Zen Photography Workshop – David Butow – Online – February 3rd-24th, 2021

Overview:

What does it mean to be “in” the moment and capture it at the same time? Using his decades of experience as a photojournalist David Butow guides the participants though a process of simplifying camera technique in order to be more present and intuitive when taking pictures. The sense of calm engagement allows a higher awareness of light, form, movement and meaning, revealing the personality of the subject and of the photographer.

Through group discussion, assignments and editing, as well as individualized tutoring, we work on creating meaningful and lasting images.

Topics covered:

• Simplifying the technical aspects of using your camera.
• How to explore different compositions with minimal equipment changes.
• Understanding the qualities and direction of light, and how it both models your subject and impacts the emotion of a scene.
• Finding form, whether in still life, landscape or dynamic situations.
• Paying greater attention to light, form and the dynamics of a scene.
• Using empathy and personal connection to improve your photographs of people, whether they’re friends, family or strangers on the street.
• Practical and creative strategies for building cohesive bodies of work.
• Finding ways to expand the reach of your photography through prints, self-published books, gallery shows and in the service of non-profits and other organizations.

Schedule & Format:

The class will meet from 6:00pm – 9:00pm EDT for four consecutive Wednesdays. Students will take part in four online sessions with breaks, plus one personal review session with David Butow. Participants will be asked to submit a portfolio or selection of images prior to the start of the class, so David can get an idea of their interests and goals. Group discussions will be a combination of lectures by David discussing his own work and of  his favorite photographers, as well as reviewing student work and experiences.

(All time are EDT)

Between sessions students will be given photo exercises that they can do inside their homes or in outdoor spaces. The week following the first weekend will be an excellent time to apply new ideas from the workshop to begin a series or refine one already underway.

Who should take this workshop?
Anyone interested in exploring an approach to photography designed to better align your “eye, head and heart”.

Things you should know:
Participants must be able to select and organize images using image editing software for class sessions. Attendance is strictly limited to 10 students max, so be sure to sign up at your earliest opportunity.

Fee: $699.99
Class Size: 10 Max.

Instructor:

David Butow is a freelance photojournalist whose projects and assignments have taken him to over two dozen countries including Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq, Peru, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Born in New York and raised in Dallas, he has a degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. After college he moved to Los Angeles and worked in newspapers before beginning a freelance career for magazines in the 1990’s.

From the mid-90’s through the late-2000’s he worked as a contract photographer for US News and World Report magazine covering social issues and news events such as post- 9/11 in New York, the Palestinian/Israeli Intifada, the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the death of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

More recently, his photographs of events such as the China earthquake in 2008, the funeral of Nelson Mandela, Hong Kong protests of 2019 and various projects in the U.S. have won awards from Pictures of the Year International, Photo District News, American Photography and others.

David’s photographs have been shown in numerous exhibitions including the Asia Society NY, the United Nations NY and Visa Pour l’Image in Perpignan, France. They have also appeared in books and magazines worldwide including National Geographic, Time, GEO, Stern, Vogue Italia, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, and Paris Match.

His body of work also includes several projects on education for the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, personal work on the Uighur’s of China, and principal photography for the National Geographic Traveller book Shanghai. David has also been a guest lecturer at several institutions including Stanford University, the Annenberg Space for Photography and Otis Center for Design.