VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Smartphone Storytelling

Explore what it means to work closely and respectfully with people as a documentary photographer. Emphasizing humanistic storytelling, dignity, and genuine connection, participants deepen their approach to documentary photography and photojournalism while actively producing work throughout the week. The focus is on building confidence and developing the skills needed to foster meaningful, lasting relationships with individuals and communities.Participants are encouraged to bring a personal project to develop and will also be assigned a story to document in the field, applying techniques of observation, engagement, and ethical storytelling to create a compelling body of work.

In this workshop, students expand their collage techniques with digital and traditional processes to create simple and layered composite images and constructions. Combining painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, wood, paper and found or fabricated imagery helps tell the story. Students use the laser cutter to cut or engrave paper or other materials and push their imagery further by utilizing the capabilities of the UV printer. Demonstrations include collage, nontoxic resin, laser engraved imagery and cutting, and transfer techniques. Participants have the freedom to explore individual projects with the assistance of the fabrication lab assistants. Discussions include developing content, narrative, and artistic voice through combined techniques.

Students explore a wide range of traditional and experimental screen printing techniques, examining the expressive potential of digital and mechanical mark-making, richly layered color, and dynamic variable editions. Processes covered include drawing fluid and screen-filler stencils, photo-chemical stencils created from both hand-drawn and digital imagery, monoprints/monotypes, and the integration of found collage materials — all paired with hybrid approaches that merge analog and digitally produced images.