News

Elizabeth Greenberg Promoted to Vice President of Academic Affairs

Maine Media Workshops + College is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Greenberg has been named Vice President of Academic Affairs.

“I anticipate working closely with Elizabeth,” said Meg Weston, incoming president of Maine Media. “She is an important part of the team to lead Maine Media in our vision for future growth, while we leverage the internationally recognized strengths of the workshops and college programs.”

Elizabeth began her career at Maine Photographic Workshops as an intern over 20 years ago. She has served on the faculty as director of the photography program and as dean and director of the educational programs.  Elizabeth brings experience, passion and commitment to this new role at Maine Media.

“I am honored to serve as Vice President of Academic Affairs during this exciting time for the school.  Over the course of my 22-year affiliation, the Workshops has always been to me a place like no other - one where creative imagination and the spirit of collaboration flourish.  I look forward to working with our incoming president, Meg Weston, my dedicated colleagues on the staff, faculty and Board of Directors as we renew our commitment to the Workshops’ mission and to all who come to explore and share their talents.”

“With this promotion, Elizabeth’s experience at Maine Media and proven leadership capabilities are being recognized by the board and our new president,” said John Claussen, Chair of the Board. “We are confident that Meg, Elizabeth and their team will create new, exciting opportunities for the school and the communities it serves.”

Located in Rockport, Maine Media Workshops + College was founded in 1973 and today offers hundreds of photographic, film and multimedia workshops as well as a professional certificate program and a Master of Fine Arts degree.  Over sixteen hundred students each year have an opportunity to immerse themselves in this creative community and learn new skills in all forms of photography, film, multimedia, animation and book arts. 

Visually Stunning, Globally Diverse Destination Workshops

Ready to shoot extraordinary images with the masters of travel photography and filmmaking? Maine Media Workshops presents nine spectacular destinations between April and July!

April 15 – 20  Spirit of Structure: Western Remnants of the Erie Canal

Join prestigious photographer, Tillman Crane, at the Erie Canal to photograph in an exciting environment. Shift your perceptions, approach your subjects differently, take risks and increase your photographic skills at the remnants of the original Erie Canal, Niagara Falls, Chinaman’s Light and the George Eastman house.

April 22 – 28  Streets of Barcelona

Exploring Barcelona with one of the foremost travel and street photographers, Peter Turnley, definitely will add dimension to your travel portfolio and street photography skills. Barcelona, a European capital of art and design, has a life energy that will easily yield breathtaking images. Bring a companion to share the splendor of Catalonia’s cultural epicenter, Barcelona.

 May 13 – 18  Spirit of Structure: Abandoned Farms of North Dakota

Travel to the center of the universe, the USA geographical center that is. Meet Tillman Crane in Rugby, North Dakota for a destination workshop focused on producing compelling photographs. Enjoy the endless possibilities for photographing isolated, abandoned farmhouses; nearly deserted towns; still life of all types; portraits; abstract images; and unique landscapes.

May 20 – 26  Crete Documentary Workshop

Jump-start your documentary project in Crete, the largest and most fascinating Greek island. Catch intimate moments in the daily lives of local farmers, fishermen and townspeople while relishing in Crete’s spectacular beauty, world-famous cuisine and music. Renowned Greek-American photographer, Stella Johnson, will share the secrets of shooting captivating images that make strong compositions.

May 26 – June 4   Destination Norway    

Tour modern and historic Norway while perfecting your photography skills. Enhance your street photography skills in Oslo. Photograph dramatic landscape images at Gammel Kleppe, a well-preserved farm from the Viking era. Photograph Norway’s majestic mountains and fjords in Flam and Solvorn. Do all this and more with Arlene Collins, distinguished educator and international photographer.

  

 June 10 – 16  Streets of New York

Working in the Cartier-Bresson spirit of capturing the “decisive moments” of daily life, compose an exceptional narrative in New York City with eminent photographer, Peter Turnley. Enjoy street photography, photography museums and exhibitions. Develop your personal responses as you expand your photographic language.

          

 June 18 – July 2   Tribes of Lower Omo Valley and the Rock Churches of Lalibela

Exotic, enchanting Ethiopia awaits you! Photograph tribes isolated for centuries as you document their unique culture, dress, customs and architecture. Perfect your video storytelling, portrait, landscape and architectural photography skills. Chronicle a tribe’s daily life, farming practices and rituals as you work with expert, international photographer, Arlene Collins. Create intimate portraits of a life known only to a few.

 

 June 24 – 30  Hurricane Island Workshop

Immerse yourself in Maine’s quintessential, private island life with esteemed Maine photographer, Peter Ralston. Living on and becoming one with Hurricane Island, you will increase your confidence with taking chances while “living through the lens”. As Peter quotes, “If once you have slept on an island, you’ll never be quite the same.” July first, you are certain to wake up refreshed, relaxed and renewed.

 

 

July 1 – 7  The Streets of Istanbul      

Meet Peter Turnley, notable travel and street photographer, in Turkey to capture the texture and rhythm of Istanbul, a city at the crossroads of the Orient, the Middle East and Western Europe. Invite a travel companion to accompany you as you produce an exuberant documentary with your personal vision and visual voice.

 

Keep those travel bags packed!

We've got ten additional and equally fabulous photography and film destinations between August and New Year's Eve. New destination workshops include: Mumbai, Newfoundland, Montana, Uganda, Hanoi, Moosehead Lake, Virginia and New Year's Eve in Paris.

Stopping the Viewer for Three Seconds

In today’s world people are bombarded with images. Without even noticing them, most people see thousands of images before every day ends! Because of this, product and still life photographers have to use every trick in their magic bag to make the viewer stop and look at the images they produce. I feel stopping the viewer for a few seconds is so important I call it the “Three Second Rule”. Most people aren’t going to marvel at an image for a long time but I feel if I can stop them for just 3 seconds with one of my images I’ve won the battle for a tiny amount of their precious time.

One way to stop viewers for those 3 measly seconds is to impart a feeling of life in an inanimate subject. Interestingly, this feeling of life doesn’t have to be human or animal life…just life! Plants are alive so they too have life. One example of this “life” is that plants always grow towards the light. This phenomenon is called “phototropism” and I think it can be applied to images of inanimate subjects to illustrate an example of life and the 3-second rule. In the image of the pliers below, all the pliers are tilted towards the light coming from the right side of the set. I feel that having the pliers “growing” towards the light source creates life in them and stops the viewer for a few seconds.

Steve Sint’s upcoming book, Digital Still life Photography: Art, Business, and Style, will be available in November of 2012 and features a whole chapter on creating an emotional reaction in the viewer and the “Three Second Rule”.  

By: Steve Sint (Steve@SteveSint.com)

Steve Sint's upcoming workshop, The Digital Wedding Photographer, July 10 - 16, will enable you to create wedding photos every bride and groom dreams about and become a highly sought after wedding photographer!

Rodney Taylor, ASC, Shares Cinematic Secrets

Rodney Taylor, American Society of Cinematography, is proof positive that it is possible to begin life in a small fishing village and move on to achieve high cinematic acclaim. How, you may ask? Taylor shares six “cinematic secrets”:

1. “Filmmaking, particularly cinematography, takes a lot of hard work and dedication to learn the craft.

2. Learn everything you can about the tools of filmmaking. You have to know the technical side so well that you can forget it and concentrate on telling the director’s story with a camera.

3. Even when you can’t afford the best tools, use what you have.

4. Anyone can learn to light a person. You must get to the emotion of a story so the audience can live, breathe and feel the story.

5. Film is a collaboration. I rely on a great crew so I can focus on the story.

6. Watch films and learn what creates “The Look”.”

When Taylor tired of shooting sports for ESPN, he decided to step back into the learning arena to expand his skills. Where did he do this you ask? Maine Media Workshops, of course!

Come to MMW to work with Rodney Taylor, ASC, in his Director of Photography Master Class. Test the latest equipment and enjoy the beautiful Maine coast while you develop your skills, your story and THE LOOK.

Maine Media Workshops + College Appoints New President

Margaret A. (Meg) Weston, a long time Maine resident and respected leader in higher education, business and consulting in international imaging, has been appointed President of Maine Media Workshops + College.

“Meg’s professional experience and collaborative style fit perfectly with the Workshops”, said John Claussen, Chair of the Board. “She brings with her an entrepreneurial track record, a passion for the creative process and enthusiastic endorsements from everyone with whom she has worked.”

Located in Rockport, Maine Media Workshops + College was founded in 1973, and today offers hundreds of photographic, film and multimedia workshops as well as a professional certificate program and a Master of Fine Arts degree.  Over 1600 students each year have an opportunity to immerse themselves in this creative community and learn new skills in all forms of photography, film and multimedia.

Meg Weston is leaving her position at the University of Southern Maine as Vice President of Advancement and President & CEO of the USM Foundation where she has been for the past three years.  Prior to that Meg held executive positions in consumer photography and media businesses including President of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, President of Konica USA, the U.S. photofinishing operations of Tokyo-based Konica Corporation, and President and CEO of PrintLife, an Israeli digital imaging company.  Meg also served as a trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Maine System, and as a consultant in the international imaging industry with clients including Fuji, Kodak and HP.

Meg commented on her new role as President:  “Maine Media is a gem in Maine with a national and international reputation for providing quality education and nurturing creativity in all forms of imaging.  This position sits perfectly at the intersection of my experience and my passion for photography and education.  I’m excited to work with the faculty, staff, board, students, alumni and community to help the Workshops and College realize its full potential.”  Meg expects to move to the mid-coast Maine area and start at MMW in late March 2012.

ABOUT MAINE MEDIA

Maine Media Workshops + College began in 1973 as the Maine Photographic Workshops, housed in the basement of Union Hall in Rockport Village.  Today, Maine Media Workshops offers hundreds of photographic, film and multimedia workshops.  In the summer months, the school also welcomes large numbers of high school students to its Young Artists’ programs.  As one of the 36 colleges in the State of Maine, Maine Media College offers a nine-month professional certificate program as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree, the terminal degree in the field of Art.

Summer Workshops - Totally Brilliant

The 2012 season of summer and fall workshops is just a calendar flip away and we at Maine Media are gearing up for one of the most exciting seasons of our 40 year history!

Download 2012's spectacular, visual catalog -- enjoy it online now and again when your personal copy arrives in the mail.  Either way, check out the new and amazing:

Young Artist Programs

Destinations

Filmmaking

Design & Book Arts

Multimedia

Photography

Job Fair - Bring Your Expertise to Maine Media!

Join the Maine Media team of creatives!

Come to Maine Media Workshops’ 2012 Job Fair, which begins March 30 at 10 AM and concludes March 31 at 3 PM. All interviews start in the dining hall located on the 70 Camden Street campus in Rockport, Maine. Complete details and applications can be found at www.mainemedia.edu no later than March 9. Applications may be submitted between March 9 and March 31.

Gain invaluable experience and develop a vital network of lifelong friends – all while enjoying the beauty and excitement of the internationally famous, quintessential Maine Media Workshops located in Rockport Village on Maine’s magnificent Midcoast.

Positions are available in filmmaking, multimedia, photography, design and book arts, postproduction, digital services, housekeeping, operations, transportation, talent and locations, administration, young artist services, communications and technology.

Copy your current resume, plot the directions and come in person to interview as you bask in the Creative Zone and set your course for an absolutely unforgettable summer.

Invitation to Friday’s Film Screenings and After Party

This Friday, February 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., enjoy the collaborative work of The Farnsworth Art Museum and The Strand Theatre for Rockland Shorts: An International Film Series. This premiere screening at The Strand Theatre in Rockland, Maine will feature a dozen films followed by a question and answer session via Skype with Mike Mills, 2012 Academy Award nominee for Best Director.

After the screening and discussion, go around the corner to The Yvette Torres Fine Art Gallery, 21 Winter Street, for the after party featuring hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and dancing to D.J. Sergio Kawasaki’s tunes. All of this for only $10 for Farnsworth members and $12 for non-members!

Mark your calendar for the April 6 and June 1 Rockland Shorts showings. And, if you are a filmmaker, make a plan to submit your short film.

While there, visit with one of Rockland Short’s program directors and Maine Media Workshop’s instructor, Sally Levi. Then, expand your knowledge and filmmaking expertise at Maine Media Workshops' Four-Week Film School under the direction of film icon, Sally Levi.

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