Special News About Portfolio Bootcamp, from Reid Callanan

Now that autumn is upon us, we find ourselves looking to harvest our work from the last year. 

I have always found that being surrounded by like-minded, passionate people who encourage, support and champion each others work is an invaluable part of the creative process. To that end, I want to bring your attention to an exciting event happening here on campus this fall, Portfolio Bootcamp hosted by CENTER. And let you know that the EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT ends this Friday, August 26.

Portfolio Bootcamp is designed to help photographers “refine your creative edge and ignite your brand.” A carefully selected team of professionals, curators, editors and publishers will be here September 23-24, 2011 to help get your project or portfolio the best shape it can be for next year's portfolio reviews, award, grants, Kickstarter campaigns and more. 

Part workshop, part portfolio review, and part conference, key highlights of Portfolio Bootcamp are:

1. This RETREAT-STYLE WORKSHOP is designed for advanced amateur to professional fine art, photojournalist, and documentary photographers.

2. This is an opportunity to receive valuable feedback and REFINE YOUR WORK for awards, grants, and other important submissions. Having a professional editor, edit and sequence your work will give you that creative and competitive edge. 

3. Robin Roffer, consultant to CNN, HBO, Sony, Verizon and other major corporations, and #5 branding expert in the world, will address how to STAND OUT & GET NOTICED. Roffer’s presentation will address the importance of claiming a personal brand while providing expert advice on defining and appealing to a target audience. 

4. This is going to be a FUN AND ENTERTAINING event complete with delicious meals by Pinon Catering, informal receptions, an exhibition opening, a portfolio sharing, and a photo booth by Billy Hunt. 

For photographers preparing to embark on campaigns to get more exposure, this weekend intensive will be a worthwhile investment. Plus, it's a "golden" opportunity to witness the glorious autumn light of Santa Fe!

Portfolio Bootcamp early registration discount is available until August 26.  Scholarships, payment plans and affordable on-campus housing available. For more information: www.visitcenter.org/bootcamp

Learn to Let Go with Norman Mauskopf

The most important thing to bear in mind when creating photographic sequences is that any given photograph in a sequence will be influenced by the formal and narrative content of the preceding photographs. These photographs will, in turn, influence the photographs that follow. A great sequence, such as Robert Frank's The Americans, will often be constructed with multiple mini-sequences embedded within the overall sequence.

When you begin a sequence wherein the narrative qualities "feel right," given the point of view that your individual photographs convey about the subject, you must let the narrative dictate the choice of photos. This often means "learning to let go" of some of your favorite, and possibly quite good, images if they don't fit the narrative qualities of the sequence. The pictures do indeed tell the story.

Learn more from Norman in his workshop

Visual Storytelling
with Norman Mauskopf
October 12 - October 15




















See what else Norman is up to by visiting his website: www.normanmauskopf.com

Overcoming the Creative Roadblock with Leasha Overturf

Quite often creative people hit creative roadblocks. It can range from not having any ideas to having so many ideas you can’t determine which is the right one for the moment.

When I hit a roadblock I often turn to self-assignments. One kind of self-assignment I do is to giving myself the challenge of a new technical approach. This helps me get outside of my head and away from the “over-thinking it” process. One of my favorites it to only photograph within “touching distance” of my subject. I have to be close enough to touch the person or I don’t make the portrait.

My other favorite self-assignment is self-portraits. The best thing is you are always available for yourself. There are no excuses of, “oh, I don’t have anyone to photograph, so I can’t shoot.” If you have yourself, you always have an image to be made.

Consider it … Pick up your camera and give yourself project!

Learn more from Leasha in the workshop she co-teaches with Paul Elledge

The Contemporary Black-and-White Portrait
with Paul Elledge and Leasha Overturf
October 12 - October 15, 2011

See what she's up to on her web site, www.leasha.com

Abandon Preconceived Notions, with David Halpern

When I have an opportunity to photograph a new location, I try to remind myself to go with an open mind and abandon any preconceived notions. I’d heard stories about the wonderfully bizarre Bisti Badlands for years prior to my first visit. Pictures others had made excited my imagination, but when I arrived at the site, I quickly recognized a challenge to my own perceptions.

Here were rock formations and textures unlike any I’d seen elsewhere. As the sun and clouds moved over the landscape I was torn between a desire to move on to see more, and the feeling that I could remain in one small area and be occupied for hours.

Each time I return to the Bisti I find something new and exciting. The visual stimuli are so complex, that I always find details and relationships I failed to see earlier.

Experience the Bisti Badlands with David in his workshop

Bisti Wilderness: Capture to Print
with David Halpern
October 6 - October 11, 2011

To see David’s comments on the Bisti and other subjects, visit: davidhalpern.com/blog