The Art of Seeing: Light and Color
with Mark Kesling
June 10 – June 20, 2025
Course Description
“Color is a pigment of our imagination,” Mark Rea famously said, highlighting how colors only come to life through our perception. In this new online workshop with Mark Kesling, photographers of all skill levels explore the interconnected roles of light and color in photography. We examine the science of light, understanding the electromagnetic spectrum and how different types of light (from infrared to visible) impact exposure, mood, and composition. At the same time, we investigate how light influences color perception, focusing on how light interacts with various surfaces and materials to shape the way color is captured in a photograph.
Throughout our group sessions, we engage in hands-on exercises that experiment with both lighting techniques and color theory. We learn how natural and artificial light affect color and how to manipulate both to create dynamic and compelling images. We also explore how color influences mood and composition, uncovering the emotional power of colors and how to use them intentionally in their work. From working with different types of light to experimenting with color grading and filters, you refine an understanding of both lighting and color, gaining new skills to elevate your photography, regardless of genre or style.
Additional Information
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
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.
Special Notes:
Class will meet 12:30 – 2:30 pm (Mountain Time) on Tuesdays and Fridays starting June 10 and ending June 20 (four online group sessions). Enrollment is limited to 12 participants.
Zoom Video Conferencing software (available for no charge from Zoom.com) will be used to facilitate the class sessions. Further details will be emailed to registrants.
Santa Fe Workshops always aims to produce a high-quality experience for our online attendees. That said, variables including regional and local internet provider speeds, traffic on Zoom's servers, and your own computing hardware can contribute to a less than ideal streaming event. While we do our best to minimize the impact of these variables, they are outside the control of Santa Fe Workshops.
Policies:
View Withdrawal and Transfer Policies for online programs.
For the convenience of participants, recordings of each class session are posted privately for one month after the end of each session. Santa Fe Workshops takes the recordings down after one month to protect the intellectual property of our instructors.
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about
Mark Kesling is a pioneering artist and science educator with over 30 years of experience in museum education, exhibit design, and science education. He has designed and managed major exhibits for institutions such as The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, The Carnegie Museum, and The Exploratorium. Currently, Mark serves as Founder and CEO of the daVinci Pursuit, a concept he conceived in 2009—a “science museum without walls” that brings educational exhibits to neighborhoods using outdoor spaces as galleries. Mark combines art and science to create engaging installations that serve communities in underserved areas of Massachusetts and Indiana.
Website: thedavincipursuit.com
