Midwest Photography Workshops (MPW)

Fundamentals of Photography (Basic 35mm & Digital Techniques Class) $255.00  Bryce   #101

This six-week, 3 1/2 hour per week, seven session class is designed for people who have recently purchased a 35mm or digital SLR camera or for people looking for a refresher on technique. Learn about exposure, shutter speeds and f/ stops. Learn composition techniques such as: the Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, S curves and C curves and Light Isolates. Learn about the use of filters and flash and of various film types. Learn about travel photography, portraiture, close-ups and how to overcome full automation in today's cameras. Any 35mm or digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera that can be adjusted for manual operation as well as automatic exposure mode is welcome in class; so long as it is not an automatic only exposure camera. (No point and shoot cameras permitted) Expect homework assignments! Do not be misled. The word "Fundamental" in the title does not mean "elementary" photography.  People who have shot photographs for many years would still benefit from this class just as much as a beginner. The digital photographer will learn about the merits of RAW files compared to JPEG or TIF, white balance and histograms. Evening sessions from 7-10:30 PM. plus an all-day Saturday workshop.

Intermediate Shooting and Digital Techniques Class  $340.00  Bryce   #120
This six-week class is designed to compliment and provide and a continuation of the techniques and skills learned in our Fundamentals of Photography (Basic 35mm & Digital Techniques) class. Learn some advanced flash techniques like: rear-curtain sync, dragging the shutter, painting with light and syncro-sunlight fill flash. We will spend time learning about advanced exposure techniques including: time exposures, reciprocity failure and proper tripod use. Enjoy a slide program about the history of Photography. Be prepared to learn more about close up and macro techniques and more about various accessories available to the serious photographer like: extension tubes, 2X converters and split neutral density filters. Each student will spend an individual three-hour session in the studio one-on-one with the instructor setting up a couple of studio still life photographs. This class includes an all day field trip (usually to Greenfield Village).   Film and digital cameras welcome. Evening sessions from 7-10:30 PM.  Daytime classes from 10:30AM-2:00 PM.

Portfolio Development (Formerly Advanced Shooting Techniques) - $340.00   #140

Bryce Denison

This six-week class is built upon the foundation learned in the Fundamental (Basic) and Intermediate classes.  It is designed to take the many techniques and concepts learned in the first two classes and assist the student in the creation and development of a portfolio.  A photographer does not need a degree or a certification to be a working photographer; they need a portfolio!  This small, intimate class will provide information on what should be in a portfolio, what photos should be eliminated and a "take no prisoners" critique of what should change in their current portfolio.  Then, we gently nurture and assist the student in premium printing and display techniques so their portfolio can be presented to anyone with confidence and pride.  You will learn how to make a print portfolio and also a digital portfolio that will either get burned to a CD or a jump drive using a program called Show Pro Gold or Microsoft PowerPoint.  Learn about high resolution scanning, printing and even computer monitor calibrations.  An all day field trip with the instructor will provide plenty of field shooting experiences and then each student gets a three hour one-on-one studio shooting experience and a three hour one-on-one with the instructor in the computer lab scanning film or assembling the presentation.

Prerequisites:  Intermediate Shooting Techniques or permission from the Instructor.

New for 2008!!!

A Day with Mark Reid - Body Painter  $250.00

Course #947

In 2007, Body Painter extroidinaire, Mark Reid, placed sixth in the world in his first international body painting competition.  He will lead a body painting and photography workshop with Bryce Denison at the state of the art, MPW studios. Two models will be painted and available for students to photograph.  Film and digital cameras are welcome.  This workshop is limited to 10 students.  Please feel free to visit Mark's web site at:  http://www.markreidart.com

New for 2008!!!

A Day with Jim Zuckerman  $100.00

Course #105

One day each year, Midwest Photography Workshops brings in a nationally know photographer to spend a day with MPW students.  In 2006, we were privileged to spend a day with Pulitzer Prize winning Photography Taro Yamasaki.  2007 brought an equally prestigious photographer, author and lecturer, Vincent Versace.   The 2008 National Speaker will be noted author, lecturer and fine art photographer Jim Zuckerman.

  The day begins at 10:00 AM with a presentation of some of Mr. Zuckerman's early images with comments on the people and events that influenced his early work.  Lunch is catered and included as part of the day's festivities.  The afternoon session is a continuation of Jim's best photos and a discussion on what it takes to succeed at a National level. Additionally, he will discuss the problem solving part of shooting photographs when traveling.  Near the end of the afternoon, Mr. Zuckerman will review various students portfolios if time permits.  Students prints must be at least 8x10 and mounted but not framed to be considered.  A question and answer session will occur just before the portfolio review. Jim will also be available to sign copies of several of his most recent books:  Space is limited.  Register Early!!!   Please feel free to visit his web site at:  http://www.jimzuckermanworkshops.com/photo-seminar-in-detroit-michi/

Sports and Event Photography    $340.00 Bryce Denison    #103

This six-week class provides both classroom instruction and at least three field trips.  Students will photograph motor sport racing at Waterford Hills, competitive tennis and gymnastics at a local gym.  Students will learn about photography using "long" lenses, vibration reduction (or image stabilization) and noise reduction in their digital files and how much shutter speed it takes to freeze action.  Students will learn about making money in the competitive field of Event Photography.  Event Photography is photography that traverses from team photographs at the local little league football, baseball, basketball, soccer leagues to portraits of couples at a local bar/night club.  Learn how to capture, print and market such photographs.  The class will culminate in the development of a sports portfolio of their best work. All three field trips are on Weekends.

The Business of Photography  $340.00  Bill Gosa    #121

Are your best photographs still making you money?  Or are they sitting in a file cabinet gathering dust?  Learn how to get into the stock photography market   Learn how much to charge for your photographic services.  Learn about Copyright Law, writing contracts, work for hire, model releases, and one-time leases.  You might shoot the best photos in the world, but if you don't market and advertise correctly; who would know or buy them?  This six-week class will cover these and many other topics.

Dance Photography   $340.00   Bryce Denison   #122

Visualize the dancer gliding and moving through your viewfinder.  Learn to capture the graceful leaps, steps and twirls that is the dancer's art.  This four- week class involves two field trips and a studio shooting session.

Color, Form, Space and a Sense of Place   $595.00    Bill Gosa    #180

What is Fine Art Photography?  What is Documentary Photography? 

During this eight week course, students will learn how to identify the qualities of the image to characterize a "Fine Art Photograph" and how to compose and express their creativity using digital or film cameras.  Conceptual considerations considerations will include: from pattern to idea and from part to whole.  We will learn compositional techniques to create an aesthetical ability to see our photographic values.   We will also learn how to achieve the photographic qualities in our work expressing: from surface to depth and from optical to tactile.  Depth of field will not be discussed.. rather the volumetric quality of form.  We have all accepted the art form of painting on canvas and its advantages; constructing forms, creating layers, lighting highlights, shadows and texture.  The fine art photographer must rely on the camera, lenses and paper/canvas to convey their artistic vision.  We will not focus on effects using digital image manipulation.  Rather, the intent of the class is to establish your ability to see artistically to render fine art photography using the camera not your PC or Mac.  The class will study the work of Ansel Adams, Paul Strand, Cartier-Bresson, DeCarava and Edward Weston. There is a Weekend field trip to Hart Plaza - Downtown Detroit included in this class, guest speakers and another field trip to an industrial studio.  Class size is limited to 10.

New for 2008!!!

The Art of Seeing      $395.00  # 150

Instructor:  Bill Gosa

This class will train the photographer to SEE artistically.  Establishing your ability to compose and create a photograph of interest. You will learn the essence of the visual experience in appreciative discovery and photographic expression. Many photographers have been conditioned to be subject matter conscious and are not sensitive to the multitude of emotional, spiritual and intellectual experiences. Cameras are available to everyone but many people with cameras are not photographers. You only see what you are taught to see. Seeing compositional elements and rendering photographic art that will kindle the viewer’s emotions and intellect will assist you in any photographic endeavor. What you bring to the subject is more important than what the subject brings to you.  Subjective interpretation is the key to understanding the aesthetic experience when focusing the camera. Before you release the shutter and record your selection and rejection your ideas should be with deliberate and knowledgeable seeing. This class has extensive shooting in each class and field trips with film or digital cameras.

New for 2008!!!

Basic 2D/3D Design    Bill Gosa  $340.00

Course # 106

New for 2008!!!

Photo Camp for Youth     Linda Denison   #105      $200.00

This week-long workshop is intended for youth aged 10-15.  Students are expected to have a digital camera. It can be a minimally expensive point and shoot camera.  Students will go on several field trips where they can have fun and still shoot interesting photos.  The children will have an opportunity to download the images into a computer and learn elementary image manipulation with Adobe Lightroom.  They can even make prints if they desire. MPW will provide use of their computer lab as part of the camp.  Class size is limited to 10 students and the students are expected to bring a bag lunch.  10 AM - 4 PM.

New for 2008!!!

Healing with Photography        $340.00

Course #164

Instructor:  Marilyn Zimmerman

Art and Photography in particular have long been a vehicle to address the process of greiving for the passing of a loved one. Sally Mann, Nicholas Nixon, Joanne Leonard, Emit Gowan and others are examples of photographers that document family life that succeeds at several levels.  Fine art photographers have documented family tragedies such as a loved one succumbing to Cancer or AIDS.  Photographs made of this are powerful documents to the spirit of the subject to share their life with the next generation perhaps not having the privilege to have met them.

Photographs documenting family events and milestones have been a time-honored tradition.  Baby photos, First Communion Photos, Little League photos prom and high school graduation photos illustrate a youths rite-of-passage to becoming an adult.  Wedding photos and baby photos complete a cycle.  Many photographers have documented family life with such style and verve that those images are elevated to fine art:  This six-week class may have an incredible theaputic or cathartic value to learn how to use photography to deal with loss and tragedy.

Courses not offered in 2008 or to be Re-Visited in 2009

Photography As Social Consciousness   $340.00  Marilyn Zimmerman    #162

Make a statement with your photographs! Make a difference!  Powerful visual images influence what we think, how we behave and even what we desire.  Learn about images that throughout history that have informed us, entertained us, and informed our thinking.  View photos made by Margaret Bourke-White, Sabastiao Salgado, W. Eugene Smith, William Henry Jackson, Edward Sherrif Curtis, the photographers from the F.S.A. and others to explore how their photographs brought about social and economic change. Learn about Lewis Hines' Photographs or Jacob Riis's images that brought about social change leading to the elimination of slums in 1800's New York City or the establishment of Child Labor Laws through the power of photography.  Learn how to shoot photographs that make a difference and perhaps the establishment of your own project.  At the conclusion of the class, the finished project (your photographs) will have a public exhibition in a relevant space.   Expect homework assignments and projects to make your photographs stand out with relevance.  Wayne State University Professor Marilyn Zimmerman leads this special six-week class.  Class size is limited to 10.

On Going Family Album   #164

Marilyn Zimmerman   $340.00

Photographs documenting family events and milestones have been a time-honored tradition.  Baby photos, First Communion Photos, Little League photos prom and high school graduation photos illustrate a youths rite-of-passage to becoming an adult.  Wedding photos and baby photos complete a cycle.  Many photographer have documented family life with such style and verve that those images are elevated to fine art:  Sally Mann, Nicholas Nixon, Joanne Leonard, Emit Gowan and others are examples of photographers that document family life that succeeds at several levels.  Fine art photographers have documented family tragedies such as a loved one succumbing to Cancer or AIDS.  Photographs made of this are powerful documents to the sprit of the subject to share their life with the next generation perhaps not having the privilege to have met them.

The Woodward Project; Exhibit your photos! - $340.00 Marilyn Zimmerman   #163

This six week class will provide instruction on how photographs can create change in the world community or even your local community. Students will have an opportunity to create photographs relating to the Woodward Re-Photographic Project.  The site of turn of the Century images procured from the archives are revisited in person during of the the field trips then re-photographed from the same angle and perspective, if possible. 

Developing a Personal Style $340.00    #160

This five-week class will explore who were the pioneers and masters of photography from a historical perspective.  By studying what they did, what their photographs achieved, students will use that information to shape a philosophy and define a personal style to their own photographs and portfolio.  Society places a premium on being "the first" or "the best" or possessing the most unique individual vision. This class is relevant for any photographer who makes their living making photographs or desires to.  A commercial photographer or a fine-art photographer can learn to design and present their photographs with their own unique signature.  STYLE PAYS!!!

A Day with Vincent Versace   #104

Vincent Versace  $100.00

One day each year, Midwest Photography Workshops brings in a nationally know photographer to spend a day with MPW students.  In 2006, we were privileged to spend a day with Pulitzer Prize winning Photography Taro Yamasaki.  2007 brings an equally prestigious photographer, author and lecturer, Vincent Versace.   The day begins at 10:00 AM with a presentation of some of Mr. Versace's early images with comments on the people and events that influenced his early work.  Lunch is catered and included as part of the day's festivities.  The afternoon session is a continuation of Vincent's best photos and a discussion on what it takes to succeed at a National level.  Near the end of the afternoon, Mr. Versace will review various students portfolios.  Prints must be at least 8x10 and mounted but not framed to be considered.  This will also be an excellent opportunity to get to know one of the instructors who will be leading the Fall Color in the Eastern Sierras Workshop (#643) this October!  A question and answer session will occur just before the portfolio review. Vincent will also be available to sign copies of his most recent book:  Welcome to Oz - A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop.  Space is limited.  Register Early!!!   Please feel free to visit his web site at:  http://www.versacephotography.com/v2/

Revised 3-15-2008