Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Take lots of pictures....:-)

Until we meet again,
Amanda

Photo Challenge!

Yes, folks, we are bringing back the blog to introduce our new photo challenge!  For those involved with the Sawtooth Photo League, we are introducing a photographic challenge each month that you can choose to participate in or not.  It may be a phrase, an iconic photograph, or a piece of art.  It is your challenge to interpret the assignment photographically, either literally or in your own style.  Use it as an opportunity to stretch your imagination and your photography skills, but most of all, have fun with it!

For our December 15th meeting, we are using a familiar holiday phrase as our challenge: But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight...

You can interpret that phrase photographically in any way that you would like!  I'm also going to throw a twist and add a photograph to recreate.  This one's from It's a Wonderful Life:

You can choose to recreate the phrase, the photo, both, or none!  It's up to you!  Good luck, and I'll see you Photo Leaguers on December 15th!

Until we meet again,
Amanda

In this great time of social media, you can often get stuck in the flood of options out there: Facebook, blogsites, websites, e-mail campaigns, etc etc.  I started this blog to keep folks updated on all of the goings-on in the photography department here at the Sawtooth School.  Since forming the Sawtooth Photo League, I am using its Facebook page more often to get information out there.  It's getting complicated to keep up with the two, as well as Sawtooth's facebook page and other social media that we are using.

So, I am bidding adieu to this blog for the time being.  From now on, please check our Photo League facebook page for all things photo at Sawtooth.  The address is: www.facebook.com/SawtoothPhotoLeague

See you there!

And, by the way, if you haven't joined the Photo League, now is a great time to do so!  It is open to current and recent Sawtooth photography students and is only $30 a year for non-Sawtooth members and $20 a year for Sawtooth members. Call Amanda at 336-723-7395 for more details, or e-mail at photo@sawtooth.org.

Until we meet again,
Amanda

We have a great new class starting this Thursday, July 19th, called Painting With Photoshop (674). Zac Trainor is back to teach this very creative class, a great choice for anyone wanting to learn more about the painting aspects of Photoshop.  You can create beautiful paintings without even using a photograph, or you can paint over a photograph to create a wonderful new look.  For more information, click here: http://www.sawtooth.org/classes/photo/painting-with-photoshop.html

The Sawtooth Photo League...Join Now!

Since February of this year, at the request of two of my students, I have been working on some kind of photography club for those who are currently or recently enrolled in Sawtooth photo classes. It took some to-and-fro to get all of the details worked out, but The Sawtooth Photo League has finally arrived!  My vision for the league is similar in nature to the New York Photo League that was mentioned a couple of posts ago. Here are the details:

 Purpose: To allow current Sawtooth photo students and instructors a chance to meet and stay connected once class is over;  to continue education by offering critique, tips, and support from other photographers; to suggest new photographic themes to explore; to suggest classes to take for further education; to document life in Winston-Salem and promote these images at Gallery Hops and other downtown events.  The Sawtooth Photo League will take an active part in documenting life in downtown Winston-Salem and surrounding areas, keeping the Sawtooth School and our downtown arts district connected while documenting the changes taking place in our community.

Meeting space/Time:  The league will meet on the third Saturday of every month, from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon in the computer room.  A larger room may be needed if the membership expands. Our first meeting will be June 16th.

Fees/Restrictions: Fees for the league will be $20.00 a year for students with a Sawtooth membership and $30.00 a year for students without a membership.  Membership will be limited to current Sawtooth photography students and instructors only.  Students must have taken a Sawtooth photo class within one year of the date of their membership (or within one year of the current session).  Memberships can be renewed every year, but only if the student has taken a Sawtooth photo class at some point during that year. Amanda Sullivan will be in charge of memberships. Students may apply for membership by phone or in person at our front desk only.  No memberships or money may be exchanged during class time, and no registrations can be taken online. 

*In the first 6 months, we will limit membership to 20 students, with a 5-student minimum.  This is to ensure that we have enough space to accommodate everyone.  We may open it up to more students later.

  

Other Information:  Photo League students will be chosen one-per-month to exhibit their work in either the Computer Lab, Photo Classroom, or Sawtooth hallway.  Students will also exhibit their work once a month at our downtown gallery hops in Amanda Sullivan’s studio space.

A large component of the league will be to document life in Winston-Salem and promote these images at Gallery Hops and other downtown events, further connecting Sawtooth to the downtown art scene.  Ideally, I would like the Sawtooth Photo League to be considered first in terms of documenting life in Winston-Salem.  I feel  it is an important component of the league so as to increase awareness of Sawtooth in the community and to accurately document our growing art scene.

Whew!  That's a lot of information!  Any questions, please call Amanda at 723-7395, ext. 205

As stated above, our first meeting will be on June 16th at 10:00 am.  This is a fantastic opportunity and a first at Sawtooth! Sign up quickly--space is limited!

Until we meet again,
Amanda

Inspiration from Unlikely Places...

I have to admit that I love photography books.  I love books on technique, lighting, composition, documentary photography, and non-technical books with lots of photographs in them that I can just stare at for hours.  I find that some of my greatest inspiration comes from very unlikely books, books that you might not ordinarily turn to when thinking of getting advice on photography.

One such book is the fabulous Dior in Vogue by Brigid Keenan.  First published in 1981, it features photographs of Dior fashions that appeared in Vogue magazine from 1947-1957.  If you have any interest in fantastic posing and lighting, this book will certainly be of interest.  Though obviously dated, it is classic, and features some really beautiful photographs from some of the top fashion photographers of the time.  I actually found the book on the free shelf of a local bookstore a few years ago, but I see now that it is actually not cheap!  You can check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Dior-Vogue-Brigid-Keenan/dp/0517544482/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338432572&sr=8-1

So check your local Goodwill, yard sales, etc.  You never know where your inspiration might come from!

Until we meet again,
Amanda

Painting With Photoshop! A Great New Class for Summer...

I cannot draw or paint.  I just can't.  Photography, now that's my thing.  But most of the other members of my talented family can draw quite well, so I always felt left out.  Zac Trainor has just the solution for me and others like me: painting with Photoshop!  It's true, you can learn to "paint" using Photoshop!  Learn and experiment with painting tools and techniques to create original digital works of your own. Start from a blank canvas or work on converting a photograph or image into your own painterly vision.  It's going to be a great class, lots of creative fun, and we'll be starting it in July.  I can see it not only being beneficial for art lovers and creative sorts, but also for portrait and wedding photographers to learn how to create interesting backgrounds for photos or even learn to paint photos that you have taken and transform them into something really unique for your clients.  I'm signing up for sure, so come join me and learn a new Photoshop skill!

The class will run from July 19th thru August 9th, from 6:30-8:30 pm.  For more information or to sign up, call us at 336-723-7395, or click here: http://www.sawtooth.org/classes/photo/painting-with-photoshop.html

Flightlogue digitally painted by Zac Trainor

The Radical Camera

If you are not familiar with The Radical Camera, you should be. The New York Photo League existed from 1936 until 1951 and produced some fantastic photos from some of the premier documentary photographers of the 20th Century.  Check out this link for more information: http://lightbox.time.com/2012/01/10/the-radical-camera-new-yorks-photo-league/#12

Until we meet again,
Amanda

Forsyth Photo Adventure Contest!

Check out a great way to have fun in Forsyth County while honing your photography skills!  AND earn a chance to win an iPad! http://visitwinstonsalem.com/whats-new/entry/forsyth-photo-adventure 
Happy Shooting!

Our First Photography Taste of Art This Friday!

Well, blow me down.  It's been way too long since I have posted anything on the blog.  I've taken over the "social media" for Sawtooth as well as photography, so I have been busy settling into that new role.  But I am determined to post more on the blog now, so here goes!

It's the photo department's first Taste of Art this Friday!  Mary Bailey Thomas will be teaching us how to do image transfers on watercolor paper, boxes, and a host of other media.  It's a great way to use your photography to make gifts or special pieces for clients.  Plus, there will be wine and snacks, and everything is included in the small price of $35! 

So join the fun and sign up here http://www.sawtooth.org/classes/taste-of-art1/taste-of-art-photography.html
or call us at 336-723-7395.

Beautiful Large Format ASA25 Kodachrome Transparencies from WWII Homefront!

A student recently shared this site with me and I thought I would pass it along to you.  Some wonderful WWII photos--the colors are fantastic!

http://pavel-kosenko.livejournal.com/303194.html?thread=22669914

A Sneak Peak at Spring Classes!

Next week you should be receiving your Spring catalog, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak at our new photography classes that we will be offering in our Spring session. You can't register for them yet, but you'll at least be able to take a look at what is being offered.  I'm really excited about them, and I hope you'll find something new here that sparks your interest!  Here are just a few of our new classes. We have lots more to offer so keep an eye out for your catalog!

687 The Business of Wedding Photography  Wedding photography is one of the most challenging yet rewarding professions that a photographer can undertake. It is not as simple as picking up your camera and shooting: there are many different aspects of this exciting career to explore. This in-depth class examines the complete business of wedding photography from getting started, to advertising, to shooting, to completing images in the digital darkroom. A wedding photographer for the past 11 years, Amanda Sullivan takes us through the do’s-and-don’ts of a changing profession. It is a must for anyone considering a career in wedding photography! (Pair this up with our mock wedding workshop and build your portfolio!)

617 iPhoneography  Explore the wonderful world of the iPhone photo. The amazing thing about iPhone cameras is that, with the right knowledge, you can create remarkable photographic darkroom and art techniques with the touch of a button! Find out the best apps available to create images that wow your friends and family. **Though the focus is on iPhones, this class will work for any camera phone.

601 Documentary and Street Photography  Every day we see photographs and wish we had our camera with us to capture them! This course is about capturing those moments we see every day. Street photography has been used by many photographers as an art form, a way to record human culture, and a way to learn how to be one with the camera. This class will also go over Documentary Photography, learning how to put together a project that matters to you. We will study from the past masters and talk about topics such as legal rights, composition, how to pick a documentary project, shutter speed and aperture, film vs. digital, which lens is best, black and white vs. color, and many more. Any skill level. Digital or film cameras required.
Those will film cameras will have access to the darkroom throughout the duration of the class.

618 Light Graffiti: An Introduction to Light Painting  Light Painting Photography is an imaginative, fun technique that involves long exposures and the movement of light, using glowsticks, sparklers, flashlights and other light sources. You will learn how to actually “write” on your photograph using light in a way that is uniquely yours! Learn to create wild, amazing images with a technique that has been around since 1914, used by such popular artists as Man Ray and Pablo Picasso. A digital camera with the capacity for long shutter speeds is required.

697 Mastering Layers and Creative Compositing  in Photoshop CS5  Creative compositing starts with an inspired idea and ends with a successful and convincing montage. We will begin by exploring the basic properties of a pixel in order to harness the full power of Photoshop. From there, we will discuss advanced methods for breaking down an idea, isolating visual elements, getting good blends, and finally understanding how to use lighting and color-grading to tie your composite together into one seamless scene. This is a fairly technical class for the Photoshop user who wants to get more out of their software than basic color corrections and clean-up, so a good understanding of layers and masks is a suggested prerequisite for this course. Unlock your full digital potential and go beyond just capturing your vision in-camera to completely creating it in post!


621 High Contrast Photography  Turn your photos into high contrast works of art in this fantastic Photoshop class. High contrast photography is vivid and evocative, and can be easily achieved by learning a few useful Photoshop techniques. Add some drama to your photos and see why high contrast photography is so popular! Students need to bring images to class that they would like to manipulate on disc or flash drive. A working knowledge of Photoshop is recommended.

6570 Intro to the Art of Pinhole Photography  The original camera consisted of a light tight box with a hole in it with no expensive lens, knobs, or gizmos! Going back to the beginning and letting go of technology is an adventure that is exciting! We will learn how to use inexpensive cookie tins to create pinhole cameras using only available light, time, and darkroom chemicals. Join us and learn how to play again as you create one-of-a kind works of art! No cameras required.

As I said, these are just a few of our great new classes that we will be offering.  Be on the lookout for our catalog in the mail soon, and also online!

Until we meet again,
Amanda

The Art Lives On

 

So Kodak has filed for Chapter 11.  I must admit the news made me sad.  I'm not going to go on a nostalgia trip, nor a digital bashing (I LOVE digital photography.  I'm not against it in any way) but it did make me sad to hear the news.  I'm not going to comment on what Kodak should or should not have done, but  here is a good article if you are interested in reading about it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/22/john-naughton-kodak-lessons  What will become of Kodak is anyone's guess. I hope they'll find a way to stay in business, but I do worry for the future of film.  I'm afraid it will become harder and harder to find film, especially locally.  

Film has been a staple in my life since I was old enough to hold a camera.  We had a darkroom in my home growing up, and it was always mysterious and wonderful to me.  Being in a small, dark, quiet space watching something that you created come to life was--and still is--such a thrill.  

People ask me quite often what my stance on digital vs. film is.  I love both.  Both are forms of art that are quite different despite their similarities.  I think that we have to rethink film to make it work for the 21st century, however.  Film photography is no longer used for documentation.  That all goes to the digital realm.  Film photography is an art form that is no different from clay or painting, for example.  A potter uses a wheel and a kiln to create art.  A watercolor or acrylic artist uses paint and a canvas to create art.  And a film photographer uses film and a darkroom to create art.  Though there are many digital programs that now allow one to create a painting on a computer, there are many who will never stray from the traditional brush-to-canvas method of painting.  The same is true with film photography.  I use digital photography in my work and every day life for both documentation and art.  But when I want to use the darkroom, I am concentrating on an art form that has been around for over 100 years.  I don't see why I have to give that up in lieu of digital.  I use both for different things.  

Digital photography makes sense to a generation of people who have grown up in the computer age with immediate results.  If you need a report for school, you look up the information online immediately instead of planning a trip to the library.  If you want to find a picture that Ansel Adams took, you look it up online instead of finding it in a book.  If you want music, you download it instead of heading off to your local record store to look for it.  And now you can even get a movie instantly if you want to watch something.  Want to share something with your friend? There's texting, cell phones, and social networks all at your fingertips the exact moment you have an idea.  It is the age of the immediate indeed, and digital photography fits right in.  You don't have to wait to see your image.  It is right there in front of you.

I would hope, though, that people start recognizing film photography for what it is: a beautiful art form that is a process instead of an immediate. Just like sculpting, painting by brush, knitting, jewelry-making, or whatever art form you enjoy, film photography forces you to slow down and take a breath in a world that can be haphazard and frantic.

There's certainly nothing wrong with that.

Until we meet again,

Amanda

Another Intro DSLR class added!

Due to the large wait list we currently have, we are adding another Intro DSLR class to our Winter schedule!

The section number is 606 C, and it will be taught by our wonderful, entertaining professional photographer, Dan Simonson.  The class starts next week, and will run for 6 Thursdays, Jan. 19th-Feb. 23th from 6:30-8:30 in the evenings.

Call today if you would like to sign up, or register online.

Until we meet again,

Amanda

Time is Running Out---Early Registrations Ends Soon!

Just a reminder to let you know that early registration for classes ends on Friday, January 6th, so if you are interested in a class, call soon to get the early bird discount!

Happy New Year!
Amanda