West Virginia University's Jackson Hole Photography Workshop is a 10-day intensive field course that explores the diverse and remote region of northwestern Wyoming. Among the locations visited during the workshop are Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the National Elk Refuge, the historic Mormon Row homestead site, an authentic western rodeo, and a variety of neighboring locatio
ns. Daily excursions exploring this stunning region are complemented by darkroom and digital work sessions, critiques of work in progress, gallery visits, and evening presentations. The workshop covers a broad range of photographic practices and principles with an emphasis on instruction targeted to the individual level of the student. Lectures and demonstrations will cover basic camera operations, beginning to advanced Adobe software techniques, alternative camera use, mixed media processes and more. Primary instruction is done with digital SLR cameras; however, students may also be exposed to 35mm film cameras, medium and large format film cameras, and mixed media processes. In addition, there will be several presentations and technical demonstrations by professional artists working in the field and a tour of the galleries in town. Required readings and discussions on the history, culture, and environment of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, will add to the students’ exploration of a new geography. The Jackson Hole Photography Workshop is a 3-credit upper-level art elective for School of Art and Design majors and is included in the school’s new Global Positioning Studies (GPS) initiative. It also fulfills a 3-credit requirement for Photography minors and a Humanities elective for non-majors. The program is limited in size to insure a close working relationship with the faculty and a significant amount of one-on-one attention. No photographic experience is required, and camera equipment is provided as needed.
