San Francisco Studio School of Drawing, Painting, Photography & Mixed Media

Photography
Although photography is often thought of as a largely separate medium from the related visual arts, or visually reduced to design, it has been common for visual artists to use photography as one of several mediums at their disposal. Historically Edgar Degas, Charles Sheeler, William Klein and Robert Frank are examples. In these cases photography represented one exploration within a broader but cohesive and probing vision. It is more than mixing and matching design, concept and style. At the school, photography is considered a fine art in the most significant sense. Among others, journalistic, documentary, studio, and natural and urban landscape photographers are reintroduced to the visual world and how it creates and intensifies imagery.
Through seeing the power of light as a drawing medium as well as experiencing a wealth of visual and narrative resources, photographers are supported in considering photography in broader terms than only conceptual illustration, story telling or superficial stylistic characteristics. Light, lighting, depth of field, shutter speeds and camera format are all seen in terms of their associated visual principles as well as technical considerations. At the school the photographer is seen as an equal among equals in the visual arts.
Associate-Study Photography Program - 15 weeks/$675
The Associate-Study Program for photographers meets once a week for a 3-hour evening session. The program is comprised of in-class activities, slide shows, readings, discussions and an ongoing review of the student's work throughout the semester.
Associate Study supports students who are registered in degree-granting programs or who have full-time jobs preventing them from full-time study at the school. It is designed to give those students access to an experience of the unique qualities of the San Francisco Studio School on a once weekly schedule. Associate Study could be thought of as a hands-on seminar. Students who are enrolled in a degree-granting program may be eligible for credit at the student's home institution. More detailed information is available in the FAQs or upon inquiry.