Fine Art Photography Courses
experience * explore * create
Creative and Fine Art Photography: A Four Course, Small Group Program
Starting in the fall of 2009, we offer an affordable, small group program designed to awaken, inspire and extend our students' creative approach to fine art photography.
These courses are applicable to all forms of photography, be it digital, film-based, colour, black and white, technologically advanced or not. We have extensive experience in all these media - check out our "About Pages".
Testimonials
Russ and Wendy Kwan are caring, supportive teachers, knowledgeable in the art, the technique, and the business of photography. With a vast repertoire of photographic techniques, they have the technical know-how to enthusiastically support you in any crazy endeavour. They have a genuine interest in their students, and are passionate in helping them explore their art. Russ and Wendy are modern photographic Legends, and I am grateful to have studied under them.
Lia Laroye
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The day I saw Russ and Wendy's book 'Chasing Light Stranger', it gave me goose bumps all over my body; it shook my soul and I felt blissed to see their world. That was before I became their student.
Since then, I have learned everything from basic to detailed skills in the darkroom from Russ and he is still leading me to the higher ground of the silver gelatin world by sharing his knowledge, skills and still growing curiosity for adventurous experiments. From Wendy I have learned so much about the esthetics of the light showering us; she leads me to a different dimension of beauty in this world. Their balanced feedback has taught me a lot about how to make and see negatives and prints by offering not only technical instruction, but also artistic critique and support.
Yoshinori Tanaka
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Critical to the success of every photographer is artistic vision. However, one’s vision may be unfocused, obscured, or otherwise hidden from practical usage. Russ and Wendy Kwan, two photographers with crystal clear visions, have developed a program to assist virtually any photographer in uncovering and applying his or her own unique vision. I recommend their program to any photographer, be they amateur or professional.
Alan Jacques
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Russ and Wendy were instrumental in improving my skills as a B&W photographer, and as a B&W printer in the darkroom. They are a very warm, open and honest couple who enjoy teaching what they know, and I am very grateful for the time that they spent with me!
Jason Kazuta
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Private Consultation
We are happy to share our knowledge of black and white processes, print evaluation, book creation and other techniques (traditional and digital) with individuals or small groups. In particular, we have been able to help many students in the development of their personal black and white photography skills - from camera to darkroom or computer to print. We are constantly experimenting with our medium, and can offer advanced guidance to advanced students.
Please see our Resources section for some examples of our experimental photography.
Lately, our consultations have taken on the form of personal coaching, an approach that seems to work for many advanced students. We have helped individuals curate work for exhibition, prepare portfolios and artist statements for gallery reviews, prepare photographs for international competitions and provide a critical eye for emerging bodies of work. Indeed, some of our students have, in a relatively short time, had their work exhibited in commercial galleries.
In addition, we have talks and exercises intended for small groups to expand and hone photographic skills, and to prepare students for the world of commercial galleries and publication.
We are time and location flexible, and can easily tailor workshops for individual and group needs.
Private Consultation Rates
Private sessions with Wendy and Russ: $75 per hour.
Group sessions with Wendy and Russ (max 10): $100 per hour.
Small Group Half and Full Day Presentations
These sessions are drawn from lectures and workshops we've led at local and international schools. Each is intended to inspire and open new avenues of thinking about photography; they are focused on expanding our students' approach to photography and their unique way of seeing the world. Taken as a whole, this set of workshops provides a framework for the visual and business skills needed by the student of fine art photography.
- Exploring Vision and Technique
- Perception and Visual Literacy - the Art and Science of Seeing
- Discovering the Unique Qualities of Photography
- Creating Bodies of Work and Your Artist Statement
- Editing, Sequencing and Publication
- Self-Publishing a High Quality Photography Book
- History of Silver-Based Photography
- A Practical Gallery Approach
