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Our Faculty
Richard Batch
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Richard has taught Digital Photography I and II, Digital Printing I and II, Kids Camps, Meet & Shoot, Smartphone Photography, The Negative, and Developing a Personal Style. In 2021 he is introducing The Art of Photography, a class that discusses the elements of great photographs and applies them to current work.
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He shoots pictures of life happening, and recently produced a book of somewhat surreal and unusual photographs, Twilight in the Void. Richard’s photography was influenced by Richard Avedon, both his portrait and candid work, both of which showed people being vividly alive. He enjoys passing on what he has learned, helping people become better photographers with less effort.
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Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
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richardbatch.com
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"I aim to make it easier for my students to achieve what they want, not only by presenting techniques I'm teaching, but by helping with any specific area that interests them. This helps to broaden the scope of the class, and benefits other students (and sometimes me) as well."
"Teaching is merely sharing what you have learned. Sharing that body of knowledge in a pleasant, nurturing, and creative manner is my goal. Everyone has a creative spirit. Uncovering that impulse and delivering methods to access and develop that spirit is primary to my teaching style."
Susan "Sue" Ruddick Bloom​
Sue Bloom came to photography in the 1980s from a drawing and painting background. She holds a BFA and an MFA from Maryland institute College of Art. She is a professor at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD.
At Photoworks, Sue has taught Digital Collage, Digital Painting, The Digital Beyond, Digitally Re-Touch Old Photo Family Photos, and multiple iPhone photography classes.
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She has several long running projects that include a series on Venus, Sacred Places that Never Existed, and continuing to create techniques for painterly interpretations of our photos.
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Her photography influences include: Ruth Bernhard, Joyce Tenneson, Arnold Newman, Julia Margaret Cameron, and so many more.
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Click the arrow to see examples of her work.
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suebloom.com
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Mac Cosgrove-Davies
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Mac teaches Historic Photo Processes at Photoworks.
These processes include:
gum bichromate, cyanotype, VanDyke, palladium, and carbon printing.
In addition to building the occasional camera, printing frame or other useful photographic gadget, he also creates books and presentation portfolios for his prints.
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He is currently working on hand painted cyanotypes.
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Mac is inspired by the work of Gertrude Kasebier and Edward Steichen
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Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
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"I focus on my student’s interests. My classes are less about showing how I make prints and more about helping students make the prints they want to make."
"I want my students to experience the excitement and satisfaction of creating engaging, beautifully rendered photographs that re-connect them to the moment of taking."
Alec Dann
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Alec is an artist working in digital photography.
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He teaches Introduction to Lightroom, Shoot and Learn (Lightroom practice and shooting assignments)
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His photography influences include Edward Weston, JP Caponigro, and Murray Riss.​
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Alec is currently working on "Tree Music" - a series of abstract studies of crape myrtle shape and color.
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Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
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alecdannarts.com
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@alec.dann
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Scott Davis​
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Scott has taught Platinum/Palladium Printing, Large Format Photography, Still Life, Understanding Your Process at Photoworks.
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He is currently working on the following projects: Mexico City Street Portraits (Day of the Dead), Sinister Idyll: Historical Slavery in the Modern Landscape.
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Scott is inspired by too many photographers to mention! But when further prompted he mentioned, John Dugdale, F. Holland Day, Robert Mapplethorpe, George Platt Lynes, Duane Michals.
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Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
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dcphotoartist.com
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@dcphotoartist
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"I'm a big believer in the Socratic method, to ask questions and allow students to find their own answers. I give students tools and let them discover how they work for their own purposes. There is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when you're doing something new."
Robb Hill​
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Robb has been a teacher at Photoworks for 10 years. He teaches Street Photography, Narrative Landscape, Lighting, Photographic Surrealism, Photography Inside Out.
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His photography influences are Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Josef Koudelka, Carl De Keyzer, Saul Leiter, and John Cohen. ​
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He is currently working Views of the U.S. Capitol, and Representation Without Taxation.
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Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
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robbhill.com
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"My goal is to unlock the creativity of my students. The assignments for all my classes are designed to give everyone technical foundation and confidence but are flexible enough for each student to find their own voice. "
"If I can do it, you can do it! Teaching is not about giving lectures but working together as a group where everyone contributes."
Sebastian Hesse-Kastien
Sebastian has been a (photo) journalist for over 35 years. In addition to his job in the news business he continuously works on long term documentary projects. Sebastian has published four photo books and his images have been in newspapers and magazines. For some time now he has worked with historic photographic processes.
On his own work: I'm less interested in single images and putting photographs on a wall. I prefer storytelling with images and making them accessible in books. Photo books are the most democratic way to share photographic work: affordable, sustainable and accessible everywhere!
Karen Keating ​
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Karen is the high school photography teacher at the Field School in Washington, DC and is the director and a teacher at Photoworks.
Karen was a recipient of a Maryland State Arts Council grant; published her photo book, “Cuba: Watching and Waiting” in 2008 and received the Center’s 2010 Teaching Award. Fine art photography in the genre of street shooting and documentary defines her style.
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At Photoworks she teaches Visual Poetry, Close to Home, and various camps for youth.
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Click the arrow to see examples of her work.
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karenkeating.com
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" I want the students to fall in love with the idea of visual communication and exploration – to love to make photos! I encourage my students to photograph what they know and who they are. I believe in the power of a small, trusting community for critiquing and in the process of dialogue with students. Teaching is a passion for me."
David Scherbel
David teaches the following classes at Photoworks: Printing Photographs on Alternative Papers with Inkjet Printers ; Make and Print Your Own Photography Book with Online Sites;
Creating Handmade Photography Books.
He manipulates traditional and alternative processes to produce handmade works of art, often building on a traditional silver gelatin or digital photographic image as the foundation for his creative journey.
He is currently photographing new building constructions in downtown Bethesda for a handmade book.
David is inspired by the work of Robert Frank and Annie Leibovitz
Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
davidscherbel.com
"I believe teaching and learning are a give and take between students and teachers, and accordingly, I encourage questions, thoughts and conversation."
Francesca Scott
Francesca Scott is a photographer who lives and works in Washington, DC. A native of Washington, DC for most of her life and an alumnus of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Francesca considers herself a documentary photographer, constantly seeking images that may disappear at any given moment.
She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, she began working for Scurlock Studio in Washington, DC. Under the tutelage of Robert Scurlock, Francesca assisted with weddings, family portraits, and more. Later she worked with various news agencies and covered the 1996 Olympics.
"As an educator, I encourage students to think "outside of the box" through exploration, critical thinking, and self-discovery. The principles and elements of design are key as well as technical development with the medium."
"I teach the way I cook: hands-on. The manual will teach you the basics, but I am there to help you get the most out of your camera by showing you how it’s done. Then (here’s where the magic happens) you take control of your camera, newly confident, and make photos you never thought possible."
Frank Van Riper​
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Frank is an award-winning documentary and fine art photographer, journalist and author whose work has been published internationally.
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He has lectured widely, including at the Maine Photographic Workshops and the Smithsonian Resident Associate program. In 2007 he was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Maine at Machias for his “outstanding career in journalism and photography” and in 2011 was inducted into the City College of New York Communications Alumni Hall of Fame.
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At Photoworks he teaches a myriad of classes, including: Lighting Basics, Glen Echo Park at Night, La Faccia - Photographing the Face, and Photographing art work.
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Click the arrow to see examples of his work.
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gvrphoto.com
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