Teaching
a small size class in my studio has been a long held dream and plan.
The first session from last May 30 through mid July was so successful
and valuable, by request of the students, we extended it as our
schedules permitted through the middle of August. We will start full
time again in September on Thursday afternoons. I have room for a
limited number of students to either add to this mix and/or to start
another section, probably on Wednesday afternoons. Once we have enough
students for two days a week it will benefit all by having an option of
days to attend; this is a subject that lends itself to an ongoing study.

We
have all learned so much in this first six week session. Different from
the classes of 20 or more I have taught at Napa Valley College, in a
small class there is much more room for individual questions, concerns
and ideas while still being able to cover the lesson plan for that day.
Example, in this smaller setting we can have a person come in and ’sit
for us’, with each student able to have individual time with my
tutelage, this simply can not happen with larger numbers. Another
advantage of studying in my studio is the easy access to my equipment
and prints. More than once while addressing an aspect of portraiture
studying my prints a question has arisen and I am able go to the files
for another portrait to illustrate the point, or take the students to
another part of the studio to demonstrate a technique. Also, with high
speed internet and my large monitor the world of other photographers is
at our finger tips. The possibilities are endless.

The Class:

This
small class (up to 6 people) is devoted to furthering your skills and
understanding of portrait photography; a fabulous opportunity for
anyone who strives to make portraits in an insightful and respectful
way. Gain insight, learn craft and technique to take your portrait work
to the next level. We will explore lighting, composition, equipment and
materials choices (traditional and/or digital) for studio,
environmental and location portraiture of all sorts. As we delve into
the technical; we also discuss how to work with the people who sit
before your camera. THIS IS THE TRUE MAGIC. Produce new work on a
weekly basis and receive kind, constructive and honest critiques of
yours and others’ work. Together we will journey into photography’s
most challenging subject matter, portraiture. Students will be
responsible for producing work between classes in their own wet lab or
digitally. Commercial labs may be used if needed with permission

Making
photographic portraits is the biggest challenge in photography. To do
it right, demands we give it our best, our all and thus brings out the
best, the ‘all’ in our subjects; and it is really fun!

Note: Please pass this along to those you think may be interested.