Mike is a New Zealand born landscape & travel photographer who also has a passion for teaching. He has been a professional photographer for over 35 years, fourteen of which he photographed for Australian Geographic. The last 20 years he has been teaching photography and running photography workshops with his photographic artist wife Jackie Ranken through their company Creative Photography Workshops. He has also been an International Awards judge and lecturer for over 25 years.

Mike is a Grand Master & Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and a Grand Master, Honorary Fellow & Life Member of the New Zealand Institute of

Professional Photography (NZIPP). He is a Canon Master and EIZO Ambassador and has had published over 30 books. 

His latest book titled 'It's all Here in Black and White' will be for sale at this year art school and is highly recommended as a reference for course attendees. (The book will be discounted for students enrolled in the course).

Course Objectives:

To learn to see and think in Black and White and how to make photographs that will work best for you in this medium.

Course Requirements:

Camera: DSLR Camera, lenses & tripod

Computer: Laptop with either: - Photoshop, Light Room, Camera Raw or Capture1

Day 1   AM Introduction to the course and the philosophy that underpins it.

PM Learn how to achieve in camera Jpeg captures in Black and White.

Day 2  AM Learn how to achieve Raw captures suitable for Black & White conversion

PM Process the Raw capture into a Black and White file suitable for printing.

Day 3  Make Black and White images of a still life, a portrait & a landscape

Day 4  AM Critique of images made so far.

PM Re-shoot images for better results

Day 5  AM Critique of previous day images

PM Prepare a file of your choice for print to take away with you.

Final wrap up and debrief. (Printing is at the students’ own expense and done through the Stationery Warehouse in Wanaka)