A Photographer’s Guide to the Expressive Richness of Light
© James Prochnik
ONLINE COURSE

A Photographer’s Guide to the Expressive Richness of Light

Interested in this class? Email us and we'll notify you next time it runs.

Light is foundational to photography and one of the medium’s most playful forces — somber in some moments and joyful in others. We’ll learn to notice the way light moves through space, time, and weather — and observe its hide-and-seek dance with darkness. We’ll follow the subtle grace of light as it moves through the leaves of a forest canopy or bounces off the glass windows of skyscrapers. Wherever we find light, we’ll study its transformative impact — forces that we’ll harness to strengthen our photographic compositions, color, and craft. Most importantly, we’ll learn to use light to find and express our artistic voice.

Over five weeks, we’ll study how great masters of photography activated the powers and mysteries of light, and learn practical techniques for working with light, both natural and artificial, that can make the difference between average and exceptional photographs. Weekly assignments and reviews will sharpen your potential as light explorers.

Please note: You should have a basic cheap flash available for your camera.
 
I want to thank you [James] for such an inspiring class. You are a wonderful teacher! You brought to the forefront for me just how essential light is in a taking good photos. You also encouraged me to be experimental and I have got to know my camera better as a result. Best wishes for your upcoming photography projects. I hope you’ll be teaching again before too long.
—Anna (California)
Just a quick note to say that James Prochnik’s “Poems and Pictures” class was fantastic — he is a gifted teacher and image maker. My work experienced a much needed shift during his class and my fellow classmates were equally committed to making new and exciting work. Not only did he introduce us to largely unknown photographers, he was in the trenches with us. His thoughtful critiques are what I imagine MFA students receive at Yale. This class was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. James embodies what StrudelmediaLive is all about: pushing limits to break creative barriers.
—Kirsten (Canada)


James Prochnik
James Prochnik

James Prochnik is a Brooklyn-based photographer who uses photography as a means to explore the world outside, focusing on people, place, memory and the poetry of the everyday. His photographs have been published in The New York Times, Vice Media, Lenscratch, USA Today, and Shots Magazine and have been exhibited in galleries around the country. In 2019, James launched NYC Photo Community — a weekly newsletter listing photography events, workshops, exhibitions, and opportunities for photographers everywhere. James has been a regular guest lecturer on ethics and aesthetics in street photography at the University of Vermont.

James teaches street photography, poems and pictures, richness of light, and more for StrudelmediaLive.