This is not about making ‘pretty’ pictures or ‘postcard’ like records of nature. It is about making a deeper, more authentic, connection to the land and water, then learning to express that connection in our photography. We will be using the confluences of the Mississippi, Minnesota and St Croix Rivers and the adjacent shores, bridges and riverbanks as our locations for daily photo field trips. We will learn to use the water and adjacent land as metaphor for our inner selves to convey an emotional experience into a visual one. This will be about making, not taking, photographs that go below the surface by nourishing a deepening connection to one’s own path and bringing that awareness into our photo making process. We will work on giving our photos more layers of meaning to make stronger, more powerful images.

Inspiration will be sparked by a balance of conversation, readings, photographic examples, portfolio reviews and instructor presentations and by our fellow participants. Daily photographic assignments and field trips will be a big part of this experience, with individual attention given. One on one and small group pairings will create a progressive and dynamic environment for learning. We will work hard at making and improving our photography but fun, laughter and introspection are also to be expected.

Mornings will start at a nearby river location, using the University of Minnesota campus, located on the Mississippi River, as our home base. After some mid-day time in our classroom, looking at images and sharing work in progress we will head out for an afternoon field trip to a new location each day. Car pooling is encouraged and you will not need to have your own car.

Who Should Attend: Open to all levels but students should have a good working knowledge of their camera and want to take their image making to a more meaningful and personal level. This workshop will stress creativity and developing vision over excessive camera gear. Digital and film, in all formats, are welcome.

Dates:

Sunday, June 27 at 4:00 p.m. to Friday, July 2 at 9 p.m.

Cost:

Tuition and fees $620; University of Minnesota credit available; optional private suite at Yudof Hall on the University’s Minneapolis $420.

Class limit:

18

Registration information:

For registration information, please visit http://www.cce.umn.edu/Split-Rock-Arts-Program

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