This five-day workshop examines advanced techniques in fine art portraiture. Outstanding portraits are the result of the interaction with the model prior as much as during to the shoot, and Sturges focuses on establishing a relationship between the photographer and his/her subject. Participants will explore techniques of empowering their subject to reveal an inner truth essential to making a fine art portrait with non-professional models, a technique of which he is a universally recognized master.

The workshop consists of morning and afternoon sessions. Each morning begins with a review of the prior day's work. In the afternoon, under the tutorial of Sturges, participants shoot with models on location at The House on Bayou Road.
Built in 1798, this Petite Creole Plantation reigns in simple elegance over historic New Orleans' "back of town", across the street from Edgar Degas's former residence and just a few blocks from the New Orleans Museum of Arts. Two acres of lush landscaping, authentic architecture, and creature comfort make this the perfect setting to experience the romantic grit of old New Orleans against the backdrop of Louisiana in the full flower of spring.

Who should attend?
Advanced and professional photographers with a working knowledge of manual mode on their camera and digital imagery. A portfolio submission of ten to twenty images is required with the application.

Suggested equipment:
• Digital SLR, medium or large format camera with or without digital back ^(†).
• A laptop with editing software.
• Optionally a tripod.
• Round pop up reflectors if available.

Workshop size:
Limited to to 15 students

^(†) Students are welcome to work with film, however the material will not be reviewable during the course of the workshop.

Portfolio requirement: A portfolio submission of ten to twenty images is required with the application.

Payments can be made via the paypal link below or by credit card over the phone by calling toll-free (877) 316-0009 or locally (504) 522-3211.

Select payment option

Deposit only (non refundable) $250.00 Full tuition $1,245.00 Tuition Balance $995.00 Lodging deluxe room (5 days) $950.00

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For a picture to succeed, for a picture to be beautiful for me... I want to feel like [it] is true. So for me, the word truth is very important in my concept of beauty. Because I want the pictures to be honest and true and to be accurately reflective of the person that was there.... The real person is vastly more important.
-- Jock Sturges, from interview in "Line of Beauty and Grace: A documentary about Jock Sturges".

Born in New York City in 1947, Jock Sturges is a fine art photographer living in Seattle, Washington. Best known for his nudes and extended portraits of families in Northern California counter-culture communities, Ireland and on French naturist beaches, his large format images borrow significantly from classical periods in both photography and nineteenth and early twentieth century painting.

Represented by twenty-five galleries in nine countries, Sturges' work is also to be found in the collection of many of the world's museums including The Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, and The Frankfurt Museum of Modern Art in Germany.

His published works include:
• Misty Dawn: Portrait of a Muse. Aperture, New York, 2008
• Jock Sturges: Life Time. Steidl Verlag, Germany, 2008
• Notes. Aperture, New York, 2005
• Twenty-Five Years. with the Paul Cava Gallery, Phildelphia, 2004
• Jock Sturges: New Work. Scalo, Zurich 2003
• Jock Sturges. Scalo, Zurich, 1996
• Evolutions of Grace. GAKKEN, Tokyo, 1994
• Radiant Identities. Aperture, New York, 1994
• The Last Day of Summer. Aperture, New York, 1992