Cinematic Night Portraiture
Take a deep dive into the intriguing domain of night photography with our Cinematic Night Portraiture workshop. This course is meticulously designed to help you understand and navigate the complexities of capturing distinctive portraits under starlit skies, leveraging the unique aesthetic of film cameras and cinefilm.
This workshop emphasises practical, hands-on learning, starting with a thorough understanding of night-time exposure and moving towards the art of composing compelling portraits. The curriculum is comprehensive, designed to build on your skills and knowledge gradually.
Beyond the camera lens, you’ll learn the tangible side of film development using ECN2 chemicals. From the careful removal of Remjet to scanning your film, we’ll guide you through each step of the process, equipping you with a robust skill set to create your own nighttime masterpieces.
No matter your level of familiarity with film, this course offers a significant opportunity to expand your skillset and explore the world of nighttime film photography in a new light!
Program
Session 1: Night Vision – Wednesday, October 11th, 6-9 PM
- Introduction to the ECN2 process
- Understanding the film and nightscape methodology: How to meter at night
- Concepts of cinematic night portrait photography
- Basic uses of cinematic lighting
- How to find and approach people to photograph
- Field practice: Shooting in Manuka
Session 2: Hands-on Development – Wednesday, October 18th, 6-9 PM
- Comparative study: ECN2 process vs C41
- Understanding and dealing with remjet
- Lab practice: Developing your first roll of film
Session 3: Frame by Frame – Wednesday, October 25th, 6-9 PM
- Outdoor session: Portrait shooting in New Acton
- Assignment: Shoot portraits or landscapes at night
Session 4: Deep Dive into Development – Wednesday, November 1st, 6-9 PM
- Developing your second roll of film
- Scanning and editing process
- Assignment: Shoot more portraits or landscapes
Session 5: Final Cut – Wednesday, November 8th, 6-9 PM
- Developing additional rolls of film from your assignments
- Further refining the scanning and editing process
- Workshop wrap-up: Discuss experiences, share work, and learn from others’ techniques
Each session will include ample time for hands-on practice, individual feedback, and group discussions. Whether you’re a seasoned film shooter or picking up a camera for the first time, we can’t wait to see the beautiful, cinematic night portraits you create!
What to bring
- A 35mm film camera in good working order
- A shutter release cable
- Your enthusiasm!
If you do not have a camera or shutter release cable to use, don’t fret! Email us at [email protected], and we can arrange it for you.
What's provided
- All of the chemicals and equipment needed for developing your film
- 2 rolls of cinefilm 35mm KodakVision 3 500T film
- Scanners and computers with editing software
- A notebook and pencil to record all of your discoveries and make plans
James Harber is a British born photographer with a passion for dark and moody scenery, and inspired by the classic renaissance period mixed with the recent trend of cyberpunk. He’s been interested in photography from a young age, inspired by his father who would take his 35mm camera everywhere they went. Since then, he has been obsessed with capturing nature and cityscapes, and set up his own wedding photography business in 2017.
James got back into film in 2019, and since then has loved the dedication, finality, and creativity that film provides to photographers, as well as the up and down journeys of understanding and learning from technical mistakes. He loves to make things simple and easy to understand so that photography can be accessible for everyone.
James finds photography as a great way of storytelling and creating scenarios with the incredible night life that many cities have that are often unseen.
The Fine Print
Enrolments for this workshop close at midday (12pm) on Friday October 6th, 2023. As a not-for-profit, our financial margins are narrow and classes require a minimum number of participants to run. In the event that PhotoAccess cancels a workshop, refunds will be paid in full or a transfer allowed free of charge. If a class is postponed, we will endeavour to reschedule at a time convenient to enrolled participants.
PhotoAccess will happily refund or transfer workshop fees up to 7 days prior to the start date of the workshop. If less than 7 days’ notice is given, PhotoAccess can offer a partial refund. Alternatively, enrolment can transfer to another workshop plus a $50 transfer fee. If less than 48 hours are given, no refunds or transfers can be given. Please note that memberships purchased in conjunction with a workshop enrolment are non-refundable. See Terms and Conditions for further details.