Session Nine/August 4-8

Susan Storch & John Rankine
Digital Photography

Studio/Field
5 Day class (9am-4pm)
Tuition: $275
Materials: To be determined

Icons of photography in Eureka Springs, John Rankine and Susan Storch, are combining their talents in this exciting new course offered by ESSA. Susan will lead off the beginning of the week by reviewing the technical aspects of digital photography with students. Susan will cover important basics of camera terminology and function such as F- stop, shutter speed, and ISO. Easy to understand advice of all kinds will be shared: from key facts - to basic tips for beginners - to advanced techniques for skilled amateurs and professionals with special regard to portraiture, composition, lighting, equipment, and file format. Also, the essentials of Photoshop and how to edit, enhance, archive, and print your images will be addressed.

John will engage students in portraiture, involving them on both sides of the lens. Field work will be done in historic Eureka Springs where John will share his expertise in photojournalism with the class. Happenings will be documented by the class, and prepared for the week end exhibition and reception.

Susan Storch located to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 1976 after several years as a successful photographer specializing in fine art portraiture in her native New York City and San Francisco. "I can't remember a time when I didn't take pictures. My love for photography has steadily grown since that first Brownie Hawkeye given to me by my Grandfather when I was 7 years old…It is more than a profession.....it is an absolute passion". When not shooting weddings and portraits in Eureka Springs, Susan travels the world, inspired by the uniqueness of individuals, documenting visionary moments in time. Her series "The Performers" is on permanent exhibit at the Eureka Springs Auditorium.

John Rankine hails from Toronto, where he began his career in the visual arts. His early textile printmaking won him a Canada Arts Council grant. John moved to Key West where he developed and marketed a line of hand-painted clothing and pursued his passion in found object assemblage, creating several series in the medium. John took up the camera during the formative days of the Lovely County Citizen, photographing and documenting the town and its people for nearly eight years. During that time he continued with other artistic pursuits, including a highly acclaimed series of portraits of Eureka Springs artists. But, he remains captivated by found objects, and began incorporating them into his photography. John's latest series in this combined medium garnered him "Best of Show" honors in the 2007 Eureka Springs Fall Art Show.