California visit to John Sexton Photography Workshop

This week, one of our Lecturers from the Foundation Degree in Photography, Ian Burgum is working out of Carmel Valley, California.

Ian has been fortunate enough to receive funding to attend a John Sexton and Anne Larsen Workshop in ‘The Expressive Black and White print’.

Each of the workshop sessions concentrates on darkroom demonstrations in the art of black and white printing by noted photographer John Sexton. Conducted in Sexton’s state-of-the-art studio and darkroom in the rolling hills of California, each intense workshop is limited to nine participants in order to maximize the benefit for all involved.

Assisted by talented photographer, Anne Larsen, Sexton demonstrates the decision-making process leading to the final print, including the Zone System of exposure and development, the production of high quality negatives, creative printing techniques, advanced print manipulation techniques, processing for permanence, and presentation of the finished print.

Emphasising the aesthetic considerations and consequences of each procedure, the well-organised, thorough demonstrations will include: determination of proper print exposure, variable contrast printing controls, advanced dodging and burning procedures, localized print flashing, local print reduction, localised selenium intensification of negatives, and much more. Portfolio reviews will offer constructive evaluation of participants’ prints and negatives, and discussions explore the possibilities involved in creating expressive prints. A directed field session on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula will allow participants to put new ideas into practice. This workshop includes a unique and popular session, where Sexton evaluates both successful as well as problematic participant negatives.

We hope Ian is having a fantastic experience in California and will bring back further knowledge and experience to share with us!