Toying with Creativity: Plastic Cameras
Sunday, August 17th 10am-5pm & Tuesday, August 19th 6:30-9:30pm
$125
Newspace is pleased to host a special workshop with toy camera guru Michelle Bates. Low-tech medium format cameras like the Holga and Diana are popular for the mysterious, dreamy images produced through their simple plastic lenses. In this workshop you'll learn how giving up some technical control can result in wonderfully unique and unexpected images. Students will learn how to shoot most successfully with plastic cameras, including how to use good old fashioned tape to manipulate light leaks, and how to modify cameras creatively.
All levels of student are welcome in the workshop. If you already have toy cameras, please bring them; if you have work done with them and would like to share it, please bring some. Please bring cameras without film loaded into them.
A slide show, demos, and hands-on shooting time will give students a comprehensive look at the "plastic fantastic" in action. During the second session, a darkroom demo will give students a chance to see and work with their images. Students without Holgas must purchase one for the class. Holgas may be purchased the day of class for $25.
One roll of Tri-X 400 120 film is included with class tuition. Students are encouraged to bring one or two more rolls of the same film for extra shooting experience. Film will be processed for students between the two workshop meeting dates, but ONLY Tri-X 400 120 will be processed for students. Students may also bring color 120 film, but will be responsible for its processing.
Michelle has been a passionate photographer since she was young, and learned her way around a camera in 1991 at the Maine Photographic Workshops, where she first discovered the Holga. Since then, Michelle has shown work in solo exhibitions in the Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles and Israel, and in group shows around the US and in Italy. She has photographed for weekly newspapers, album covers, performers, artists, and many others. Michelle loves teaching, and has given lectures on plastic and toy cameras to groups all over the US, including the Society for Photographic Education, SF Camerawork, Powell's Books, and the Creative Center for Photography. She teaches at the Photographic Center Northwest, the Julia Dean Workshops (LA) and International Center of Photography in New York (among others). Her book,"Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity" was published in late 2006 by Focal Press. Michelle is a member of Freestyle Photographic Supply's Advisory Board of Photographic Professionals.
To register you can call 503-963-1935,
mail in the registration form
OR register online.
