Online – The Photographer’s Eye

Date  | Thursdays, January 16 – February 13, 2025

Time  |   6 – 8 PM (MST)

Location |  Online via Zoom

Cost  |  $330 (10% off for CPAC members)

Instructor  |  Mari Howells

Skill Level  |  All Levels

Objective:

In this workshop, students will learn how the decisions made when taking a photograph create structure and meaning, and will learn how to communicate with specificity and intention. Our eyes see the world one way; how the world is shown in a photograph is completely different. In order to make pictures that say something, a photographer needs to understand this key difference. This is the essential point of John Szarkowski’s The Photographer’s Eye (The Museum of Modern Art, 1964), a companion essay and catalog to the groundbreaking exhibition at MoMA in 1964. A dip into the past to understand how photography was changing in the 1960s will speak to both image makers and to student of art history.

Course Description:

Through class lectures, weekly shooting assignments, and in-class exercises based on the ideas in Szarkowski’s book, students will dissect the elements of photographic grammar. As a photographer, decisions about where to stand, when to press the shutter, what to include and exclude, and what part of the subject to include are all addressed as class exercises that will refine the way students observe, make, and read images. The process results in photographs that are more personal and expressive, clearer, and made with intention.

Materials Needed:

• Camera (Film, Digital or iPhone)
• Memory or Flash Cards (if using digital)
• Film (if using film camera)
• Computer/Laptop or Tablet
• Flash drive/Hard drive (to transfer photos from your device)
• Notebook and pen for notes
• Zoom account (free) for access to class

*Please register as you normally would, and CPAC will update you with links to take your class or workshop as scheduled online. To participate in an online course, students will need access to a desktop, laptop, or tablet with an internet connection. If you have any questions about navigating our system, please email meghan@cpacphoto.org for more information.