Every photograph has two parts: form and narrative. Form is pure visuals—line, shape, color, value, planes, etc. Narrative is storytelling—what the subject matter is about.
This class helps photographers understand and master the spectrum between form and narrative. At the extremes, fine-art photographers emphasize form over narrative; documentary photographers emphasize narrative over form. However, most of us work somewhere in between.
During our four weeks together, we’ll look at the work of hundreds of fine-art, documentary, and commercial photographers who balance form and narrative differently, and in the process, clarify and improve our own photographic expression. Assignments are given in class and work is reviewed the following week.
Both digital and film-based photographers are welcome. All work is processed outside of class time. Students should have good working knowledge of their cameras (including digital procedures if applicable) and know the basics of exposure, especially how to modify shutter speed and aperture settings.
Instructor Shannon Ayres is a Northern Virginia-based fine-art photographer.
4 sessions, 2 1/2 hours each
