Capturing life with our smart phones can become a default reaction rather than a creative act. This retreat is a chance to pause and look through fresh eyes. The facilitator is Vee Churchill, a member of the resident core community at Othona (as caterer) who brings her skill and wide experience in photography (see below).
During this weekend we will reconnect to image making using simple photographic techniques, through a series of creative exercises. They will be suitable for smart phones, compact cameras or SLRs.
These sessions will be supported by inspiring presentations on a selection of artist photographers, all held within the supportive community structure of Othona West Dorset.
The rhythm of the long weekend:
- Each day will begin and end in the Othona Chapel
- Mornings will be practical exercises, afternoons self-directed play
- Before dinner we will gather for presentations on selected artist photographers
- Evenings will be for group sharing* and free time
- Weather permitting we will take our cameras out for a local walk
*Sharing your work with the group is optional but can be very rewarding, images can be shared via email or online, please bring any special cables or card readers your camera might require.
What to expect:
- Creative exercises which will encourage new perspectives
- Experiment with cyanotype photograms
- Explore narrative through constructed images
- Advice with your own artistic projects through one to one tutorials
This weekend is for you if you need time for creative play and wish to revivify your artistic eye. It is suitable for enthusiastic amateur photographers as well as more serious practitioners.
Artist references will include:
- Susan Derges - and her ‘River Taw’ photograms
- Jason Evens and his antidote to Instagram, ‘The Daily Nice’
- Alfred Stieglitz and his cloud ‘Equivalents’
- Vivian Maier and her compulsion to capture
(If you’ve not seen these artists' work before then you are in for a real treat… )
More about Vee:
Vee worked in the photographic industry for over 25 years, working across many facets of the industry from Assistant, Digital Operator to Lecturer.
In 2005 she graduated from Central St Martin's with a distinction, in the PGCert in Professional Photography, exploring the complexities of portraiture. As an artist Vee works across many platforms from music, poetry, film and photography.
You can see her work here: www.vchurchill.com