@ Christchurch: From Photography to Art – Finding Your Creative-i
Tree in snow, Hanmer Springs
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dates: Monday 30 January to Friday 3 February 2012
Venue: Risingholme Community Centre
If we are passionate about our photography, about our picture-making, and if we are blessed, we will eventually reach a point in the road where we can go no further, where pre-packaged photographic education is simply of no further use to us.
Our needs by this point will be specific. Almost inevitably, it will involve moving away from the photograph as opportunity to seeing our work in context. We will probably be at a point we want to develop a body of work, and produce images which are unique to us. This can be a very challenging place indeed.
We may often find that we feel somewhat stuck and need to clear a creativity block or simply be explosed to new ways of thinking.
The Programme
This 5 day workshop aims to help you think about your picture-making in new and creative ways. It recognises that everyone is creative, unique and special, that everyone has a unique vision. It will combine lectures, evaluations, practical assignments and fieldwork. There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate.
Topics to be covered will include:
1. The importance of narrative and how to create your own narrative.
2. Documented versus fabricated narratives.
3. Metaphors: finding and assembling your own.
4. Personal style: what is it?
5. The Photograph as art.
6. The importance of the journal and research.
7. Giving yourself permission.
Importance will be placed upon techniques associated with
– selection
– montage and compositing
-layering and masking
Students undertaking this workshop will need a camera and lenses, and preferably a tripod. You will also need a reasonably current laptop or desktop computer, and a version of Photoshop capable of working with layers and masks. A power board, extension cord and pen tablet would also be an advantage.
