Contemporary Portraiture, Art, and Impersonation (Sep 16-Oct 14)
Dates: September 16 - October 14, 2025
Meetings: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM CST (5 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $290 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Deborah Feingold
Skill Level: Intermediate
Portrait photography is the creative intersection where personalities, gestures, sensitivity, and imagination meet. This course introduces students to a variety of styles and techniques used by renowned portrait photographers beginning in the mid-1970s and continues to the present. By carefully studying and discussing their work, we will examine and analyze these photographers’ imagery and approaches. Through home assignments, students will attempt to recreate leading artists’ personal styles. By following this process combining analysis, demonstrations, personal practice, and class critiques, students have the possibility to discover their unique styles in their own work. Topics include technical, creative, and practical considerations enabling photographers to achieve powerful (and sometimes provocative) portraits.
Objectives:
Cultivate a well-informed perspective of the history of portrait photography
Thoroughly examine the work of masterful portrait photographers
Understand the basic concepts of and how to control daylight and artificial light
Enhance your portraits with informed and intentional lens selection
Develop positive communication skills with your sitters
Learn how to improvise when facing unforeseeable changes
Gain confidence in positioning your sitter to achieve the most dynamic perspective
Prerequisites:
Photography I or being comfortable using your DSLR or mirrorless camera in Manual mode. Students must be able to prepare their images and submit them for review on a weekly basis.
Course Prep:
For the first class, students are requested to submit a selection of 8 portraits they have photographed. In addition, students should prepare a selection of 6 of their favorite contemporary portrait photographers and submit 3 images for each one (a total of 18 images). Instructions on how to submit images will be sent out 1-2 days before the first class. The first assignment will be given before the week before class begins.
Dates: September 16 - October 14, 2025
Meetings: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM CST (5 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $290 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Deborah Feingold
Skill Level: Intermediate
Portrait photography is the creative intersection where personalities, gestures, sensitivity, and imagination meet. This course introduces students to a variety of styles and techniques used by renowned portrait photographers beginning in the mid-1970s and continues to the present. By carefully studying and discussing their work, we will examine and analyze these photographers’ imagery and approaches. Through home assignments, students will attempt to recreate leading artists’ personal styles. By following this process combining analysis, demonstrations, personal practice, and class critiques, students have the possibility to discover their unique styles in their own work. Topics include technical, creative, and practical considerations enabling photographers to achieve powerful (and sometimes provocative) portraits.
Objectives:
Cultivate a well-informed perspective of the history of portrait photography
Thoroughly examine the work of masterful portrait photographers
Understand the basic concepts of and how to control daylight and artificial light
Enhance your portraits with informed and intentional lens selection
Develop positive communication skills with your sitters
Learn how to improvise when facing unforeseeable changes
Gain confidence in positioning your sitter to achieve the most dynamic perspective
Prerequisites:
Photography I or being comfortable using your DSLR or mirrorless camera in Manual mode. Students must be able to prepare their images and submit them for review on a weekly basis.
Course Prep:
For the first class, students are requested to submit a selection of 8 portraits they have photographed. In addition, students should prepare a selection of 6 of their favorite contemporary portrait photographers and submit 3 images for each one (a total of 18 images). Instructions on how to submit images will be sent out 1-2 days before the first class. The first assignment will be given before the week before class begins.
Dates: September 16 - October 14, 2025
Meetings: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM CST (5 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $290 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Deborah Feingold
Skill Level: Intermediate
Portrait photography is the creative intersection where personalities, gestures, sensitivity, and imagination meet. This course introduces students to a variety of styles and techniques used by renowned portrait photographers beginning in the mid-1970s and continues to the present. By carefully studying and discussing their work, we will examine and analyze these photographers’ imagery and approaches. Through home assignments, students will attempt to recreate leading artists’ personal styles. By following this process combining analysis, demonstrations, personal practice, and class critiques, students have the possibility to discover their unique styles in their own work. Topics include technical, creative, and practical considerations enabling photographers to achieve powerful (and sometimes provocative) portraits.
Objectives:
Cultivate a well-informed perspective of the history of portrait photography
Thoroughly examine the work of masterful portrait photographers
Understand the basic concepts of and how to control daylight and artificial light
Enhance your portraits with informed and intentional lens selection
Develop positive communication skills with your sitters
Learn how to improvise when facing unforeseeable changes
Gain confidence in positioning your sitter to achieve the most dynamic perspective
Prerequisites:
Photography I or being comfortable using your DSLR or mirrorless camera in Manual mode. Students must be able to prepare their images and submit them for review on a weekly basis.
Course Prep:
For the first class, students are requested to submit a selection of 8 portraits they have photographed. In addition, students should prepare a selection of 6 of their favorite contemporary portrait photographers and submit 3 images for each one (a total of 18 images). Instructions on how to submit images will be sent out 1-2 days before the first class. The first assignment will be given before the week before class begins.
Images: Deborah Feingold
