The 2009 F295 Symposium on 21st Century Photography will be held in Pittsburgh PA USA from May 28 - 31, 2009. The opening reception, lectures and round-table discussion are held in association with the Center for Arts in Society at Carnegie Mellon University and the workshops are held in association with Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

Come join us for an exciting exploration of 21st Century Photography!

What is 21st Century Photography?
21st Century Photography is a phrase meant to describe the type of photography in which many artists are presently engaged. A 21st century photographic approach includes the use of historic methods, alternative processes, and adaptive techniques. The decision regarding which methods to employ in a project is driven by the artistic vision of the photographer rather than the technical limitation or possibility of the equipment. Terms such as alternative, historic, hand-wrought, DIY (do-it-yourself), and antiquarian have been used to describe this type of work and while those terms can be accurate they are mostly not. The use of any one term greatly simplifies the complexities, combinations, and adaptations which are taking place while at the same time weighing the discussion with preconception and bias. Recognizing that photographic technology has become so sophisticated that, for the most part, it is irrelevant and, in an effort to create something new, many artists are freely inventing and combining techniques and processes from the history of photography to create a new 21st Century Photography.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday May 27, 2009

9:00am - 5:00pm Symposium Kick Off Workshop: SOLD OUT! Tintypes: Dryplate and Modern!

Thursday May 28, 2009

4-9pm: Symposium Opening Reception
Rangos Ballroom, 2nd Floor University Center, Carnegie Mellon University

The symposium officially begins at 5pm Thursday, May 28 with an informal work-sharing/portfolio review session. We have a large space on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University at which there will be tables for registered symposium attendees to spread out images, cameras, and other materials and equipment to share with other participants. This is a rare chance to see and discuss the exciting work you and your colleagues are making! Our friends from Freestyle Photographic will also be in attendance with some exciting new equipment and special symposium deals!

The Search for the End of Searching
A Special Opening Reception Artists’ Talk with Carol Panaro-Smith and James Hajicek, Rangos Ballroom, 2nd Floor University Center, Carnegie Mellon University
Time: 6:00pm

Carol Panaro-Smith and James Hajicek have spent over 50 years collectively being dedicated to and fostering in others an appreciation of the antiquarian photographic printing processes of the 19th century. This is evidenced in their own creative work as well as in their careers as educators. Over the last 8 years, James and Carol have been working collaboratively using the process known as photogenic drawing – one of photography’s earliest and most beautiful. It is also one of the most simple and direct processes that defines the very core of photography without recourse to the normally thought of requisite equipment and materials. Carol & James will share ideas about collaboration, their creative process and love affair with photogenic drawing.

Friday May 29, 2009

9am - 6pm: Lectures and round-table discussion
McConomy Auditorium, 1st Floor University Center, Carnegie Mellon University

We’re excited to have our friends at the Center for the Arts in Society at CMU be our partners for the third year and help bring together this day of lectures and discussion!

Friday Lecture Schedule
9:00 - 9:20 - Tom Persinger, opening remarks
9:20 - 10:00 - Elizabeth Opalenik
10:00 - 10:40 - Jarosław Klupś
10:40 - 11:20 - Martha Madigan
11:20-11:45 - Round Table Discussions

11:45 - 1:15 - LUNCH
1:15 - 1:45 - Group Portrait

1:50 - 2:30 - Michelle Bates
2:30 - 3:10 - Dan Estabrook
3:10 - 3: 50 - Robb Kendrick
3:50 - 4:30 - Mark Osterman
4:30 - 5:00 - Round Table Discussions
5:00 - 5:15 - Closing Comments, questions, answers, and observations….

ACT 48 Credit is available for the lectures and round-table event on Friday May 30. Contact us for details.

Workshops Saturday May 30 & Sunday May 31

Unless otherwise noted in the description all workshops take place at Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

Workshops Saturday May 30

The Fugitive Shadow
Lens-Building and Optical Effects (2 days)
Printing with Gum Bichromate (2 days)
SOLD OUT! Three Day Daguerreotype Workshop (3 days, Sat, Sun, & Mon)
Toying with Plastic Cameras

Workshops Sunday May 31

Lens-Building and Optical Effects (2 days)
Photography Walk-About
Printing with Gum Bichromate (2 days)
SOLD OUT! Three Day Daguerreotype Workshop (3 days, Sat, Sun, & Mon)