah and the other staff members have to say about One in 8 Million, click here.
Join us for a Maine Media Workshops & College Alumni party, Wednesday, July 28, 7 – 9PM, hosted by the Tiffen Company at the Steadicam factory!
We invite all MMW and MMC alumni, staff alumni, faculty, sponsors, and new friends to this industry reunion during the SIGGRAPH expo. Frank Rush of the Tiffen Company is opening the doors of the Steadicam factory to us for the evening. Refreshments will be served and Frank and Michael Craigs, Steadicam Technical Support Manager and Maine Media College grad, will personally conduct tours of the factory and introduce the latest Steadicam gear.
The Steadicam factory is located at 6933 San Fernando Road in Glendale, CA, just 20 minutes from the LA Convention Center. Please RSVP to rsvp@mainemedia.edu.
You can also visit us in the MMW booth at SIGGRAPH, July 26 – 29, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. If you’re attending the show and would like to volunteer at the booth for an hour or so, we would love to hear from you. Email development@theworkshops.com.