Photography & New Media
Photography has always been a vital part of Anderson Ranch, one in which students explore visual storytelling through a variety of contexts and concepts. The program has uniquely evolved to focus on both traditional photography and new media— making it one of the only workshop settings of its kind. Three floors of the Fischer Photography Center house state-of-the-art equipment, including three photography studios, two Mac labs, a traditional darkroom, and a lighting studio with strobe and continuous lighting for photography and video.
All Photography workshops are rooted in the same idea—powerful art requires rigorous inquiry of techniques and ideas. We focus on technical skills, content and critical dialog. Students have access to color-managed media labs equipped with 24-inch iMacs, flatbed and film scanners, Epson printers, and cutting-edge software including Adobe Creative Cloud. When appropriate, students utilize strobe and tungsten lighting equipment, seamless backdrops, green screen, audio and video recording equipment and Epson large-format printers.
The Ranch Photography and New Media team creates an inspiring environment, allowing artists of all levels to explore lens-based media and the journey of artistic discovery in the unparalleled setting of the Colorado Rockies.
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a 20% tuition discount* in one- and two-week adult Summer Workshops for SPE members and Center for Fine Art Photography members. Please email reg@
Andrea Jenkins Wallace
Vice President of Artistic Affairs, Artistic Director of Photography and New Media
After completing an undergraduate degree in Communications Media, Andrea Jenkins Wallace received her M.F.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder. Before coming to the Ranch in 2008, she worked for over ten years in academia, holding tenure track appointments at Lake Forest College and Willamette University. She is often an invited speaker to colleges and universities including Pratt Institute, the University of Denver and the University of South Florida. She has also been a featured speaker at the Denver Art Museum and the Stonewall National Museum. In 2021, Wallace co-taught a class entitled Photography, Race and Gender at Colorado College. Her film, Rochell and Brian, a documentary about teenage pregnancy, premiered at the New York International Independent Film Festival. She exhibits nationally and internationally with numerous shows throughout the Americas, Europe, China and the Middle East. Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
Esther Macy Nooner
Workshop Program Manager; Studio Coordinator of Photography and New Media
Esther Macy Nooner received her MFA in Studio Art from the University of Arkansas School of Art. She has participated in the artist-in-residence program in the National Park System, and most recently at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. She has shown work nationally and internationally, and is currently the studio coordinator for Photography and New Media at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
Anderson Ranch Campus
Upcoming Workshops
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O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Jan 6 - 17, 2025
9AM - 5PM
Painting and Photography: An Archaeological Approach to Text and Image
Kate Leonard
Tuition $2,150
Code JANSTU2025P
Two art forms collide in this fascinating look at the intersection of photography and painting. Join us for an engaging exploration of the artistic synthesis between these two distinct art forms. Discover new transfer techniques that integrate photographic images and text directly onto painted surfaces. Using traditional collage and photomontage, master new methods that allow for opaque and translucent layers. Reductive methods such as sanding and scraping reveal the history of earlier photographic layers and suggest an archaeological approach to image development. We begin each morning with a technical demonstration illustrated with visual examples from contemporary art. A range of integrated photographic painting approaches will be introduced on paper, canvas and panels in acrylic. By midweek, our investigations continue to larger artworks tailored to each student.
Jan 20 - 24, 2025
Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM
January Studio Session: Photography & New Media
Esther Macy Nooner
Tuition $1,110
Code ZSP0101-25
Anderson Ranch’s January Studio Sessions provide artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation, and access to equipment, as well as some morning group demonstrations and / or critiques. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. IMPORTANT DETAILS: Students will be responsible for all material costs associated with their projects. Private dorm rooms are available at Anderson Ranch for an additional fee; click here to view January 2025 lodging options. TO APPLY: Applicants must submit project proposals or portfolios for approval. Contact Esther Nooner with questions and to apply: [email protected]
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Level IV
Photography students have advanced skills and knowledge of photography and digital image processing. New Media students have advanced skills and knowledge of video, multimedia, coding or animation. Students are self-motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.
Aug 18 - 22, 2025
9AM - 5PM
Advanced Mentored Studies: Visual Storytelling and Documentary Photography Projects
Ed Kashi, James Estrin
Tuition $1,850
Code P1201-25
The digital age has given documentary photographers and photojournalists new ways to tell stories with greater authorship and control. This workshop focuses on how to create a personal documentary project and get it seen. The ultimate goal is to find a subject that speaks to a personal passion, document it in a unique visual style, then disseminate the work. Participants engage new technologies to become more effective storytellers, which include social media, transmedia, virtual reality, and digital video. 2025 is the third year of this three-year intensive program. For more information about our next session of this Advanced Mentored Studies program, which begins in 2026, please contact Andrea Jenkins Wallace, Vice President of Artistic Affairs and Artistic Director of Photography and New Media, at [email protected].