Rarefied Light 2025‘s Call for Entry will be open via Café (callforentry.org) until June 11th at 10pm MST. Our 2025 Rarefied Light Juror is Stephanie Johnson, a globally-recognized leader & mentor of ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) & creative photography.
Links to this call will be made available here once it opens!
LECTURE DETAILS:
July 17th, 7pm Juror Lecture “The Language of Abstraction: Pushing beyond Representation”
In her presentation, The Language of Abstraction: Pushing beyond Representation, Stephanie shares her passion for exploring abstraction and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression through creative photography techniques, such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and Multiple Exposure (ME). Abstract art pushes beyond representation of the literal to convey ideas, concepts, moods, and emotions that are subjective and open to interpretation. The visual language of abstraction places emphasis on the use of color, shape, form, and line in ways that are independent of specific visual references in the literal world. Learning to work with less than traditional photography techniques in this way then becomes an exploration of self for the photographic artist who is willing to immerse themselves in the pursuit of a
visual language that is unique to their own individual creative spirit.
The creative possibilities of ICM and ME are limitless and can be used anywhere, with any device. Stephanie shares her own camera techniques, creative processes, and artistic philosophies in this presentation, which inspires photographers to push beyond any boundaries of creative expression they may hold, consciously or unconsciously. There is a deep joy and magic to be found in the individually expressive nature of ICM, ME, and creative photography techniques, and Stephanie’s presentation serves to push photographers outside their comfort zones, because growth, evolution, and expansion of creativity only come from pushing the boundaries.
In the sharing of her own journey from traditional landscape photographer to focusing on more creative approaches with her photography as art—with a series of images, examples, and instruction—Stephanie encourages photographers to ‘see’ through a more abstracted lens of personal vision and to express themselves more freely, independent of visual representation. Stephanie’s talk will cover the various in-camera and creative post-processing techniques she uses to express her own unique language of abstraction.
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Workshop “The Landscape of Imagination: Exploring the Unseen” July 18, 4-7 pm; 19 & 20th 10am – 5pm
In her workshop, The Landscape of Imagination: Exploring the Unseen, Stephanie leads the group in an exploration to find the rarefied (elevated nature of) light, by making the unseen seen through essence, mood, feeling, and emotion. Going beyond any specific visual references of the locations visited, the idea for this workshop is for hands-on play with the camera, experimentation with ideas, and learning to
allow intuition and freedom of expression to lead the way.
With plenty of instruction by example from Stephanie, practical application in the field, and immersion in the creative process, participants will create uniquely expressive images that represent and celebrate the spirit of place. The techniques of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and Multiple Exposure (ME) can surprise and delight us when we allow creativity to flow through our own individual experiences in the moment, especially when we embrace the idea of finding ways to work with whatever is presented before us, regardless of any particular set of conditions, expectations, or camera equipment.
This workshop is for anyone interested in pushing the boundaries of their photographic creativity to explore the various ways camera movement can be used to produce exciting, expressive, and imaginative images.