| Creative Mobile Image Making - Photography and Processing

Master the camera that’s always with you - your smartphone.

NOTE: 2020 DATES FOR THIS COURSE HAVE BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19. Many courses have been Moved to an online format. VIEW THOSE OFFERINGS HERE 

The ability to capture images with a camera that is always with you as well as process the photos directly on the phone is an image making paradigm that many photographers have found to be a wonderfully refreshing way to channel their creative muse. In addition to incredible flexibility for spontaneous creativity on the go, there is also the possibility for more fully realized fine art images that can be just as rewarding as photographs made with more traditional camera systems.

In this workshop fine art photographer, educator, and digital imaging expert Seán Duggan will cover the essentials you need to know to get the most out of the photographic possibilities of the iPhone or iPad, or similar mobile devices (this workshop will be taught from an iPhone-centric perspective but the core photographic concepts, as well as several of the apps featured in this workshop are equally applicable to Android mobile devices).

During a full week of exploration, photography, and creative discovery, we’ll travel to some wonderful locations as we search for interesting and compelling photographs. Along the way, we’ll cover some essential image making concepts such as composition, controlling exposure, predicting the “decisive moment”, making the most of existing light, photographing in low light, adding your own light, and how these can be applied to camera phone photography.

We’ll review techniques for getting the best images possible and also explore capture techniques for exposure blending, HDR, slow shutter speed captures, and multiple shots for diptychs, triptychs, and collage work. We’ll also take a look at some essential photo apps for image processing and developing a sound processing workflow for “app-stacking”, where an image is processed in different photo apps for specific reasons.

Our processing explorations will cover essential adjustments for traditional photographic approaches to modify the light and color qualities in a photo, as well as more interpretive techniques that involve textures, using color to set a mood, as well as multiple image composites and images that push beyond the boundaries of traditional photography. No matter what type of photographs you make, the “always-with-you” immediacy of modern camera phones offer a fascinating and engaging way for you to explore another side of your photography.  This workshop will focus on taking your mobile photography and processing skills to the next level with an emphasis on capturing better photographs and refining both your vision and technique to create beautifully artistic images.

Some of the Key Topics to be Covered:

• Understanding the strengths and limitations of camera phones
• Developing a sense for scenes that work well for mobile devices
• Controlling exposure to get the shot you want
• Using HDR (high dynamic range) for scenes with high contrast
• Exploring the benefits of shooting in raw on your camera phone
• Using selective editing techniques to modify certain parts of a photo
• Creating a collage from multiple images
• Adding “special effects”, creative filters and textures
• Moving beyond canned app effects
• Finding and developing a personal style

Participants should bring their iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile device. If you choose to download any of the apps shown in class, you can expect to pay an additional $15 to $30 on app purchases. A short list of additional suggested and useful gear will be sent before the workshop.

All image credit ©Seán Duggan