The Big Shred with Alan M. Thornton

In his recent blog post, The BIG SHRED, Alan M. Thornton talks curve balls like BIG group shots (80+ subjects), big objects, big facilities, and a even smoke machines.

When a recent assignment called on Alan to utilize all his skills, talent, wisdom, know-how and creativity—plus all of his gear and everyone else's gear as well—he decided the experience might be useful for his current students and potential students.

Dive in, and you'll get a sense of what you'll be learning with Alan in his Lighting Portraits on Location workshop—though perhaps on a slightly smaller scale!

Read the full BIG SHRED post:

http://amtproductions.blogspot.com

And check out his upcoming workshop in Santa Fe:

Lighting Portraits on Location
with Alan M. Thornton
June 19 - June 22, 2013

What Does it Mean to be Wild, with Ian Shive

What makes a place wild? Is it a chorus of frogs during a spring rain? Or the lack of a plane contrail in the sky? These are the questions I ask myself as I try to define and photograph “wilderness” in the 21st century. 

From space, the night view of our planet's most urban areas take on the look of a biological phosphorescent fungus working its way across the surface of our dry earth, slowly encasing it in CFL lightbulbs and concrete. The west of Lewis & Clark is mostly lost. But our great country still remains a powerhouse of stunning wilderness, the best of which are encapsulated in our national parks. So, how do we define wilderness? As a photographer, where can you escape and get lost with only your own thoughts and creative vision? 

For the last 16 year I have been a resident of Los Angeles and my escape has been Channel Islands National Park, a haven of biodiversity and solitude only 23 miles off the coast of Southern California.  

The islands boast 165 species found nowhere else on the planet. For this reason alone it earns the name "America's Galapagos." Campsites are limited, and roads and people are non-existent except for the occasional park ranger, your fellow day-trippers or the occasional fox researcher. Most of the islands have fresh water; beyond that resources are few. The only human footprint are the well-worn trails. In so many respects the Channel Islands are a world apart. 

This is a place I hold dear to my heart, a special place where photography goes beyond just making images and becomes about immersing yourself, at last, in the true wild. 

Answer the call of the wild, and join Ian for his upcoming workshop:

America's Galapagos: Photographing Channel Islands National Park
with Ian Shive
May 2 - May 5, 2013

SHOOT NYC with David Robin: Free Mini-Workshop

Planning to be in New York on Thursday, October 25? Join us for BronImaging’s Shoot NYC, a professional photography forum at La Venue (Terminal Building). The Workshops is sponsoring David Robin’s "Lighting Dramatic Portraits" seminar (a mini version of his popular "Lighting Dramatic Portraits" workshop, scheduled for April 3-6, 2013).

David Robin: Lighting Dramatic Portraits
Sponsored by Santa Fe Photo Workshops
Thursday, October 25, 3:45am–5:15pm
Award-winning portrait and beauty photographer David Robin explains and demonstrates his techniques for achieving meaningful portraits, covering the gamut of editorial, beauty, advertising, and journalism. In this seminar, David aims to briefly decode the mysteries of portraiture and review techniques, through live demonstration, to help participants consider their own unique voice and style.

Shoot NYC
A Professional Photography Forum
La Venue (Terminal Building)
608 West 28th Street
New York, NY 10001

October 25 & 26, 2012
10:00 am - 8:00 pm
For more information, full schedule, and to register go to Shoot-NYC.com

An exciting and informative event platform, Shoot NYC is based on BronImaging’s desire to contribute to the photographic community. Top industry professionals host free workshops and hands-on seminars in an array of subjects including fashion, portraiture, commercial, stock or repro.

Shoot NYC is ideal for professional photographers, photo assistants, advanced students or any imaging professional that would like to learn about the latest cutting edge products and techniques being used in the professional digital image capture market in a hands-on and seminar based forum.

Speakers include: Kawai Matthews, Bryan O’Neil Hughes, Lindsay Adler, Bath Taubner, and more.

Shoot NYC will be the first stop for the winning prints of the Hasselblad Masters 2012 gallery show.

Shoot NYC Sponsors include: BronImaging, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, Calumet Photographic, Adobe, and APA

Filter Photography Festival, Chicago, October 15-21

As part of Chicago Artists Month, Filter Photo is pleased to announce the 4th annual Filter Photography Festival, a week-long photo extravaganza dedicated to inspiring and educating emerging and professional photographers. Filter takes place October 15–22 at various locations in the Loop, including the Fine Arts Building, the Wyndham Blake Hotel, Columbia College, David Weinberg Gallery and select Chicago museums and galleries.

The 2012 Filter Photography Festival’s diverse programming includes:

· portfolio reviews

· lectures, panel discussions and workshops with world-renowned photo professionals

· juried exhibitions, with open calls to the public

· networking events and receptions

· gallery talks, exclusive tours and receptions at The Chicago History Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Photography and the Gage Gallery

Filter provides photographers an opportunity to connect with top gallerists, photo editors, educators, curators, and photographers from across the United States. Programming is designed to appeal to photographers of all styles and persuasions, from fine art to commercial to documentary and journalistic. The 2012 Filter Photography Festival is organized solely by Filter Photo, an organization dedicated to fostering dialogue and education within the photographic community, and to expanding Chicago’s role within that community.


Throughout the week, workshops serve as a way to connect and inspire participants with new ideas, strategies and techniques. Santa Fe Photographic Workshops is proud to be sponsoring Aline Smithson's The Art of Presentation: Showing Your Work to the Fine Art Market, Wednesday, October 17, 9am – 1pm, Wyndam Blake Hotel. Other 2012 workshops will be led by Brian Ulrich, S. Gayle Stevens, Tim Arroyo, Richard Cahan, Susan Aurinko, Judy Natal, Lauren Henkin, and Crista Dix.

As in previous years, Portfolio Reviews are the heart of the Festival and take place on Friday, September 19, Saturday, October 20, and Sunday, October 21. Participants receive valuable face-to-face critiques with renowned photography professionals, as well as insightful, candid advice on advancing their artistic and professional careers. Reviewers are selected for their commitment, experience, and involvement in the photographic and artistic communities. See the 2012 reviewers list.

The open portfolio walk, for all photographers participating in the reviews, is Saturday, October 20, from 6-8:30pm. Sunday, October 21, from 6-8:30pm, Filter hosts a book night which will feature local booksellers, as well as Filter participants who have recently published photo books. Both of these events are held in Curtiss Hall in the Fine Arts Building, not far from the Wyndam Blake hotel.

Filter will also be hosting lectures and evening programs Monday, October 15 through Sunday, October 2. Lectures this year will be from such Midwest photography luminaries as Kelli Connell, Brian Ulrich, and Andy Adams.

The juried exhibition this year will be held at the David Weinburg Gallery in River North, and Filter is also hosting satellite exhibitions through Chicago neighborhoods.

Filter Photo Festival 2012 is proud to be sponsored by Calumet Photographic, BandH Camera,
Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, IT Supplies, Chimera Lighting, Aperture and Central Camera. Registration and a complete 2012 Filter Photography Festival schedule are both available at
www.filterfestival.com.

Caught Between Painting and Photography, with Kate Breakey

Kate Breakey has gained international recognition for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs. Her work has appeared in more than 70 one-person exhibitions and also held in many public collections. We talked with her about how she got started, and what her process means to her.

I am considered a mixed media artist, because most of the time I paint on top of my photographs. I started doing this about 30 years, when I found the little set of handcoloring oils that my auntie had used to tint photographs in the 1940’s, before color photography.

When I was in art school I studied painting and printmaking and later photography, just when it was newly recognized as an art medium. Since I loved paint, pencils, and inks it was a natural thing for me to start combining all these media with photography. I though it made it photographs more interesting and, in a way, more sensual.

I saw right away that something unexpected happened when you put paint on the surface of a photograph—it was changed in ways that have to do with our recognition and expectation. Photographs have certain inherent properties as reliable documents, as visual evidence you can trust. 

By painting on that surface, exaggerating, embellishing, adding my own personal expressive gestures, I am changing the photograph's integrity and credibility, blurring boundaries, so that the image is caught between being a painting and a photograph, because no matter how much paint you add to the surface, the photographic qualities are always still there, perceptible under that surface. It makes you want to look closely, to search for clues, to see what is and isn't real, what is fact and what is fiction. 

The other reason I like to do this is that by coloring a photograph you get to know every last detail, every shadow and edge. It makes you and the subject intimate.  

A native of South Australia, Kate moved to Austin, Texas, in 1988. She completed her MFA at the University of Texas, where she also taught photography in the Department of Art and Art History. She's teaching in Santa Fe at the end of September.

The Hand-Colored Photographic Print
with Kate Breakey
September 30 - October 5, 2012 

Kate's web site is www.katebreakey.com.

Writing and Picture Editing: Sam Abell and Leah Bendavid-Val

Are you working on a photographic project or do you have a book in mind? Do you want a stronger portfolio to enlarge your presence in the photographic world? If so, consider our upcoming workshop on writing and picture editing taught by photographer Sam Abell and editor Leah Bendavid-Val.

As photographers, your ability to write smoothly and easily is important both personally and professionally. And the act of writing about your work in photography can bring you unexpected pleasure and success.

In addition to honing your writing skills, Sam and Leah will give dedicated individual attention to the editing of your photographs. By the end of the workshop, you will be on your way to having a simple, to-the-point biography, concrete descriptions of your photographs and projects, and a stronger presentation of your portfolio. The valuable result will be a stronger, more expressive body of work to take into your photographic life. And in addition to being practical, this workshop will be lighthearted and fun (not ponderous and intimidating!).

Writing for Photographers
with Leah Bendavid-Val, Sam Abell
October 6 - October 9, 2012

High Noon with Infrared and Dottie Lopez

This infrared image was made at one of my favorite locations to photograph with my converted camera, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Retreat Center, the beautiful campus that Santa Fe Photographic Workshops calls home.

Although this photograph was taken in the morning light (approximately 8:30am), one of the best things about shooting with an infrared camera is that we're not limited to working during the “golden hours.” Many wonderful infrared images are made midday, with the sun high in the sky. That could be why infrared is a favorite trick for wedding photographers. Surprisingly, many of their standout images are produced while photographing with an infrared camera, under hard midday or afternoon light.

I recommend that you try it. Get off that computer in the middle of the day, get yourself outdoors, and shoot with an infrared camera. It's fun!  

Learn more about the joys of infrared from Dottie in:

Black-and-White Digital Infrared Photography
with Dottie Lopez
August 20 - August 23, 2012

Lucky Dogs Need More Than Luck, with Norah Levine

You might not mind being called a Lucky Dog (or spending time with a few), but when it comes to photographing pets you should count on a lot more than just luck.

Sure, luck is a factor in pet photography but there are many other preparations to be considered. Smart and subtle timing is one of the key factors for successful pet portraits. Don’t overuse anything—movements, treats, noises, etc.—and only implement these tactics when you’re ready to press that shutter. Maintain an awareness of the pet’s energy and adjust your actions accordingly so that luck is less of a factor.

So if you feel like you’re clicking like mad and hoping you get the shot, ease up on that shutter, prepare a bit more and count on “luck” as only part of your equation.

Come learn more about how preparation creates luck when photographing pets in Norah’s workshop:

The Creative Pet Portrait
with Norah Levine
July 29 - August 3, 2012