The magical feeling is inescapable when traveling to the small towns and countryside of Sicily. I have had the great pleasure of working on personal projects in this region, and I am excited to share that experience in this class. The people in this region have a combination of pride, simplicity and a very personal style of skepticism. Because the island has a history of being invaded by many different cultures there is a blend of influences that come from several different continents and cultures. All of these differing cultures have had an effect on the architecture and the traditions of the island. This history has also effected the people of Sicily with a wonderfully dramatic look to their faces as well as a great strength to the their expression in gesture.

This workshop will use the intrigue, mystery and history of Sicily to inspire us to move forward in our own photography and portrait making skills. While working with the local people, this workshop will help us to learn to express our personal history in the photographic portrait. Through lectures, critiques, demonstrations and assignments, we will learn to reflect our emotions, feelings, dreams, desire, and our own personal mysteries in our photography. We will learn to take a portrait of someone else, and create the image of that person as a portrait of ourselves. We will learn to tell a narrative story out of our own imagination with the local subjects.

This is a workshop about possibilities and it will give the power and magic of photography to the creator. Furthermore, this workshop is about having a clear opinion and learning to express that opinion in a photograph while being in the intriguing environment of Sicily.

BIOGRAPHY

Paul Elledge is a Chicago-based photographer and filmmaker whose clients include major advertising agencies, record companies, and corporations. He has been honored with numerous national and international awards for work that melds photographic realism with painterly qualities of illustration. Paul has photographed many celebrities including AC/DC, Ashanti, Billy Corgan, Ministry, Willie Nelson, Trent Reznor, Luciano Pavarotti, and Oprah Winfrey. His work has appeared throughout the world in such publications as Audubon, Fast Company, Life, Men’s Health, People, Rolling Stone, Time and Wired to name just a few. As well as his published book Luna Bella Luna that is the chronicling the people of Vesale, Italy, Paul has also worked on several published book projects with Chef Charlie Trotter. In addition to photography, he has directed several music videos and television commercials. Paul has been teaching at TPW since the year 2000. His website is www.paulelledge.com

E’ impossibile sfuggire dal senso di magia quando si viaggia attraverso la Sicilia e i suoi paesi minori. Ho avuto il grande piacere di lavorare su progetti personali in questa regione, e sono onorato di dividere questa esperienza con il mio gruppo di studenti. I Siciliani hanno una miscela di orgoglio, semplicità e visione fatalistica della vita. Qui troverete un misto di influenze: la Sicilia è stata “visitata” da molte culture diverse, ognuna delle quali ha lasciato una traccia, sia sul paesaggio che sull’architettura che sulle tradizioni. Questa combinazione di culture ha forgiato i volti e gesti dei siciliani.

Durante questo workshop useremo l’intrigo, il mistero, e la tradizione come ispirazione per meglio definire il nostro stile nel ritratto e nella fotografia in generale. Lavoreremo con persone del luogo e al tempo stesso approfondiremo le nostre tecniche per il ritratto.

Con l’uso di lezioni, critica, demo e incarichi impareremo a trasmettere nelle fotografie le nostre emozioni, sensazioni, sogni e i misteri privati e a realizzare ritratti di persone che riflettano il ritratto di noi stessi, usando gente del luogo per raccontare una storia personale. E’ un workshop che lascia al fotografo grande spazio per esprimere la propria visione , usando la magia della sicilia come sfondo.

Paul Elledge lavora e vive a Chicago come fotografo e cineasta. I suoi clienti più importanti sono agenzie pubblicitarie, compagnie discografiche e aziende. Ha fotografato celebrità come AC/DC, Ashanti, Billy Corgan, Ministry, Willie Nelson, Trent Reznor, Luciano Pavarotti e Oprah Winfrey. Il suo lavoro è apparso su Audubon, Fast Company, Life, Men’s Health, People, Rolling Stone, Time e Wired. Ha pubblicato un libro, Luna Bella Luna, sugli abitanti di Vesale in Italia, e ha lavorato su diversi libri con lo chef Charlie Trotter. Ha anche diretto diversi video musicali e commerciali per la televisione. Insegna al TPW dal 2000. Il suo sito è www.paulelledge.com