The Western Portrait

New Mexico, and the Santa Fe region in particular, is steeped in Western history and culture. This was once the land of Blood and Thunder, named and described by famed Santa Fe-based writer, Hampton Sides. To this day, there are still vast working ranches, active western movie sets, and wide-open landscapes filled with livestock and wildlife surrounding the historic town of Santa Fe. 

In this workshop, led by photographer and longtime resident Michael Clark, we explore the creative fundamentals of portraiture by diving headfirst into a world of cowboys, ranch hands, cowgirls, and other classic characters of the iconic West. We create a variety of environmental portraits, documenting the culture on local ranches and crafting narrative scenes at the famed Eaves Movie Ranch. This engaging week provides an opportunity to work with real subjects and models alike, harnessing fiction and reality as elements of the storytelling process.

Topics we cover in this workshop include composition and framing, perspective and camera angles, equipment selection, the use of natural light and fill flash, plus the best ways of working with our portrait subjects to put them at ease and then collaborate with them to tell a story. Daily location visits allow for ample time to experiment and have fun exploring the Western culture in and around Santa Fe with our cameras. Classroom time includes daily editing, group image reviews, and one-on-one meetings with Michael. In addition, Michael dives into digital workflow and demonstrates various techniques for processing your portraits (including color grading, black and white, sepia, etc.) to help you come away with the best portraits possible. 

A complementary blend of technique, artistry, and storytelling, Michael’s workshop helps you elevate your portraiture to new levels while chasing the myth and reality of the American West.