Ann Mitchell

Photography and the Photo Book Showcase: July 1st - September 22nd

This showcase starts with three independent small presses that have made the discovery of new talent an essential part of their missions - even helping to grow regional publishing. Then we have a hybrid - a partnership between a photographer and a designer, connected by their love of Polaroid and bold graphics. Next, a photographer shares their journey from project inception through running a successful Kickstarter campaign. Finally, we peek behind the curtain at PhotoBook Journal to highlight their editors and team of contributors, sharing their approach to reviewing, with links to their own work and a recent review.

Finally, you’ll find even more publishing stories and resources in this month’s Substack newsletter—definitely worth a look.

Finding Your Voice: Photography and Method

Photography is an unusual discipline. Unlike many creative practices that move in a linear fashion from idea to execution, photography loops back on itself—fluid and open. It begins with an idea, and often a camera, but it doesn’t end there. It's a process made up of many decisions, each one layered with meaning, each one shaping what will eventually be called your “voice.”

Use this link to read the rest of my latest creativity newsletter on my experiences finding a voice for a new body of work.

Photography and Our Environment: April 10th - June 30th

The theme for this showcase is very dear to me and I’m so pleased with the wonderful group of featured artists and book reviews. One photographer blends insights on mental health with a passion for visual storytelling, while another turns the lens toward our inland seas - examining the fragility and resilience of complex ecosystems. Several have found photography is a passport - exploring the many vistas that people around the world call home. Whether they journey to the world’s last truly wild places - or the wild spaces found outside their door, all these projects celebrate and honor our natural environments.

Reviews from PhotoBook Journal features an exceptional set of books on: life in the Russian Arctic, climate change, our wild seas, animals, the melancholy of everyday landscapes and creativity inspired by our natural spaces. Many thanks to Gerhard Clausing, Douglas Stockdale and their amazing team of contributing editors.

Los Angeles Center of Photography Print Auction

The Los Angeles Center of Photography Online Print Auction is now open! I’ve donated the "Allow It To Pass" from my "Razor's Edge" series, which you can now bid on via @artsy. Hurry - the auction closes Thursday, April 10! Through exhibitions, classes and public programs, LACP, a non-profit arts center, removes barriers for entry, advances the photographic medium, and provides a dynamic hub for creative practice. Happy bidding! All proceeds benefit LACP and their mission to cultivate creative practice and share it with the world. Make sure to bid. The auction closes Thursday, April 10! To bid on this limited edition 1/2 print: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/ann-mitchell-allow-it-to-passTo check out the rest of the auction: https://www.artsy.net/lacp

Photography and Resistance Showcase

The Photography and Resistance showcase for www.thinkingaboutphotography.com is live and runs from January 6th - April 9th. The photographers in this showcase are giving voice to those who have been silenced. They celebrate lives and cultures that persist despite outside forces to conform. They document changes to our fragile environment  and the impact it has on the land and those that inhabit that land. From PhotoBook Journal we have a collection of six book reviews that remind us of the human cost and impact of world events. Many thanks to Gerhard Clausing, Douglas Stockdale and their amazing team of contributing editors. Many thanks to Gerhard Clausing, Douglas Stockdale and their amazing team of contributing editors.

Photography Resists:  I write about each showcase in my Substack Newsletter - telling you the backstory about the showcase and more about the artists. I'm also introducing Notables to the curation site: a monthly post on an individual photographer - this allows me to expand beyond thematic groupings.

Storytelling through Visual Art: Photo Compositing Workshop

Sunday, October 20,  9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Viewpoint Photographic Art Center
2015 J. Street, Suite 101, Sacramento

Join me for an immersive Photo Compositing Workshop designed to elevate your photography and storytelling skills. This hands-on workshop will guide you through the art of photo compositing with an emphasis on creating compelling visual stories that engage the viewer’s imagination. Workshop Highlights:
Narrative Art: Learn to create powerful stories through your composites, using imagery to engage imagination and evoke emotions.
Technical Mastery: Gain an understanding of the key elements that are essential to creating a successful composites.
Creative Process: Discover the steps to conceptualize, plan, and execute a narrative-driven composite. We will review a wide range of visual artists, looking at the tools they’ve used to create engaging narratives.

Experimental Photography Showcase

The Experimental Photography showcase for ThinkingAboutPhotography.com runs from October 5th - December 20th. The artists in this showcase are actively engaged in practices that expand what photography can be. Some show us that the essence of photography, drawing with light, does not require a camera or even a print. Others have used the medium in joyful and emotive ways with visual layering to obscure details while embedding meaning. Additionally, from Man Ray to A.I. we have a very interesting selection of book reviews from PhotoBook Journal featuring artists who are also expanding our ideas about photography.

Also - to learn more about my curation process and about these artists - check out my October newsletter. 

Lightroom Book Module Workshop: Creating family yearbooks, magazines, and portfolio catalogs.

Sunday, September 29th, 2024, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Viewpoint Photographic Art Center

One of the challenges with digital photography is what to do with the thousands of photographs you’ve taken. Think of all the special events you’ve attended that are now just files stored on a hard drive. Unleash your creativity and preserve your memories with this hands-on Lightroom Book Module Workshop. For over a decade, Ann Mitchell has been teaching students how to use and adapt Lightroom’s Book Module to create family albums, niche magazines, and portfolios. Whether you’re looking to document family memories, showcase your work, or create personalized gifts, this workshop will guide you through the process of designing and printing your own publications.

Correspondences / Corrispondenze

Very pleased to be part of this show which opens today and runs until the closing reception on Sunday, October 6th. I’ve created three “books” featuring ten images from a new series Impressions of the California Southland. This accordion book is made with Japanese Katazome and Washi papers.

Roswell Space is excited to host its third Artists’ Book show and second exhibition featuring artists from Italy and the US. Curated by Stefania Severi (Italia) and John David O’Brien & jonna lee (LA). @jonnalee.needs.sleep @johndavidobrien
Opening reception on Sunday, September 8th from 3 to 6 pm.

LACP Exposure Portfolio Reviewer

I'm very happy to be a Reviewer for LACP's Exposure Portfolio Reviews 2024! For the past two decades I've been working with a diverse range of photographers - helping them develop their personal projects. In addition to my curation projects, my teaching experience spans over two decades working with, and mentoring, a diverse range of students, helping them develop their artistic vision. I'm open to all type of photography, and am especially well suited to helping artists develop their personal projects.

It’s online this year, so you don’t have to be local.

Photography and Home Showcase

The Photography and Home showcase for www.thinkingaboutphotography.com runs from June 25th - September 21st. Many of the artists in this showcase are examining their past, connecting to spaces and places that were formative to who they are as individuals. Often this contains a sense of dislocation and a fight to preserve one’s own personal or political culture in the face of the larger world they must navigate. From PhotoBook Journal we have an excellent group of reviews, with selections from Gerhard Clausing, Douglas Stockdale and their team of contributing editors on books exploring this theme.

Also - to learn more about my curation process and about these artists - check out my June newsletter:

https://annmitchell.substack.com/p/photography-and-home-showcase-is

Los Angeles Center of Photography Benefit Auction

I'm very proud to support the Los Angeles Center of Photography’s Online Print auction on @artsy . I’ve donated a print of one of my favorite images "The Long Way Home" which you can now bid on. Don’t delay, the auction closes June 6!  Visual storytellers change the world. Help support LACP and celebrate their mission to provide a dynamic hub for creative practice.

Photographers and Identity Showcase

The “Photographers and Identity” showcase for www.thinkingaboutphotography.com runs from March 22nd - June 19th. The photographers in this showcase are exploring the spaces between personal and cultural identity - how to balance what is within, with what is demanded of from the outside world. Several have looked at trauma, personal and generational, and how it shapes and reframes how they see their own identities. We are also fortunate to have reviews from PhotoBook Journal, with selections from Gerhard Clausing, Douglas Stockdale and their team of contributing editors on books exploring this theme.

Webinar: Visual Storytelling Through Composite Imaging

Saturday, April 6th, 10:00am - 11:30am 

Los Angeles Center of Photography

The webinar’s focus is on helping you understand the key elements that are essential to a successful composite and how they can be used to create compelling visual stories that engage the viewer’s imagination. It’s part of LACP’s Saturday Morning webinar series and is open to both members and non-members - Love to see you there!

Maximize your "Calls for Entry"

Whether you’re looking to gain exposure for your work, or funding for a project, “Calls for Entry” and project submissions are a fact of life for most artists. On the plus side, you could get a project funded, exposure for your work and another line in your CV. You’ll get to post on social media and grow your community. However, the submission process takes time, effort and often there’s a fee involved. So, how do you make sure it’s a good investment of that time and $$? Here are some suggestions:

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