Missouri Photo Workshop now accepting applications, deadline July 14

The Missouri Photo Workshop was, “a defining time for me as a photographer. I will take MPW skills with me for the rest of my life, ” said Chad Ziemendorf who last year photographed MPW61 and joined hundreds of other photographers who say that the Workshop has changed their lives.

The Caregiver by Chad Ziemendorf/MPW 61, 2009

David Alan Harvey who photographed MPW19, in 1967 has said, “The Missouri Workshop was a watershed experience in my life. It was the single most important experience that I had in my early twenties that pushed things forward for me from then on. I use that Missouri philosophy every day of my working life now at both National Geographic and with Magnum.”

MPW has documented small town America for six decades, shaping the working methods of more than 2,000 photographers from around the world. Guided by some of the world’s leading photographers and editors, participants are challenged to develop both their researching and visual storytelling skills.

The students at this Sedalia elementary school were unconcerned with the issues that preoccupied some members of the school board and community when the girl at center transferred into an all white class. The photographer, Donna Coveney, recalls 'I remember that her family was really nice, she was really bright and energetic, and it seemed so odd to me that her going to the school 'across town' would cause the whole town to go nuts.' — Sedalia by Donna Coveney/MPW32, 1980

The deadline for application is July 14. Some scholarships are available.

Check out the Web site for more background information on the Workshop and for the downloadable application.

Faculty this year will include: Dennis Dimick, National Geographic executive editor, Randy Cox, senior editor for visuals at The Oregonian, Lois Raimondo, former staff photographer at the Washington Post and now teaching at West Virginia, Kim Komenich, former staff photographer at the San Francisco Chronicle and now teaching at San Jose State, MaryAnne Golon, former director of photography at Time magazine and now photography editor and media consultant, Randy Olson freelance for National Geographic, Melissa Farlow, freelance for National Geographic, and others. The Missouri Photo Workshop is sponsored by the Missouri School of Journalism, with significant support from Nikon Professional Services and the Missouri Press Association Foundation.

“When I came back from the Workshop to my job at the Los Angeles Times I felt so energized and confident…I felt like I could find stories anywhere and get the job done,” said Beatrice de Gea who photographed MPW56 in 2004.

We hope you will apply or tell a photojournalist friend who you think would be interested.

MPW62 will be held in Macon, Missouri September 26 – October 2.