October 6, 2005
Nikon Announces Sponsorship of 57th Annual Missouri Photo Workshop
MELVILLE, N.Y. —
Nikon Inc., a world leader in photography, continues its tradition of fostering the photographic community by once again sponsoring the Missouri Photo Workshop (MPW) the world's first and longest running photojournalism workshop. Currently in its 57th year, the workshop has partnered with the Nikon Spirit Initiative(R) to continue its commitment to artistic and journalistic expression through the lens.
"As part of the Nikon Spirit Initiative, we are proud to enter our 14th year as a sponsor of the Missouri Photo Workshop," said Anna Marie Bakker, director of Communications, Nikon Inc. "The workshop has become one of the most highly respected learning forums for photographers of all levels. Nikon is proud to support this prestigious program as it further cultivates and unifies the photographic community."
From September 25th through October 1st, 2005, students and faculty will begin their photographic documentary of Marshall, Missouri -- a small farming community located between Kansas City and Saint Louis that is steeped in tradition and history.
This year's students will be instructed by a distinguished faculty comprised of reputed photographers and photo editors from some of the country's finest newspapers and magazines. The workshop faculty is comprised of many of the top editorial and photographic influencers in the business of photography and photojournalism. Faculty includes: George Olsen, freelance picture editor; Dennis Dimick, National Geographic Magazine's associate editor; Melissa Farlow and Randy Olsen, freelance photographers; Lois Raimondo, chief photographer for Associated Press' Hanoi bureau; Geri Migielicz, photography director with the San Jose Mercury News; MaryAnne Golon, Time Magazine's picture editor; Danny Wilcox-Frazier, documentary photographer; John Trotter, freelance journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Rick Rickman.
To conclude the two-week documentary tour, the workshop will bring the stories of Marshall to the masses. "The workshop will end with a 300-print exhibit open to the entire community," said David Rees, Co-Director of the Missouri Photo Workshop. "This is always a unique opportunity for the community to see itself reflected in the mirror of documentary photojournalism."
Through its sponsorship of the workshop, the Nikon Spirit Initiative continues it mission to encourage photographers from all walks of life to share their vision. For more information on the Missouri Photo Workshop, visit http://www.mophotoworkshop.org/57/.
History of Missouri Photo Workshop (MPW)
The roots of the Missouri Photo Workshop are embedded firmly in more than a half-century of rich tradition. Current workshops carry on principles present from the beginning. When the late Clifton C. Edom of the Missouri School of Journalism founded the Missouri Photo Workshop in 1949, he too, looked to the past to map the path for photojournalism's future. Inspired by the gritty, content-rich photographs of the documentary photo unit of the pre-WWII Farm Security Administration, Edom promoted research, observation and timing as the methods to make strong story-telling photographs. FSA director Roy Stryker and photographer Russell Lee worked closely with Edom in the creation of the Workshop and served as faculty members during its early years.
In subsequent years, faculty members have been many of America's leading newspaper and magazine photographers and photo editors; a roster of faculty and students reads like a who's who of photojournalism. Faculty of today includes some of the most energetic, productive and articulate documentary creators currently working. All are experts dedicated to passing on the fundamentals of photo research, shooting and editing to those who hope to carry on these values and techniques into the future. The workshop still follows Cliff Edom's credo -- "Show truth with a camera. Ideally truth is a matter of personal integrity."
Methods
The Workshop focuses on developing skills to produce the visual narrative known as the picture story. Individually strong pictures are still expected, but research, questioning and thinking are stressed. Before photographers begin taking pictures, they must have their story ideas approved by a faculty team. The team expects the photographer to have firm ideas about exactly what the essence of the story is and the visual opportunities that can help to tell that story. The Workshop photographers work closely with their faculty team, conferring with them throughout the day. In the evening of each of the six days of shooting is an open critique -- where the best and worst of the day's shooting are publicly critiqued. The week culminates in a unique and often moving 300-print exhibit where local residents are invited to see what the 40 workshop photographers have been seeing in their community through the lens of their Nikon cameras.
About the Nikon Spirit Initiative:
The Nikon Spirit Initiative is Nikon's corporate responsibility effort which supports the local community and photographers through sponsorship of charitable, educational and industry enrichment programs. For more information, visit http://www.nikonspiritinitiative.com. For information about Nikon and its products, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image(TM). Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon Coolpix(R) compact digital cameras; Coolscan(R) digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; powerful and effective Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative(TM) the company plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.
"As part of the Nikon Spirit Initiative, we are proud to enter our 14th year as a sponsor of the Missouri Photo Workshop," said Anna Marie Bakker, director of Communications, Nikon Inc. "The workshop has become one of the most highly respected learning forums for photographers of all levels. Nikon is proud to support this prestigious program as it further cultivates and unifies the photographic community."
From September 25th through October 1st, 2005, students and faculty will begin their photographic documentary of Marshall, Missouri -- a small farming community located between Kansas City and Saint Louis that is steeped in tradition and history.
This year's students will be instructed by a distinguished faculty comprised of reputed photographers and photo editors from some of the country's finest newspapers and magazines. The workshop faculty is comprised of many of the top editorial and photographic influencers in the business of photography and photojournalism. Faculty includes: George Olsen, freelance picture editor; Dennis Dimick, National Geographic Magazine's associate editor; Melissa Farlow and Randy Olsen, freelance photographers; Lois Raimondo, chief photographer for Associated Press' Hanoi bureau; Geri Migielicz, photography director with the San Jose Mercury News; MaryAnne Golon, Time Magazine's picture editor; Danny Wilcox-Frazier, documentary photographer; John Trotter, freelance journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Rick Rickman.
To conclude the two-week documentary tour, the workshop will bring the stories of Marshall to the masses. "The workshop will end with a 300-print exhibit open to the entire community," said David Rees, Co-Director of the Missouri Photo Workshop. "This is always a unique opportunity for the community to see itself reflected in the mirror of documentary photojournalism."
Through its sponsorship of the workshop, the Nikon Spirit Initiative continues it mission to encourage photographers from all walks of life to share their vision. For more information on the Missouri Photo Workshop, visit http://www.mophotoworkshop.org/57/.
History of Missouri Photo Workshop (MPW)
The roots of the Missouri Photo Workshop are embedded firmly in more than a half-century of rich tradition. Current workshops carry on principles present from the beginning. When the late Clifton C. Edom of the Missouri School of Journalism founded the Missouri Photo Workshop in 1949, he too, looked to the past to map the path for photojournalism's future. Inspired by the gritty, content-rich photographs of the documentary photo unit of the pre-WWII Farm Security Administration, Edom promoted research, observation and timing as the methods to make strong story-telling photographs. FSA director Roy Stryker and photographer Russell Lee worked closely with Edom in the creation of the Workshop and served as faculty members during its early years.
In subsequent years, faculty members have been many of America's leading newspaper and magazine photographers and photo editors; a roster of faculty and students reads like a who's who of photojournalism. Faculty of today includes some of the most energetic, productive and articulate documentary creators currently working. All are experts dedicated to passing on the fundamentals of photo research, shooting and editing to those who hope to carry on these values and techniques into the future. The workshop still follows Cliff Edom's credo -- "Show truth with a camera. Ideally truth is a matter of personal integrity."
Methods
The Workshop focuses on developing skills to produce the visual narrative known as the picture story. Individually strong pictures are still expected, but research, questioning and thinking are stressed. Before photographers begin taking pictures, they must have their story ideas approved by a faculty team. The team expects the photographer to have firm ideas about exactly what the essence of the story is and the visual opportunities that can help to tell that story. The Workshop photographers work closely with their faculty team, conferring with them throughout the day. In the evening of each of the six days of shooting is an open critique -- where the best and worst of the day's shooting are publicly critiqued. The week culminates in a unique and often moving 300-print exhibit where local residents are invited to see what the 40 workshop photographers have been seeing in their community through the lens of their Nikon cameras.
About the Nikon Spirit Initiative:
The Nikon Spirit Initiative is Nikon's corporate responsibility effort which supports the local community and photographers through sponsorship of charitable, educational and industry enrichment programs. For more information, visit http://www.nikonspiritinitiative.com. For information about Nikon and its products, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image(TM). Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon Coolpix(R) compact digital cameras; Coolscan(R) digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; powerful and effective Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative(TM) the company plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.