maine workshops

The Large Format Narrative Portrait

Posted on May 29 2012 by Greg Miller

Las Vegas, 2001.

Have you ever wanted to try out shooting large format but didn’t have the equipment or nerve? Are you terrified of talking to strangers? Maybe you already have experience in large format but would like to push yourself to do more. My large format photography workshop in the beautiful setting of Rockport, Maine is coming up July 8 through July 14. It is an opportunity to challenge yourself within a supportive and encouraging environment with likeminded artistic individuals.

The weeklong workshop is geared toward getting you up to speed with a 4×5 camera while looking and discussing the pictures you make during the week often referencing images that you have taken before the class.  As the week progresses, we turn the camera to photographing people, often strangers, on the fly, in sometimes unexpected environments such as grocery store parking lots, local neighborhoods or the beach to name a few. Beyond that, we will be looking at creating narratives and stories within the frame as well as within bodies of work.

Greg helped me find my voice by encouraging me to use a larger format, but more importantly through his profoundly sharp, insightful, and constructive critiques.  He helped me slow down and develop my emerging style, skills I keep building on years after taking his class.

-Christi Paige, Photographer

Photographers at any level, from students who have never touched large format cameras, to experienced large format shooters are encouraged to register. Shooting large format photography in the world challenges and inspires every level. This course discusses not only the basics of camera operation, camera movements and anything needed to get up and running, but also addresses the challenges of photographing people in the world, such as approaching strangers, obtaining release forms, and addressing the fears and boundaries associated with this type of portraiture.

Equipment (4×5 cameras and tripods) as well as film processing and printing is included in the tuition.

If you have any questions about the course please comment below or email me at studio@gregmiller.com.

Click image for more information or to enroll with Maine Media Workshops

Below is a video made by a local Nashville TV station in 2008 showing me shooting on the street.

You can always find up to date workshop information on my new workshop page.

My Summer Class – The Large Format Narrative Portrait

Posted on May 11 2011 by Greg Miller

Las Vegas, 2001. Photograph by Greg Miller

It’s almost summer!  Time to get outside and start talking to strangers and what better way than with a big camera.  There is still space left in my class, The Large Format Narrative Portrait at Maine Media Workshop.  It runs next month June 12 thru 18.  It is kind of a crash course in finding your photographic voice in large format. Whether you are looking to move up to large format or are a seasoned LF shooter and just want to conquer your fear of approaching and photographing strangers, this could be the class for you and hey, hopefully you will have time to grab a lobster roll in the process.  The class quickly gets you up to speed in large format (it’s not that hard and the school provides cameras) then moves into shooting as many pictures you can before the week is up.  Processing is provided by the school so you can focus on shooting, classes are small, intimate and you get tons of one on one attention.

Greg helped me find my voice by encouraging me to use a larger format, but more importantly through his profoundly sharp, insightful, and constructive critiques.  He helped me slow down and develop my emerging style, skills I keep building on four years after taking his class.

-Former Student

To register click here or for more information go here.

Hope to see you there!

A scene from Maine Media Workshops 2010...

...and another.

11WFTPJ03B – Large Format: Portraiture & Street Photography

Posted on April 8 2011 by Greg Miller

My intrepid 2011 Large Format Portraiture and Street Photography class at ICP.

My beloved large format ICP class ended last Friday with a bittersweet farewell party complete with a traditional home-cooked Yemen meal. I wish my students the best of luck and look forward to seeing their continued success in any format they choose.  This year was one of my most remarkable with students from Yemen, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Buenos Aires and, of course, the US. (You can see last year’s class portrait here.)

Next up, Large Format Narrative Portraiture, taught in a 5 day workshop at Maine Media Workshops slated for June 12-18.

Large Format Portraiture at Maine Media Workshops

Posted on December 26 2010 by Greg Miller

I am pleased to announce that I have been added to the roster at Maine Media Workshops.  I will be teaching my intensive large format portraiture class that always ends up being about so much more…  The class will run the week of June 12-June 18, 2011.  The class is open to all levels.  Shooting large format portraiture out in the world (in the home, on the beach, grocery store parking lots, really anywhere) is a great equalizer.  It is wonderful to have beginners and seasoned shooters practicing side by side.

Here’s the description from the schools website:

Large format is often associated with controlled environments such as the studio or contemplative pictures of nature.  This intensive class is a crash course in exploring the world with a large camera while challenging photographers to push the limits of this format.

Photographers at any level, from students who have never touched large format cameras, to experienced large format shooters are encouraged to register. Shooting large format photography in the world challenges and inspires every level. This course discusses not only the basics of camera operation, camera movements and anything needed to get up and running, but also addresses challenges of photographing people in the world, such as approaching strangers, obtaining release forms, and addressing the fears and boundaries associated with this type of portraiture.

Photographers learn how to use the camera while standing on the street, at the beach, or wherever they find people. Whatever a photographer’s comfort level is with strangers, he or she is encouraged and challenged to take it to the next level. Patience with oneself as well as with your subject is as critical to this class as the technical understanding of the camera.