On Location

Fine-Art Portraiture

with Robert Stivers

Course Description

The act of creating compelling portraits—including those of ourselves—requires more than simply having the “right” equipment, lighting, and location. It’s about discovering and defining your vision and knowing how to express it visually.

Robert Stivers has said that fine-art photography “is my voice … my medium, and … how I’m going to explore my relationship to the world, to the spirit, and to my life.” Under his guidance, workshop participants are invited to explore and solidify their own vision in order to approach portraiture as an artist.

We begin by viewing examples of great portraits and identifying the key elements that characterize successful and engaging work. After that, we delve into the process of portraiture itself, from approaching a subject, establishing trust, and developing relationships to scouting for locations and working collaboratively. Finally, we turn our attention to the role of post-production in the creation of a final image.

Through daily assignments in the Santa Fe area with models and the people we meet, participants are encouraged to express and explore their vision. Image reviews, lectures, demonstrations, and group discussions round out these five full days. You come away from our time together with distinctive and powerful portraits that represent the beginning—or perhaps a continuation—of a coherent body of work.

Additional Information

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Advanced Amateurs
What You Should Know:

Working knowledge of digital workflow and manual mode on your digital SLR or mirrorless camera. Participants must be able to download and select images using image editing software for class sessions.

Categories
Fine Art, Portraiture
about
Robert Stivers

Robert Stivers is a fine-art photographer with a BA from University of California, Irvine, and an MA from New York University. He has exhibited his work internationally for three decades and published six monographs: Robert Stivers: Photographs, Listening to Cement, Sestina, Sanctum, The Art of Ruin, and Staging Pictures: Early Polaroids by Robert Stivers. His photographs can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Getty Museum, Harvard’s Fogg Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, among others. Collectors of Robert’s work include Ellen Degeneres, Charlize Theron, and Mark Wahlberg.

Instagram: @robert.stivers

You May Also Like

The Art of iPhone Photography: From Capture to Edit

with Pei Ketron

March 19 and 21, 2024

the WORK of art

with Lori Vrba and Tobia Makover

March 23 and 24, 2024

Exploration of Personal Style

with Oghalé Alex

March 28 – 31, 2024

Photo Editing Essentials

with Andrea Wise

April 27 and 28, 2024

Serving as Witness to Your Life: A Photographic Practice

with Ibarionex Perello

February 6 – 27, 2024

iPhone in the Landscape

with Sue Bloom

April 8 – 18, 2024

The Creative Alchemy of Fine-Art Photography

with Thibault Roland

March 11 – 28, 2024

Craft and Vision in Still-Life Photography

with Tara Sellios

April 18 – 21, 2024

Botanicals and Plant-Based Printing Processes

with Anne Eder

March 20 – April 17, 2024

NOW WHAT: Strategies for Mid-Career Photographers

with Aline Smithson

February 20 and 22, 2024

Explore the Landscape Within: A Creative Writing Workshop for Photographers and Writers

with Elizabeth Jacobson

February 26 – March 14, 2024

The Artistry of Android ICM Image-Making

with Stephanie Johnson

March 19 – April 5, 2024