Environmental Portraits with Primes and Al Satterwhite

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November 8-9, 2025 - In this master class weekend Al Satterwhite explains how photography is a distillation of composition. By understanding the advantages of prime lenses vs. Zoom lenses.
SKU:
USAK-MC-ASW-NYC-2511
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New York. NY, In-Person
$499.99
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Description:  

Photography is a distillation of composition. Understanding the advantages of prime lenses vs. Zoom lenses. All students will be given 3 subject matter assignments to shoot during the first day and will edit down to their best 3 images for a group critique and presentation on day 2. Group class consensus will make the final choice, and each student will walk away with that image as a print. 

Topics Covered: 

  • Why shooting with Primes vs. Zooms 
  • Advantage of Using 2 Bodies with Primes vs. Zooms
  • Informing the decision for the right lens choice for the composition.
  • Relationships and creative options based on lens choice.
  • Knowing your focal length. 
  • Shooting while conscious of the edit--
  • By limiting self to 1-2 primes, you narrow your focus & create rigid guidelines.

Who should take this workshop: 

This class is designed for students who are well on their photographic journey and looking to learn more about their next steps, their equipment. Prime lenses are the natural next step to perfecting a photographer's signature look. This class aims to help students try new focal lengths and learn the strength in turn.  

 

Special notes about this program: 

This is a rain or shine program, there will be elements inside and outside so students should dress accordingly. While there will be Leica cameras available to loan on a first come first serve basis, students are still asked to bring their own camera to learn with. Owning a Leica camera for this class is not a requirement.  

 

Agenda:  

Saturday: 

10:30am – 11:00am: Check-in & Welcome

11:00am – 12:00pm: Classroom Lecture on Primes and Composition

12:00pm – 1:00pm: Group Lunch

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Review assignments & send students out for the afternoon. 

2:00pm – Evening: Open photography assignment with Al in the city

Sunday: 

12:00pm – 12:30pm: Arrive with images selected to present to class for Critique

12:30pm – 1:00pm: Q&A from the previous day's photography

1:00pm – 3:30pm: Group review & critique

3:30pm – 4:30pm: Get the edit/consensus down to 1 image, create a print.

Details 

Location(s):  New York, Meatpacking 

Event Type: Master Class 

Experience Level: Intermediate  

Class Size: 10 Students 

AT-A-GLANCE

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INSTRUCTOR

Al Satterwhite is a veteran photographer who has been published in major magazines such as Life, Look, Sports Illustrated, Time and many others. Published photographic books include The Cozumel Diary (adventures with Hunter S. Thompson in Mexico), Titans (Muhammad Ali & Arnold Schwarzenegger), the Racers (the Golden Age of endurance motor racing), Carroll Shelby (one of the most iconic racing giants of the 60s), Paul Newman- Blue-eyed Cool, The Rolling Stones Icons, Lights! Camera! Advertising! and Satterwhite on Color and Design.  He's currently working on two more books. 

 

Satterwhite’s stark black and white imagery and signature style of color and design are represented in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), George Eastman House, Polaroid Collection, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Ft. Wayne Museum of Art, as well as numerous private collections. Satterwhite’s iconic photograph of Hunter Thompson was included in the important Smithsonian show and book, American Cool. Satterwhite’s passion and curiosity in capturing images has expanded to motion pictures and television advertising. Seldom without a camera in hand, Satterwhite lives in New York City with his wife, Valery, and two Zen-Masters, both of them cats. 

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