Photography & New Media
Code: P1024-25
-
I
Level I
Students are new to photography and new media and have no formal training in photography, video, multimedia or animation. Students have basic computer literacy.
-
II
Level II
Photography students have a basic understanding of photography principles and technology and are comfortable using an SLR camera in manual mode. New Media students have a basic understanding of video, multimedia or animation software. Students have basic computer skills and are comfortable using a Macintosh computer.
-
III
Level III
Photography students have some formal training and significant experience making, capturing and digitally processing images using Adobe Lightroom and/or Adobe Photoshop. New Media students have some formal training in conceptual and technological aspects of video, multimedia, coding or animation and are versed in the appropriate software applications. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.
Family Stories
Aug 4 - 8, 2025
9AM-5PM
Concept
Explore ways to create art that draws from both past and present family experiences, whether inherited or chosen. We consider the stories of those in front of our cameras, as well as those we only know through photographs. How do we understand people and our lives through photography? How can we create meaningful work that captures the essence of those with us now, connects across time and distance, or reflects on the past? Participants are invited to bring ideas for future projects, works in progress, archival materials (such as negatives and prints), or simply their digital or film cameras. For those interested, we offer the opportunity to develop black-and-white film. Together, we explore how to create meaningful and resonant work from our family lives and immediate surroundings.
The workshop begins by examining a range of artists from the past 50 years who have used personal family experiences as a foundation to address broader issues. Artists such as Larry Sultan, Emmett Gowin, Nan Goldin, Sally Mann, Tomiko Jones, Odette England, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tommy Kha, and D’Angelo Lovell Williams will serve as inspirations as we consider when and how personal stories can resonate through art. Participants are encouraged to envision various approaches through studio work, presentations, discussions, one-on-one meetings, and critiques. Together, we explore how images can create layered meanings and how photography serves as a medium for personal reflection and intergenerational dialogue.
Media & Techniques
Digital photography, workflow, digital printing, Adobe Photoshop, lectures, presentations, group discussions and feedback
Faculty
Betsy Schneider
Betsy Schneider’s photography and video work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is part of many notable collections. She was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 2011, and her book To Be Thirteen—a result of that fellowship—was published by Radius in 2017. Her current project The Best Girl on the Team consists of 50 interviews and portraits with people who have been the only girl on a sports team.
Betsy Schneider, Watermelon
Join Waitlist for Family Stories
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Photography & New Media
Photography has always been a vital part of Anderson Ranch, one in which students explore visual storytelling through a variety of contexts and concepts. The program has uniquely evolved to focus on both traditional photography and new media— making it one of the only workshop settings of its kind. Three floors of the Fischer Photography Center house state-of-the-art equipment, including three photography studios, two Mac labs, a traditional darkroom, and a lighting studio with strobe and continuous lighting for photography and video.
All Photography workshops are rooted in the same idea—powerful art requires rigorous inquiry of techniques and ideas. We focus on technical skills, content and critical dialog. Students have access to color-managed media labs equipped with 24-inch iMacs, flatbed and film scanners, Epson printers, and cutting-edge software including Adobe Creative Cloud. When appropriate, students utilize strobe and tungsten lighting equipment, seamless backdrops, green screen, audio and video recording equipment and Epson large-format printers.
The Ranch Photography and New Media team creates an inspiring environment, allowing artists of all levels to explore lens-based media and the journey of artistic discovery in the unparalleled setting of the Colorado Rockies.
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in one- and two-week adult photography and new media summer workshops** for members of SPE and the Center for Fine Art Photography at the student membership level or above. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact Esther Macy Nooner, [email protected].
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- 24" iMac
- Adobe Suite
- Epson Flatbed Scanner
- Epson P800 SureColor Printer
Supplies
- Allotted paper and ink (for inkjet printing)
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- Digital Camera and accessories
- Digital or physical archive of family photographs and other memorabilia
- External hard drive or access to cloud storage to save digital works made
- Presentation of personal work for first day of class, 15-20 images
Optional Tools and Supplies
- Personal items for field trips, i.e layers, sturdy shoes, water bottle
- Sketchbook/Journal**
- White (or light colored) T-shirt for screen printing**
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off. The store aims to stock comparable items, though specific products from the supply list may vary based on inventory.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Sep 1 - 5, 2025
9AM-5PM
Paint and Photography: the Perfect Marriage
Holly Roberts
Tuition $1,480
Code P1436-25
This workshop introduces students to expressive painting techniques, using abstraction as a foundation for collage. Emphasizing spontaneity, students will learn to relinquish preconceptions about paint application, allowing the medium to guide the creative process and reveal unexpected surfaces and textures. Once their abstract paintings are complete, students will explore various collage techniques, incorporating personal photographs, found materials, prints, drawings, and other adherable elements. The abstract paintings will serve as the foundation, influencing the composition and direction of the collages. Techniques covered in this workshop include polymer transfers, water-based paint applications, proper adhesion methods, contact paper transfers, the integration of joint compound, and strategies for composing and constructing layered images. SPECIAL OFFER: Consider also attending Holly's From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Experimental Collage workshop the week after this one and save 20% off that second tuition. (This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions or scholarships.)
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Sep 8 - 12, 2025
9AM-5PM
Expanding Image to Form with Digital Fabrication
Letha Wilson
Tuition $1,415
Code D1532-25
In this workshop, students experiment with methods of representation and abstraction using an interdisciplinary approach that embraces painted and/or photographic images, physical layers, repurposed materials, and sculptural forms. Analog methods of image manipulation such as cutting, folding, and photo transfer are taught in combination with digital techniques. Primarily working in the painting studios, students also learn to use the laser cutter and UV printer in the digital fabrication lab. Participants explore the role of texture and layers in their work through shadow, color, and surface. This course encourages playful and innovative ways to integrate two- and three-dimensional elements.
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Sep 8 - 12, 2025
9AM-5PM
From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Experimental Collage
Holly Roberts
Tuition $1,480
Code P1531-25
The excitement of creating often stems from the unexpected—those moments that arise when applying new techniques or materials in innovative ways. In this workshop, artists eager to elevate their practice are invited to explore the art of collage by experimenting with various materials on flat surfaces. Participants go beyond simply gluing paper onto substrates; they engage in building dynamic surfaces that reflect a spirit of experimentation and risk-taking. Utilizing a diverse range of materials including photographs, paint, text, contact paper, parchment paper, and joint compound, participants discover new methods of transferring elements from one surface to another. The resulting collages not only culminate in finished images but also serve as gateways to unlocking the unconscious creative process. Artists emerge with works that are distinctly unique, pushing the boundaries of their artistic expression and propelling their practice to the next level. SPECIAL OFFER: Consider also attending Holly's Paint and Photography: the Perfect Marriage workshop the week prior to this one and save 20% off that second tuition. (This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions or scholarships.)