Photography. Outside the Rules.
the three course, small group atelier program
vancouver bc, canada
Get an immediate creative boost! Be surrounded by other creative people in our working studio! Get the most out of your ideas and skills!
about our atelier microschool...
Founded in 2009 and annually revised, this three-term set of classes (totaling 24 weeks) is designed to inspire, support and provide the tools for a continuing exploration of creative photography, photography as art, and photography as lifestyle. Springing from courses we originally developed for professional photography schools, these classes provide a framework for you, the photography enthusiast and entrepreneur, to expand your creative use of the photographic medium and make it your own. Held in our working atelier/studio, classes provide direct insight into our real-world activities and processes, while developing your own.
Classes are very small (5 students max) making a collegial experience. No grades are given - we find grading inhibits the will to take risks. Classmates are encouraged to ask questions and offer observations to provide a richness of reaction to everyone's work. Each class develops into a little community, where participants are free and empowered to explore and express their unique vision and approach to photography.
Each week is moulded to fit the people in the group, so the precise content and experience is slightly different year-to-year.
You may expect each 3 hour weekly session to include:
- a current work review: participants share their results from the past week and receive frank, in-depth and constructive feedback. Wendy and Russ really are two, different people with different points of view on just about everything - the open debate is valuable.
- a multimedia talk: exploring various contemporary and historical topics in the art, science and philosophy of modern photography in the context of art-making.
- (sometimes) an in-class group exercise: which never involves cameras - because cameras can get in the way of visual thinking.
- a challenging (so we are told) take-home assignment: for review the next week.
Over the three terms, you may expect:
- to improve and expand your visual skills and awareness.
- to create personally meaningful, unified collections of photography.
- to learn how to create finished products at a standard appropriate for heirlooms or commercial markets.
Our classes are open to people working with any manner of photographic media. In 2009-2012, about 3/4 of our students worked with digital media; about 1/5 worked with analogue media, and a few were working with hybrid methods. One student shot a substantial amount of excellent work with a cellphone, a couple of students used toy Holga cameras, one student used homemade pinhole cameras, one student used a 1960's era medium format TLR, and the rest used either conventional 35mm film or various types of digital cameras from P&S to pro-SLR. Inexpensive work prints for the course were made at Costco, London Drugs, The Lab, the Darkroom Coop, home darkrooms and home inkjet printers.
The full course of study is divided into three terms of eight weeks, with a break of at least five weeks between terms. We endeavour to keep each group together for the whole three terms, giving existing groups priority in future scheduling. There is one three-hour class per week, offered one weeknight or weekend morning.
Printed course notes will be provided each week.
From the beginning, this course has been incredibly fun! Most classes were sold out and our participants moved their work ahead at amazing speeds - everyone truly rose to the challenge, and their work showed it.
student profile
- You are looking for a serious challenge, an immediate creative boost, and the means to a long-term extension of your personal creativity.
- You are wanting to think outside the box, to embrace the unusual, and are unafraid of visual experiments.
- You are motivated to explore photography as a creative outlet.
- You wish to gain a deeper understanding of the depth, complexity, history, diversity and possibilities of photography as an art form.
- You wish to understand modern commercial standards and requirements for photography as art.
student prerequisites
- You must be familiar with the operation of your equipment. The exact equipment is not important; it can be film, digital, SLR, point and shoot, cellphone, plastic toy camera, pinhole camera, scanner, x-ray, who cares? This course is about creativity, and the more diversity, the better. We are ready to help with technique wherever we can, but this course is not going to address photography fundamentals or how-to directly.
- If we don’t already know you, a (free) interview may be required as prerequisite. Don't worry - we are very friendly! We find the mix of people in classes to be very important, so this process is necessary for us to find the right group for you. This interview may be conducted in person, by telephone or by email.
class profile
- Class sizes are small: max 5 people, creating an incomparable student to instructor ratio.
- Wendy and Russ KEEP NO TRADE SECRETS, other than a few supersecret patent-pending personal chemical formulations.
- Class members are selected for compatibility with each other. We need each class to become its own little community.
- Classes are intense! We aim to fill your mind each and every week.
- Classes are held at Russ and Wendy’s atelier/studio, near
terms and conditions
- A 100% deposit is required to hold your seat for a class. Class sizes are small, so they may fill fast. Payment is by cheque or cash.
- Refunds will only be granted if: the course does not run OR we are able to fill your seat from a wait list.
For additional information and any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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Term 1: Establishing Your Point of View
creating the visually insightful image
8 weeks, Mon 7 Jan 2019 - 7pm-10pm
5 students max, only 1 spot left!
Tuition: $450 (includes all taxes)
Photography as an image and art making medium is so popular and so approachable that establishing and constantly refining a personal visual language and signature is paramount in separating yourself from the crowd. This is the start of that path.
Get beyond simplistic rules of composition and discover your own unique patterns for photograph construction. This class delves into the physiological, psychological and cultural roots of our shared visual identity. Just how are we all prewired to see the world? To what extent can we be trained? Most importantly, to what extent can we be different?
Learn to think visually, present visual ideas and create unique picture spaces - outside the rules.
- What are the distinguishing characteristics of great pictures and picture-makers?
- How can you develop those characteristics?
- What questions need to be asked?
- What choices need to be made?
- What is the role of experimentation and play?
- How can you evolve the necessary standards for your work?
Term 2: Creating a Body of Work
making coherent collections and sequences of images
8 weeks, TBA 2019
5 students max
Tuition: $450 (includes all taxes)
How do you create photographs that have something meaningful to say? What separates competent photographs from great photographs that have a persistent presence? How do you progress beyond disconnected single pictures?
One good way is to create a series of photographs exploring a central theme or idea. You will learn to use the thread of your personal visual language to study your subject and to ultimately bind your images into a true collection.
This class will explore concept building and refinement, followed by testing and experimentation, and then settle in to the creation of your body of work, imbued with your personal vision and visual language. The class will function as motivator, counselor and evaluator to help keep you on track.
Bodies of work may be entirely photographed during this term, or you may choose to work on existing ideas, and/or use class time for editing, sequencing and designing final presentations.
- What is a body of work and why is it important?
- What questions need development?
- What role does experimentation have in this endeavour?
- What are your ambitions for the body of work, and how does that affect its development?
- How much time is needed?
- How can others provide constructive feedback?
- Are there other avenues of research that need exploring?
- How can one evaluate progress and make decisions on further work?
- When is a body of work finished?
Term 3: Refinement, Finish and Where Your Work Belongs
refining your creative practice
8 weeks, TBA 2019
5 students max
Tuition: $450 (includes all taxes)
There is great pleasure and satisfaction in seeing a project through to a refined, final, finished state - be it prints, a wall installation, a book , a portfolio, a slide show or anything else you can imagine. Dig into the uses, reasons and methods for producing truly finished personal and/or commercial work. If you do have commercial ambitions, we will give you our frank reality check. In any case, learn to stay creative on the path to continuously producing new and exciting photographs.
By learning and integrating creative practices into your daily life, you will continue to refine and evolve your photography. The creative process never ends!
- Participate in weekly exercises and work reviews intended to keep your momentum up and your personal work moving forward
- Identify appropriate audiences for your work and the means to reach those audiences.
- Gain a deeper understanding of the materials and finish necessary for exhibition, display and published artworks
- Enrich your audience’s appreciation of your work by developing artist statements and other written materials
- Examine the patterns and habits of successful photographers
- Explore cultural influences and the role they may play in your work
- Develop a personal dialogue with your work and your materials