About the Founder
Marla Mossman
03
Founder Marla Mossman greeted by school children. Jark, Afghanistan 2005
International Sessions of Digital Photography Workshops are applicable across all fields of study including art, architecture, travel and tourism, advertising, media and communication, history, journalism and documentary photography, hobbyist and just for fun. Participants develop a greater understanding of their camera to enable them to apply this knowledge throughout their lives. Participants learn the camera's capabilities and control the features of the DSLR camera including apertures, shutter speeds, ISOs, to get the full benefit of this intricate digital equipment. Workshops are conducted on location in landmark areas of New York City. LOCATIONs: NEW YORK Participants learn to capture stunning images by gaining more control with the camera setting.
Each On Location class begins with a brief lecture and Q&A session on specific topics. Students take walking instruction through one of a variety of photogenic locales. Students put to practice the workshops lesson during this 3-hour session. Locations include city life and street photography, architecture photography for interiors and exteriors of landmark building, bazaars and markets, landscapes. As well as learning tips and techniques in “Reportage Photography” with candid portraits of the local street life.
Marla Mossman has over 25 years of experience in photography as printer and professional photographer. She will guide students through each step of the process in a fun three-hour session. Over the entire workshop series they will learn to shoot strategically, getting more interesting photos and come away with a foundation to improve their photographs in the future, whether for work and or pleasure. During the class, students learn and apply new concepts like panning and depth of field. Another skill is the understanding of the correct use of depth of field. This will help add another dimension to the students photos... literally. Much of the time, depth of field is used to accentuate beautiful natural scenes. Another creative use is in Portrait Photography where the focus is only on the eyes. It can be used in any situation to create a more interesting and complex image. For these strategies, Marla gives instruction on both the fundamental mechanics of the technique and ways to apply it to improve the everyday photograph.
Art of Seeing Through the Lens and Composition Understanding is the transition of seeing from a multidimensional world to the camera. Images captured in the camera are expressed to the viewer in 2 dimensions length and width. The Art of Seeing covers techniques to create illusions of space, making the right lens choices, camera angles and light modifying effects. Those more advanced DSLR students can learn the Secrets Of Professional Photographers
and knowledge of In-depth Field Work while on Location.
Marla Mossman is an international photographer, artist and poet who has traveled extensively documenting the human condition for over 20 years. Avidly interested in promoting arts and education, she co-established non-profit art organizations—MMARTS in London and Art Soup in Santa Barbara, California—both of which developed permanent exhibition spaces for local artists. She is the co-founder of a non- profit organization whose mission is to provide education and healthcare to rural Asian communities. For her most current endeavor, Marla is the Founder and Director of the Peace Caravan Project that documents the places of historical and religious significance along ancient Silk Road and other trade routes.
In 2006 she was awarded a fiscal sponsorship with the New York Foundation for the Arts and through NYFA, the Peace Caravan Project has operated as a non-profit organization.
Marla Mossman produced and directed the short documentary film that she photographed in 2010 and 11 during her excursion on the Northern and Southern portions of the Chinese Silk Road. The film is titled Peace Caravan: Journey Along the Silk Road Xinjiang Province, China is about the disappearing culture of the Uyghurs who resides in this remote region of far western China.
Marla recently returned from Uganda. She traveled there to film and photograph the origins of the ancient trade routes at the source of the Nile River. While there she documented an infer-faith community of coffee farmers and exporters living in peaceful co-existence. This film, KAWOMERA: Plant, Pray, Partner for Peace has just been awarded the 2014 Best Documentary Short at the NY/LA International Film Festival.
In 2005 Marla Mossman traveled to Afghanistan to work with the Ministers from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education in Kabul and Bamiyan Province. She was the first foreigner and woman to visit Waras, a remote part of Central Afghanistan, traveling on horseback, with donkey and mules.
Marla believes that there is a global need for openness and cultural exchange to help gain the mutual respect and cooperation necessary for World Peace. The Peace Caravan Project endeavors to inform and inspire others to achieve understanding, tolerance and acceptance. Through her journey traveling alone, Marla sets an example to the people that she meets on the road.
Through her photography exhibitions, lectures and multimedia presentations, books and documentary films, she generates her passion to her audiences here at home. Marla Mossman’s motto: “Trust is the currency of the solo traveler.
Please view the website at: www.peacecaravan.com