Photography & New Media
Code: P0921-26
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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.
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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.
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IV
Level IV
Photography students have advanced skills and knowledge of photography and digital image processing. New Media students have advanced skills and knowledge of video, multimedia, coding or animation. Students are self-motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.
We Make Pictures in Order to Live
Jul 27 - 31, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Tuition: $1,195.00
Course Fee: $195.00
Registration Fee: $45.00
Concept
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” This line opens The White Album, Joan Didion’s famous 1979 essay collection. While Didion does not write much about photography, her words often feel photographic—capturing the sharp, complicated truths of everyday life. “We live entirely, especially if we are writers, by the imposition of a narrative line upon disparate images to…freeze the shifting phantasmagoria which is our actual experience,” she writes. Many photographers recognize their own work and process in that idea.
A photograph can tell a story, suggest a truth, or linger somewhere in between. But to connect with an audience, a series of images needs some kind of structure—whether it is a sequence, a portfolio, a book, or an exhibition.
This workshop, led by an editor from Aperture Magazine, focuses on editing, sequencing, revising, and shaping a cohesive body of work. It is designed for students who have a project or body of work and want to develop it further through feedback and critique. Participants explore different approaches to editing and sequencing, and practice giving shape to their work through presentations, group and individual discussions, and critique. The workshop also draws on the work of other artists and considers strategies for thoughtful presentation, helping students bring their projects to full fruition.
View All Photography & New Media Workshops
Media & Techniques
Photography and digital printmaking as needed for editing, sequencing, and revising the body of work.
Faculty
Michael Famighetti
Michael Famighetti is editor in chief of Aperture’s editorial program, overseeing the magazine, books division, and digital program. In 2013, he organized a relaunch and reconceptualization of the magazine, which won a 2018 National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Famighetti is recipient of an ICP Infinity Award for Critical Writing and Research for the magazine’s “Vision & Justice.” He is currently a visiting critic at Columbia University, Hartford’s MFA program, and a participant in the School of Visual Arts’s Mentors program. His writing has also appeared in Frieze and Bookforum. He is a member of the American Society of Magazine Editors, and has been a guest reviewer and speaker at many international festivals and institutions.
Michael Famighetti, Aperture Magazine
Tuition: $1,195.00
Course Fee: $195.00
Registration Fee: $45.00
Join Waitlist for We Make Pictures in Order to Live
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.
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 Jack Fox, .
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- 24" iMac
- Adobe Suite
- Epson P800 SureColor Printer
Supplies
- Alloted Paper and Ink
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- Digital Camera and Accessories
- External hard drive or access to cloud storage
- Presenation of personal work for first day of class, 15-20 images
- One or Two In progress bodies of work with atleast 20 Images
Optional Tools and Supplies
- 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: Course fees 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 course fees 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.
Photography & New Media
Photography & New Media Studio in Aspen / Snowmass
The Photography & New Media Studio at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, located in Snowmass Village near Aspen, Colorado, is a professional studio environment designed to support immersive photographic and digital media practice. The facility provides dedicated workspaces, critique areas, and technical infrastructure for artists working in traditional photography, digital imaging, video, and experimental new media.
Interested in enrolling? Explore the full schedule of Photography & New Media workshops at Anderson Ranch.
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.
Don’t know where to start? View the skill levels for Photography and New Media workshops.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a historic, rustic campus that features gravel pathways and uneven terrain that may pose challenges for individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. We strive to provide accommodations to ensure all guests can access and enjoy our programs and facilities. With advance notice, our staff can offer personalized assistance and coordinate access to studios and campus spaces. For questions or to request an accommodation, please contact us at (970) 923-3181 or [email protected].
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a 20% tuition discount for summer one- or two-week adult photography and new media workshops for SPE, the Center for Fine Art Photography, and Colorado Photographic Arts Center members at the student membership level or above. Please email [email protected] with your SPE or CFAP membership information prior to registering and we will send you a promo code to complete registration with your discount applied. You are also welcome to call 970-924-5089 to register after verifying your membership with us. **Please note, this discount must be approved prior to registering and cannot be applied retroactively. SPE and Center for Fine Art Photography discount does not apply to Advanced Mentored Studies programs or Destination Workshops, nor can it be combined with any other discount, scholarship or special offer.
Related Events
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.
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