Character Creation and World Building

The digital age has opened new possibilities for visual storytellers of all kinds—from documentary photographers and photojournalists to conceptual artists—offering greater authorship, control, and reach. This workshop guides participants through the process of developing and sustaining a long-term personal project, with a focus on narrative development, creative vision, and strategies for sharing work with the world. Participants will learn how to: Identify and pursue a subject driven by personal passion. Build a compelling visual narrative with a distinct style. Sustain long-term projects with intention and discipline. Navigate the industry, make professional connections, and find opportunities for dissemination. The workshop embraces a wide range of visual languages and technologies, from still photography and digital video to transmedia and social media storytelling. Through hands-on guidance, participants will explore how to harness these tools to become more effective, impactful storytellers. The program is led by Ed Kashi, with over 45 years of freelance experience, and James Estrin, senior staff photographer at The New York Times and co-founder of the NYT Lens blog. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge, insight, and mentorship to help participants push their work to new levels. Program Dates: May 1, 2026 – April 15, 2028 In-Person Sessions at Anderson Ranch: Aug 17 - Aug 21, 2026 Aug 16 - Aug 20, 2027 This two-year immersive program is designed for dedicated artists seeking individualized mentorship, critical feedback, and a supportive cohort experience. Participants engage in a week-long, in-person residency at Anderson Ranch (one each year), complemented by ongoing virtual engagement throughout the program. Each year includes personalized one-on-one mentorship sessions via Zoom and a virtual group critique held in December. The program concludes with a final Zoom meeting in April 2028. Tuition is listed per year. Lodging and meals are additional. To Apply: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with a deadline of February 28, 2026. To apply, please complete the 2026 Advanced Mentored Studies Online Application. A non-refundable deposit of $650 per workshop is required to reserve a space for an adult. Questions? For more information about the next session of the Advanced Mentored Studies Program, please contact: Andrea Jenkins Wallace, Vice President of Artistic Affairs and Artistic Director of Photography and New Media, [email protected].

Experience the complete creative journey, from capture to edit, collage, composting, composite, and print, in one inspiring week. In this hands-on workshop, participants develop a streamlined digital workflow that keeps creativity at the forefront while maintaining efficiency and organization. Learn to process and manage files in Adobe Lightroom Classic, then seamlessly transition into Photoshop for creative collage and composting, and experiment with third-party plugins to expand your creative vision. We’ll conclude by printing on a variety of fine-art papers, exploring how surface, tone, and texture influence your final image. Whether you’re refining your process or rediscovering your creative spark, this workshop provides the tools, structure, and inspiration to bring your vision to life, from capture to print.

The digital age has opened new possibilities for visual storytellers of all kinds—from documentary photographers and photojournalists to conceptual artists—offering greater authorship, control, and reach. This workshop guides participants through the process of developing and sustaining a long-term personal project, with a focus on narrative development, creative vision, and strategies for sharing work with the world. Participants will learn how to: Identify and pursue a subject driven by personal passion. Build a compelling visual narrative with a distinct style. Sustain long-term projects with intention and discipline. Navigate the industry, make professional connections, and find opportunities for dissemination. The workshop embraces a wide range of visual languages and technologies, from still photography and digital video to transmedia and social media storytelling. Through hands-on guidance, participants will explore how to harness these tools to become more effective, impactful storytellers. The program is led by Ed Kashi, with over 45 years of freelance experience, and James Estrin, senior staff photographer at The New York Times and co-founder of the NYT Lens blog. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge, insight, and mentorship to help participants push their work to new levels. Program Dates: May 1, 2026 – April 15, 2028 In-Person Sessions at Anderson Ranch: Aug 24 - Aug 28, 2026 Aug 23 - Aug 27, 2027 This two-year immersive program is designed for dedicated artists seeking individualized mentorship, critical feedback, and a supportive cohort experience. Participants engage in two week-long, in-person residencies at Anderson Ranch (one each year), complemented by ongoing virtual engagement throughout the program. Each year includes personalized one-on-one mentorship sessions via Zoom and a virtual group critique held in December. The program concludes with a final Zoom meeting in April 2028. Tuition is listed per year. Lodging and meals are additional. To Apply: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with a deadline of February 28, 2026. To apply, please complete the 2026 Advanced Mentored Studies Online Application. A non-refundable deposit of $650 per workshop is required to reserve a space for an adult. Questions? For more information about the next session of the Advanced Mentored Studies Program, please contact: Andrea Jenkins Wallace. Vice President of Artistic Affairs and Artistic Director of Photography and New Media [email protected]