Surround Coverage - Visual Storytelling Class (Austin)
$99.00
In Stock
Surround Coverage - Visual Storytelling
Instructor: Tom R. Chambers
This photography workshop by Tom R. Chambers focuses on surround coverage to tell a visual story. Surround coverage is editorial thinking applied to image-making. Each photograph is chosen or made to serve a predictable function in a story: to orient, to explain, to humanize, to dramatize, or to provide texture. It also trains photographers to think beyond single images and toward the package—a coherent set of assets that together tell a fuller, more flexible story. It is the practice of intentionally shooting a range of perspectives and image types so that, together, they form a complete narrative. The photographer assembles a suite of frames—establishing wide shots, contextual mediums, action frames, portraits, details, and light studies—that editors can sequence, crop, and repurpose.
He will deliver a two-hour slide presentation that shows examples of his photography along with discussion about visual grammar. He will also discuss the building blocks that let photographers compose with editorial intent:
establishing wide views set the scene; contextual medium frames place people and actions within their environment; action and interaction frames capture narrative beats: gestures, exchanges, movement, and moments of decision; environmental portraits reveal character; details and textures supply specificity: hands, tools, signage, materials, and small gestures that anchor the story in reality; juxtaposition and contrast create meaning by pairing images that differ in scale, mood, or subject; light and shadow studies shape mood and form; movement sequences—panning, intentional blur, or multi-frame bursts—convey motion and passage of time. These frames are useful for showing activity and for adding dynamism to an otherwise static edit.
After the discussion, Chambers and the participants will travel to the State Capitol to conduct the surround documentation.
Bio
Tom R. Chambers has managed photo departments for Texas Tech University and University of Rhode Island where he and his staff conducted assignment-based photography. He was also personal photographer to the Mayor of Providence and City Photographer (Rhode Island). His coverage (assignment-based) of the city and political activities is now housed at the Providence City Archives as the “Tom R. Chambers Photo Collection”. He has also taught photography in Zimbabwe, China, India and here in Texas.
He has close to 100 personal exhibitions to his credit. His documentary projects, “Dyer Street Portraiture” and “Hot City” were listed in the notable exhibitions section of American Photographer magazine. He received a Governor’s Proclamation (Rhode Island) for his documentary project, “Descendants 350”. This project was also accepted by the Secretary of State as part of the Rhode Island State Archives. His photo/mixed media project, “Mother’s 45s” was picked up through national search for the “Parents” exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
He has teamed up with Chinese and Korean documentary photographers to have two-person exhibitions in their respective countries. His documentary project, “People to People” now resides as part of the Khumo Art Foundation Archives in South Korea.