Photography Workshops
Since the inception of Steve Kiser Workshops, we have been conducting workshops at our location, at many venues throughout the United States and also in many other countries. If you or any organization is interested in any of the following workshops, please feel free to contact us about doing one or more.
A fee structure can be set up for your location. The below fees are a sampple of fees per person that we have been charging.
Polaroid Imaging Workshop
Polaroid transfers let you discover new visual possibilities that you might otherwise pass over.
Extensive background in
photography is not necessary to enjoy this application. The workshop is open to
any beginning through advance photographer or artist. There will be something for
each to explore. It is also a wonderful technique for those individuals who are
looking for an exciting way of approaching photographic visual concepts where a
darkroom is not available. 
This one day workshop is
for the beginning exploration of experimental Polaroid imagery. Demonstrations
will be given on SX 70 manipulation, Polaroid transfers and image transfers.
Plenty of time has been set aside for you to make your own personal images. 
Bring a lot of your favorite color and or black and white, 35mm slides to make Polaroid image transfers. If you like to work with water colors, pastels or color pencils, bring them too.
This workshop is underwritten by Polaroid Corporation and they will supply some of the materials. Other materials will be available to purchase at our cost.
These workshops
start at 9AM and run until everyone has accomplished what they have set out to
do.
 |
We do Polaroid workshops
through out the year as they are needed. So if you are interested, let us know
and we will try to set up dates for you and others.
| |
Infrared Photographic Workshops
Explore the unique and invisible world of B & W Infrared photography.
Infrared film being visible, both to visible and infrared light, will open up a
new way of seeing photographically. 
Aesthetically, this film will produce an
image that is quite different than the conventional panchromatic films. A
resulting effect is sometimes described as dream-like or surrealistic. This film
becomes a tool and an opportunity to set aside some of the more conventional
photographic procedures and indulge in the more non literal impressionistic style
for which this film is well suited. 
Cameras, films and filters will be discussed in detail at the first meeting. Since this is a black and white infrared workshop, you will need to be able to process and print your images or know someone who can do it for you. We will discuss this and options in more detail at the first meeting.
This workshop will include a field trip out to a location to photograph.
Fee: $125.00 per person for a weekend and follow up
meeting
Death Valley
For years,
photographers have trekked to Death Valley for inspiration and in awe of
something unexplainable. Light, being the pivotal point of photography, shows
itself in various ways in the valley, allowing a photographer to explore the
numerous visual elements such as color, texture and light, which will explode in
front of him or her. Stark, but yet complex, Death Valley will open up to each
participant a new multifaceted experience which may go beyond the camera's
ability to interpret.
Since Death Valley covers such a large area, each
year we will explore and concentrate on a different location, usually starting
from the center of the Valley and working out. Excursions in the past have taken
us into the Armagosa Valley, Eureka Valley, Owens Valley, south into the Mojave
Desert and many other unique places just outside the park. 
Group cooking can be arranged for an additional fee.
Fee: $400.00 per person for a five day workshop.
Zone System
This workshop will introduce you to the theory and use of the Zone System as use
by many leading photographers world wide. This is one of the most successful and
accurate approaches to precise exposure and development of black and white films.
The workshop will emphasizes the tuning-in of a photographer's own equipment,
film and chemistry. 
Over three weekends you will further your understanding
of what can be done with the photographic tools available. Discover the true
latitude and speed of film and the total effect of different developers and
developing times have on film; through the testing of a given film for its actual
ASA/ISO and effective developing times. Then time will be spent on the proper
metering and exposure of a scene during lectures and on a day long field trip.
This workshop is designed for photographers who have a background in
darkroom techniques.
A list of materials needed for the workshop and materials supplied will be sent upon enrollment
Zone workshops can be set up at any time with a minimum of five students.
Fee: $500.00 per person The workshop is
held over a three weekend period (Friday evening and all day Saturday and
Sunday). This workshop can also be done as a week-long event.
Fine Print Workshop
What one should do after that work print will be looked at. This two and one-half day workshop will concentrate on the making of a fine black and white print. Discussions and demonstrations will be given on the following topics: choosing of the best printing paper for your needs, enlarger types, the use of different developers (best developer/paper combinations), making of the print; which will include burning and dodging and archival procedures, toning, and much more. The instructor will be demonstrating how to see the subtle changes that can be achieved and how to maintain that feeling you were trying to achieve in the original negative.Presentation of the final print will be explored and a demonstration on over-matting will be given.
A list of materials needed for the workshop and materials supplied will be sent upon enrollment.
A background in general darkroom techniques is necessary for this workshop.
Fee: $200.00
per person (Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday)
Advanced Toning Workshop
Toning is an excellent way to finish off your printing technique. You will be able to obtain effects that extend your intended visual interpretation. In this weekend workshop, students will be exposed to a large variety of toners including toners that you can purchases at any photo store and toner formulas that you will make from scratch.We will explore the chemical relationship between different toners and paper emulsions and how manipulating the formulas can create an exciting end results. We believe you will get some unique unexpected effects that you will want to use again and again. Discussion on the archival properties of toning will be given.
There will be hours of hands-on demonstrations and toning of your images.
Fee: $175.00 which includes all chemical supplies,
just bring lots of prints. (Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday)
Lith/Warm Tone Printing Workshop
This exciting workshop is devoted to lith printing, a creative printmaking process being used in Europe and growing in popularity with darkroom users internationally. Lith printing involves the overexposure of either a black and white or color negative onto a suitable black and white paper and then only partially developing it in highly diluted lith developer. This process utilizes "infectious development"" yielding a print with black shadows, colored midtones and white highlights. The colors, which vary depending on the papers and chemicals used, are typically caramel, olive, peach, pink or red. The special materials needed are not expensive and are easily purchased from photography suppliers.Demonstrations on print processing, toning of prints and new special/unique chemical formulas for this process will be discussed in depth.
In Europe we have seen a veritable explosion in the popularity of lith prints, that now appear regularly in galleries, magazines, advertisements and editorial work. In the US this process is relatively unknown.
Fee: 200.00 per person which includes all chemistry and toners. (Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday)
You just need to bring recommended photographic paper and your
negatives. A list of materials needed for the workshop will be sent upon
enrollment.
Large Format Workshop
This is a two day intensive workshop on the operation of a large format camera.This workshop will explore the controls and operation of a large format view camera, field camera and technical field camera. This will include the use of black and white and color large format films, large format film processing, and large format lens choices.
Students will be introduced to the techniques for controlling perspective, plane of focus, exposure compensation for bellows and much more.
There will be an outing to a location where we can put all the above information to use. The instructor will introduce you to the use of Polaroid films so your progress in camera operation can be documented.
You must have your own large format camera and tripod for this workshop.
Fee:
$125.00 per person
Beginning 35MM Camera Workshop
A Weekend Workshop on the beginning use of a 35mm SLR camera. The workshop will cover the total operation of the camera, film, filters, flash and much more. This workshop can be tailored to your groups special needs.This workshop is regularly given in November, February and May/June of each year, through Foothill and De Anza Community Education, www.communityeducation.fhda.edu.
Fee: $119.00 per
person