$1,500 - 4 day course – Tuesday through Friday. Classes are 9a – 5p at Cone Editions Studio in East Topsham, VT – limited to a maximum of 8 and a minimum of 5. Each attendee has their own computer workstation. The network for pinting includes many Piezography medium and large format printers with several PiezoTone and K7 ink choices. Additionally there are medium and large format EPSON printers installed with ConeColor inks. There are several scanners for attendee use, but most attendees prefer to contract the studio prior to their attendence to have Cone Editions scan their originals on the Hell 3400 drum scanner (at additional costs). There are many different papers to choose to print from Hahnemuhle, Bradford Papers, Legion Papers and others.

This workshop is designed to help participants achieve better communication of their own personal photographic vision using the digital process. There are many powerful tools available in the digital workflow, and when carefully and knowledgeably applied they can take one well beyond the traditional techniques of the darkroom. Truly expressive images are created from a balance of aesthetic and technical considerations. We will examine both, beginning with a day in the field photographing Vermont during the heart of the Spring season.

Guest instructor Phil Bard will provide suggestions and demonstrations for creating compelling images, tailored to both film and digital shooters in formats ranging from 35mm to 4x5, and in either color or B&W. The remainder of the workshop will focus on the process of making the best possible prints from these images, covering scanning techniques, inkjet printing in color and with Piezography, and most importantly, creative manipulation of the files in Photoshop. Techniques discussed will include: creating and utilizing complex selections; working with masks and adjustment layers; use of alpha channels; working in modes, and much more. We will examine various ways of adding emotional power and dynamic to photographs without destroying their nuance by overworking them. Throughout we will assist each participant to further his or her own stylistic approach to making images using the full spectrum of capabilities that the digital process offers.

All participants in this workshop should possess basic Photoshop skills, including the use of levels and curves. Each should come prepared to photograph using either their own equipment or our digital cameras. Overnight processing will be available for film shooters for an additional cost. Everyone is encouraged to bring a portfolio so that we can review and provide constructive comments. Also there will be time for scanning and printing of previously made negatives or transparencies, so bring a few along if you so desire.