YOUR AH HAA MOMENT: PHOTOS IN FOCUS

07 Aug YOUR AH HAA MOMENT: PHOTOS IN FOCUS

Zoom in on a celebration of photography, now in full swing at Telluride’s Ah Haa School for the Arts.

In collaboration with Kim and Simon Pertuz of Shot Images, Niles, Illinois, Ah Haa is pleased to present Britain, the first retrospective of work by acclaimed British photographer Michael Ward since his death in 2011.

Britain opened to rave reviews last Thursday, August 2, during Telluride Arts’ monthly Art Walk. The show now on display in the Daniel Tucker Gallery runs through Friday, September 28.

Known for his prolific body of documentary photography work showcasing musicians, actors, writers and other Pop icons of the 20th century, Ward’s subjects range widely from The Beatles to Margaret Thatcher, the Rolling Stones, Michael Caine, Queen Elizabeth and David Hockney.

Over his long career, Ward worked for many prestigious British newspapers and magazines, including The Evening Standard and The Sunday Times. He frequently exhibited at notable galleries and museums, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum. He also often shot areas of conflict abroad, focusing on the 1968 student riots in Paris, troubles in Northern Ireland, and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, yet many of Michael Ward’s most moving images illustrate the beauty and simplicity in everyday life in London.

There are shots of street life, politicians under fire, irreverent self-portraits, as well as seldom viewed photographs of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and other social and theatrical luminaries. Ward’s work subtly but effectively shines a light on racial tensions, urban decay and wealth inequalities in a time of great social upheaval in Europe. Overall, his oeuvre highlights the intricacies of British culture through the rock and roll decades of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, warts and all.

And while we are on the subject…..

Ah Haa is offering two photography intensives in September to complement Ward’s exhibit.

Ah Haa’s Backstage Pass: Telluride Blues & Brews led by former Rolling Stone photo editor Barry Brecheisen and Ah Haa School photographer Nori Lupfer, will give participants exclusive festival access with top tier photography guidance. Learn how to capture the mood of an environment, record the action of festivals and shoot portraits of musicians and music lovers. Workshop will include daily time in the photo pit, personal instruction and critique, and access to festival grounds. The four-day class runs from Thursday, September 13 – Sunday, September 16. Anyone with basic knowledge of their camera and laptop is invited to join.

Participants are encouraged to sign up early as the workshop is expected to fill up.

The Autumn Landscape Photography workshop with fine art and documentary photographer Memphis Barbree will explore Telluride’s spectacular autumn colors. The intensive will involve morning and evening location shooting, exposure techniques, and comprehensive critiques of the images shot by each student. Critiques will address important topics such a composition, light direction and quality, visual impact, mood, and more. The three-day landscape photography workshop runs from Friday September 28 – Sunday September 30. Intermediate level photographers are invited to join, again assuming knowledge of camera and laptop.

The exhibit for Michael Ward is open to the public Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information on any of Ah Haa School for the Arts workshops and events please visit our website or call 970.728.3886.