Finding Your Voice as a Photographer
Class Description
" I have to emote a bit and let you know what an excellent experience this has been for me. It came along at the right time and I can already witness the impact your instruction has had on my 'seeing'. The journey continues and that is part of the fun, isn't it?"
Roberta Roth, former workshop participant
"Finding Your Voice As A Photographer blew me away. The class topics were challenging, the classmates inspiring, and Michael Crouser is a joy to learn from. Thank you for offering the best classes in the city!"
Kaia Kegley, former workshop participant
Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the same class instruction that Michael Crouser has taught at Santa Fe Workshops and ICP in New York.
I have long been resistant to teaching photography, because as a photographer myself, I have resisted others telling me how to make photographs. I am, however, interested in encouraging others to make photographs and to discover their own path toward a personal aesthetic.
The concept of this class is not to tell you, the student, how to make “successful” photographs but, rather, to help you explore and make decisions that will make your own photographs more personal and unique to you, the artist. Making photographs, or any other kind of art, is a means of personal expression. It is a way of expressing yourself, a way of speaking. So, in the evolution of this communication, we become more and more articulate as we explore different ways of working, and discover which methods and manners feel the most like our own voice.
During our ten sessions in class we will consider the work of many established photographers and their consistent use of certain choices in the making of their photographs…choices they make that give their work a look and feel that is identifiable as their own. From this collection of photographers you will see a wide variety of styles, subjects, methods, etc., and you will have the opportunity to consider whether you relate particularly to any of the aesthetic directions presented.
We will experiment with the different decisions that one makes in making a photograph and you will decide which elements, at this point, feel most personal and true to your own aesthetic sense. In doing so, you will move closer to establishing a look, a feel, a presentation through photography that is yours alone, your photographic voice, as opposed to a simple snapshot or an emulation of someone else’s imagery.
View Michael Crouser's Website
Homework:
Following each class session there will be one to two assignments for the following meeting, which correspond to the presentations seen in class. The presentations examine ten elements, or "decisions" we make when taking a photograph. There are also several, more conceptual exercises which ask the student to represent personal aspects of themselves in their own photographs.
Class Schedule:
Saturday, April 20th 10:00-Noon : Intro to Class and Lesson Presentation on "Composition". Give Assignment. Noon -2pm: Lunch, Shoot "Composition" Assignment, Edit and Prepare Images for Review 2pm-3pm: Review "Composition" Assignment in Class on Screen. 3pm-4:00pm: Lesson Presentation on "Unique Subject".
Sunday, April 21st 10:am-11:30am: Review "Unique Subject" Assignment. 11:30am-12:30 Lunch 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lesson Presentation on "Print Presentation" 1:30-3:30pm:Lesson Presentation on "Lighting". *Extra conceptual assignment: "Make one picture that looks like your speaking voice sounds" If time allows, video on Todd Hido.
Wednesday, April 24th - 6pm-9pm: Review"Print Presentation" and Light Assignments 8pm-8:45: Lesson Presentation on "Unique Concept". Give Assignment 8:45-9:00pm: Lesson Presentation on "Uniqueand Repeated Setting".
Saturday, April 27th - 10am- Noon: Review "Unique Concept", "Unique and Repeated Setting" and the additional conceptual assignment on "Voice" Noon - 3pm: Lunch and Lesson Presentation on "Color vs. Black&White" at self chosen locations 3:00pm-4:00: Lesson Presentation on "Perspective" Explain extra, conceptual assignment: Make one photograph that represents a fear of yours. Due Wednesday at last meeting.
Sunday, April 28th - 10am- 12:30pm: Review Assignments "Color vs. Black & White and "Perspective" 12:30pm-1:45pm: Lunch and Lesson Presentation on "Equipment and Media Choices" 1:45pm-3pm: Lesson Presentation on " Emotional Weight in Photography" 3pm- 4:00pm - Video "James Nachtwey-War Photographer".
Wednesday, May 1st - 6:00pm- 9pm: Review " Equipment and Media Choices", "Emotional Weight' and "Fear" assignments 8pm - 9pm - Presentation and discussion on "Homage vs. Inspirtaionvs. Plagiarism" and discussion on Personal Art Canon.
"Finding Your Voice As A Photographer blew me away. The class topics were challenging, the classmates inspiring, and Michael Crouser is a joy to learn from. Thank you for offering the best classes in the city!"
- Student, Kaia Kegley
Visit Michael Crouser's Website
Topics that will be discussed and demonstrated:
- To help you explore and make decisions that will make your own photographs more personal and unique to you, the artist.
Class Requirements
Digital SLR, Memory Cards, Card Reader and Thumb Drive
Class Schedule
Date |
Start Time |
End Time |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 20th, 2013 | 10:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Digital Learning Center |
| Sunday, April 21st, 2013 | 10:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Digital Learning Center |
| Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 | 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Digital Learning Center |
| Saturday, April 27th, 2013 | 10:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Digital Learning Center |
| Sunday, April 28th, 2013 | 10:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Digital Learning Center |
| Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 | 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Digital Learning Center |
Additional Class Information
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About the Instructor
Michael Crouser:
Photographer Michael Crouser was born in 1962 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated from Saint John's University (Collegeville, Minnesota) in 1985. He began his commercial career in 1986 and has several prints in the permanent collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Crouser's first two books, Los Toros and Dog Run were both honored in CA, PDN and the International Photography Awards. He is currently working on a third book, on the topic of cattle ranching in the mountains of Colorado. Represented by galleries in New York, Santa Fe, Houston and Barcelona. Crouser divides his time between his hometown of Minneapolis, and Brooklyn, NY.
Register for this Class
The cost of the "Finding Your Voice as a Photographer" class is: $395.00
Learn more about our membership and be eligible to receive a 10% on all MPC classes.
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