PhotographY

The Craft of Fine Photography and Printing

Whether beginning or advanced a student will receive a highly specialized course and mentoring developed in response to individual needs as determined by an incoming student’s level of knowledge, experience and command of photography on all levels.  This individualized approach to teaching is only possible due to the limited enrollment of the photography program.

For the novice we will address fundamental concepts and procedures of the photographic process. From capture to finished print we will focus on how the practiced knowledge and use of technical controls inform our ideas and creative voice. We will address how deep comprehension of the principles and craft of the medium is absolutely essential to the creative process and nourishing greater potential for expression in photography. Another important aspect is use of the digital lab to create photographic images of the highest quality and permanence exceeding that of silver-analog. Also consequential is image evaluation, aesthetics, frame of reference and how the physics together with anomalies of light and equipment interplay with our vision and the creative process in general.

For the advanced student the course is intended for a more experienced photographer who already has knowledge of and practice in the photographic process. They will be encouraged to bring with them existing images or a body of work they wish to refine and print. The photographer/student will receive highly individualized guidance in the art of photography and fine digital printing with the objective to print a portfolio of images of the very highest quality.

Again, whether advanced or novice, we will examine various philosophies underpinning photography and its current purview and direction. We will establish the necessity to understand the entire photography workflow and process including seeing through the limitations of the process.  We will establish that understanding photography through both the technical and the aesthetic is how we bring together our intentions and creative voice in rendering a photograph. Along the way how all elements of the process including camera work, color theory and management, system calibration, ICC profiling, digital imaging software, analog film scanning and printer management specific to fine photographic digital printing.  It is helpful to have some knowledge of digital imaging software such as, Affinity Photo, Capture One or Photoshop, but it is not required.

Not only a photographer, John Pack is also a master printer of analog silver and alternative chemical processes such as platinum and palladium. However due to ecological concerns, along with the vast improvement in the digital printing process and materials, he has abandoned analog chemical methods. Over the past two decades John has been perfecting his approach to digital fine printing which now surpasses that of chemical emulsions and methods. He believes firmly that the poetry in a photograph is brought to full verse selectively as a print on paper, not on the digital screen.

Note: The photography course normally runs concurrently with the drawing and painting courses. However due to its limited enrollment dates can be flexible and possibly changed to accomodate the applicant’s needs.

If you have an interest in this course please submit the form below