8 WEEK ONLINE E-COURSE

This 8 week e-course explores the intersection of spiritual expression and our photography and can be participated in on your own timetable. Blending both a spiritual and practical approach to not just making better photographs but becoming a better, more insightful photographer.

Help find ways to integrate your spiritual practice (or even develop one) with your creative life. If you’ve attended one of Doug’s Zen & the Art of Photography or Emotional Landscape workshops and are looking to revisit or continue that experience then this is the class for you!

Any and all spiritual practices welcome. And you are even more welcome if you don’t have a spiritual practice, or have left one and not found another, or even just spiritual-curious on how or if that has anything too do with your artistic or photographic process.

We will explore our connection to the divine from a non-denominational approach that encompasses many points of view. There can be a big difference between spirituality and religion. This class is about exploring and developing our inner connection to spirituality and how that can lead to more meaningful self-expression rather than promoting any particular religion. 

New content will be available at the start of each week. There will be a  weekly short video specially created by Doug for this class, readings on creativity and spirituality to contemplate, photo exercises to stimulate visual and creative growth, photo assignments that explore the intersection of art and spirit to complete with a portal to upload assignment images to share with the group and receive feedback. All content will be accessed online so you can participate and revisit class content at you own pace and on your own timetable. Links will be sent out each week to new content.

Upon sign-up you will be sent a link to download a recommended reading list for our class. 

There will be three optional Zoom meetings to meet each other, share and ask questions, held at 6:30 pm CST on Tuesday of the first and last weeks of class and once in-between (see exact dats below). Zoom links will be sent. The session will be recorded and made available only to registered students and attendance is completely non-mandatory.

All class content will remain up and accessible for at least six months. If you  fall behind or even have to drop out for any reason you can resume at any time. You will also be able to go back and review or even redo past lessons and assignments.

Finding community in these times is essential and often missing from our creative lives. We will always work towards creating community through connection and shared experience,  rather than competition. Art and photography is not a competitive sport! 

Critiques are important too. It is part of how we learn and grow.  Honest, constructive feedback will be provided by both Doug and our fellow participants. Please also remember all criticism is opinion not fact, but hopefully informed opinion that you can choose how you react to and incorporate. Alas, yet another growth opportunity…

This is the only time this class will be offered this year. It will not be repeated until next year!

Each week you will receive:
   • Readings on photography and the creative process
   • A video by Doug or by Doug interviewing a special guest
   • Suggestions of both historical & contemporary photographers to explore
   • A photo exercise to experience and share results
   • A writing exercise, for you personally, not to be shared with the group
   • A Photo Assignment for you to complete and share 
   • Examples of photos by Doug or others that fit our weekly assignment
   • Group feedback and Doug’s comments on assignment photos uploaded

B&W or Color? Yes, my photographs are in usually black and white with a sepia-tone color added after. That is my personal choice for what suits my vision for the kind of images I want to make, but it certainly not a requirement, or even a recommendation, that students or others do the same. Color photography is always welcome in my classes and workshops and it is what most participants use. All of the photographic exercises and assignments are made for working in either. Although I love and appreciate color photography, B&W remains my personal choice but I would never impose that choice on others. You are always free to choose what suits your taste and image making best. Or try something new…

Type of camera and format recommended?  I use medium format cameras with film but again that is my choice for the kind of images I want to make and the way I want to interact with the physical aspects of the image making process. All formats, digital and film, large format and small, including iPhones are welcome. It’s more about your vision and visual voice and not the equipment! I recognize the importance of initial equipment choices that suit our needs yet good photos can come from any camera. Great photos come from strong vision and effective execution (and sometimes a little luck but remember that chance favors the prepared); our choice of cameras and lenses, even editing software, are just the tools we use to support our vision.

DATES: 8 weeks starting the week of March 10 – week of April 28
  • Pre-class readings available Sunday March 3
  • First week class materials available Sunday March 10
  • Last week class materials available Sunday April 28
  • Class runs until Sunday May 5
  • All class materials, responses and image posts will remain up and accessible for at least 6 months after the last class!

THREE OPTIONAL GROUP ZOOM MEETINGS: 
1) Tuesday March 12,  6:30 – 8 pm CST
2) Tuesday April 2,  6:30 – 8 pm CST  
3) Tuesday April 30,  6:30 – 8 pm CST  
Zoom link will be provided

COST: $395 (new lower price with more content!)

INFO: at Ruzuku (our class platform)

REGISTER:  thru Ruzuku then click ‘Register’ on upper right corner

ON-DEMAND VERSION:
Available Anytime!

This On-Demand e-course version allows you to start whenever convenient and move thru the course materials at your own pace, without interaction with other participants.  It also does not include the Zoom sessions. 

Class materials and lessons are available anytime and can be completed on your own time table. You will have access to all class lessons and material for at least six months and also have 6 months to post images for feedback!

COST: $325 Includes access to all class materials for six months!

INFO on class at Ruzuku (our class platform)

REGISTER at Ruzuku