This two-week program is designed for high school students between the ages of 14 and 18.

History shows the development of imagemaking with a variety of cameras and tools, many of which are still in use today.  From the simple to the sophisticated, all have one thing in common - the ability to capture light.

Through daily discussions, critiques, assignments and experimentation, participants photograph with a newfound understanding of photo history and technique. Students experiment with plastic cameras and a variety of formats and discover the possibilities of working with various light capturing devices. From 11x14 pinhole cameras to 4x5 and 8x10 view cameras, students learn the advantages, excitement, and craft of creating photographs with new tools. Students create both paper negatives and conventional film negatives in large formats with the available large format cameras.

With negatives made in the field, students explore the artistic possibilities of working in non-silver, antique and alternative processes. Brenton demonstrates a number of hand applied emulsion processes while teaching his students to use the techniques just as photographers have over the years.  Students make contact prints on Salted paper, Kallitypes, Cyanotype, and Gum Bichromate. As students master these new shooting, processes and printing techniques, a new portfolio of work develops.

Students should have a solid grasp of darkroom techniques. A prerequisite of Young Photographers or Advanced Young Photographers is required or by portfolio and permission of the instructor. A short list of materials will be provided to students prior to the workshop.

About the Young Artists Program: Young Artists’ days are comprised of both classroom and field/location work: lectures and critique, demonstrations, shooting, editing, writing, computer workflow and/or darkroom work, depending on the workshop. All instructors are talented industry professionals as well as experienced educators, and each works with a teaching assistant, providing additional support for their class. The students are busy all day and into the mid-evening hours, attending presentations from visiting master faculty. All Young Artists reside at a nearby residence (a motel-style building, with four students to a room, gender specific, and private bath) located 3/4 of a mile from campus. The property is controlled by Maine Media Workshops and is used exclusively by students and their counselors. Students are shuttled to the main campus each morning for breakfast and to begin their day, and are driven back at the end of the each day, following their last class or other scheduled activity. All meals are taken together. Parents can indicate any special dietary needs upon registration. Counselors supervise the students 24 hours a day, and help make group decisions about weekend activities like swimming, bowling, and hiking. Coin laundry facilities are available on campus. A lobster dinner is served (there are other choices) on the last Friday night of each workshop, and all Workshops students gather for an evening presentation of highlights from the week’s work. Parents are welcome to attend and meal tickets may be purchased in the Registration Office.

We recommend students have access to $150 over the two-week period for incidentals, snacks, movies, field trips etc.

Check-in is on Sunday, between 3 and 6 and departure is on Saturday morning.

Tuition Note: includes room and board

This class is part of a multi-course sequence and may qualify for a discounted tuition of 10%.  Contact registrar@mainemedia.edu for details.