Each month the New York Film Academy’s various locations holds an Open House for applicants and those interested in learning more about the hands-on programs offered in each specific discipline. This past Open House at NYFA’s New York location offered an exclusive Photography Workshop with the Chair of Contemporary Photography, Ralph Gibson.
Gibson is an award-winning photographer whose awards include fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Leica Medal of Excellence, the Lucie Lifetime Award and the Silver Plumb Award. From the Beat Generation in San Francisco to the vigor of yesterday’s born-digital, cross-media creations, Gibson is that rare artist who has touched the masters of the past half century.
His intensive workshop focused on the subject of “Finding Your Visual Identity in the Digital Age.” In a rapidly evolving field, understanding the challenges of today are crucial for young photographers.
“The challenges of today for a young photographer, wanting to get his or her work out there, is the same as it has always been—the camera has to show the viewer something that he or she can’t otherwise see,” says Gibson. “I call this staying power in photography.”
Students who attended the event found Gibson’s experience and insight as a valuable guide to further their own work. Following his workshop, Gibson remained to answer questions from those in attendance.
With a variety of options available to both amateur and avid photographers alike, we encourage those interested in pursuing photography as more than just a light hobby to check out our website at www.nyfa.edu/photography-school to see which program best fits you.