This two-week course is designed to help photographers working in any media, embark on a major photographic project. Participants begin stylistically tailoring a personal portfolio and prepare for the technical and aesthetic challenges of future work. Portfolio expansion and artistic development is the purpose.
This class introduces participants to working on a long-term project and building a body of work. Students learn how to approach a project, define it, and to provide a context in which to work. Looking at student’s current work to see where it may lead, participants strive toward a deeper understanding of personal point of view.
Students sequence and group images to suggest a direction for their portfolio that represents personal vision. Brenton discusses and counsels each student on possible new projects to undertake and how to expand on themes already evident. The course combines lectures, demonstrations, and fieldwork to create new images and darkroom or printing work with extensive one-on-one critiques to help fine-tune skills. Participants acquire new technical knowledge, expand a project and refine a portfolio.
Alan Vlach, printmaker and visual artist, joins Brenton throughout the course with his experience and commitment to the traditional darkroom and great insight into new digital technologies. As digital media has provided a wide array of media opportunities and techniques, digital participants work closely with Alan to explore the technical possibilities and refine digital workflow for each student. The course includes illustrated lectures on the history of photography and contemporary visions, and a look at sample projects, books and portfolios.
There is an introduction to printing techniques, extensive toning for the darkroom printers and exhibition printing concerns, archival processing, print finishing and presentation. Photographers working in B&W, color, digital or non-silver are encouraged to apply. Students working digitally will use the Digital Service Department for output of new work.
A portfolio is required for this class as admission is by portfolio review.
Workshop sponsored by: 
