Layered Abstractions: Combining ICM, ME & Gathered Elements

with Stephanie Johnson

June 29 – July 3, 2026

Tuition $2095.00

(includes meal plan, see below)

Location and Materials Fee $220.00

Standard Deposit $400.00

Course Description

Join Stephanie Johnson in Santa Fe this summer for a workshop dedicated to exploring abstract photography and creating layered visual imagery through experimentation and expression.

With the city of Santa Fe and the surrounding landscapes as inspiration, you learn to create individually expressive images using digital techniques, such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), Multiple Exposure (ME), and creative processing, while also weaving handmade analog processes into the mix.

With Stephanie’s guidance, you create images and gather elements that can be synergistically woven together to form deeper, multi-layered, and textural expressions of place. Immersion in the abstract process and practical application in the field encourages you to explore new ways of seeing. Being open to the expansive possibilities of abstract practice allows you to walk away with images that stand on their own or can be blended together with gathered elements throughout the week.

Workshop Highlights:

Dedicated daily time working with creative camera techniques (ICM, ME, and more) in locations around Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico
Learning different methods for layering images, textures, and gathered elements to create final artistic images
Creative processing instruction in Adobe Photoshop, for blending gathered elements into expressive images that convey layered depths of artistry
Using digital and analog images made during the week to explore the synergy of layering and blending processes together for combined creative effects that are greater than the individual elements alone
Daily classroom instruction and image reviews to deepen the understanding of your layered and blended visual language

While this workshop is focused primarily on digital photography, Stephanie also shares the creative potential of combining digital and analog processes. As an added bonus, she guides you through the steps of creating cyanotypes and demonstrates how these prints can serve as additional gathered elements that can be layered with digital ICM and ME photographs. It is not necessary to have experience working with cyanotypes prior to the class, and necessary materials are provided.

Technical notes:

Camera-Based Creative Work—It is essential that you have a working understanding of ICM principles and techniques. This workshop incorporates the use of ICM principles and techniques with more advanced Multiple Exposure techniques, with the focus of instruction being more on ways to push beyond what can be achieved through single exposure ICMs.
Creative Processing—Instruction for these processes is given in Photoshop and can be applied similarly in other image processing software applications. A basic knowledge of Photoshop is helpful.

This workshop is designed to inspire creative flow through the process of layering images together to create compelling visual experiences. Our time together is about expanding your knowledge of abstractation and pushing your work in new and creative directions. Join us for a week in Santa Fe to master a diverse range of techniques and processes, and to unlock the creative potential of layering your abstract work.

Additional Information

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

This program is not an introduction to the basics of ICM and ME. This workshop is designed to build upon an already established foundation of ICM and ME knowledge. This program is best suited for photographers who are looking to expand and evolve their abstract and creative processes using a variety of more advanced techniques while immersed in the rich, local beauty and culture of Santa Fe.

What You Should Know:

The basics of ICM are not covered in this workshop; however, a basic ICM tutorial is provided for participants ahead of time as needed. Participants should be technically self-sufficient in the use of their cameras, including the Multiple Exposure menu.

Participants need to bring their own laptop for use during the workshop. Basic Adobe Photoshop skills and knowledge of layers, or the equivalent in similar processing software applications, are also helpful.

Activity Level:

To get the most from your workshop experience, participants should be in good physical (mobility, stamina) and mental health. Come prepared for the high elevation of Santa Fe, long days, and seasonal weather including high temperatures. You must be able to carry your own photographic and personal gear at all times, both on campus and on location. You are responsible for being open and honest about your physical fitness, and we reserve the right to remove you from the workshop if we find your fitness to be less than that which you have described.

Participants should be able to engage in moderate outdoor exercise for up to an hour or more at a time including off-trail walking on uneven terrain including sand, dirt, and loose rock. Location work is likely to include early morning and/or late evening shoots.

Policies:

View Payment, Refund, Withdrawal, and Transfer Policies for domestic workshops.

Accommodations:

Participants are responsible for making their own housing arrangements in Santa Fe. On-campus accommodations are not currently available.

Meals:

Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner before the Friday evening Image Presentations, and daily beverage service are included.

about

Stephanie Johnson

Stephanie is a self-taught photographic artist, with a focus on Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), Multiple Exposure (ME), and Creative Photography techniques as a form of artistic expression. She has a deep passion for creating uniquely distinctive images by working with camera movement, multiple exposure, and a variety of creative processes to reveal the essence of any given scene or subject. As a creative photographer, she is always seeking to push the boundaries of her own artistry and to evolve her techniques. As such, in addition to all the ways she uses the camera as a creative tool, she also explores the use of her in-camera ICM and ME images as a basis for creating unique works of art in a post-production workflow. Stephanie brings an intuitive and instinctual approach to her photography-as-art to visually express light, color, form, line, texture, mood, and emotion through these creative photography techniques.

Stephanie is the Founder, Creator, and Publisher of ICM Photography Magazine (ICMPhotoMag), a first-of-its-kind e-magazine dedicated to celebrating the art and beauty of ICM, Multiple Exposure, and Creative Photography. As an instructor for Santa Fe Workshops she leads ICM and Creative Photography workshops online and on-location for SFW, as well. She also collaborates with various other online learning communities and camera clubs to share her passion, processes, and knowledge of these creative photography techniques.