Menu SUMMER INTENSIVE June 18, 2018 through July 27, 2018 WHAT IS SUMMER INTENSIVE? What we offer at RMSP is so unique that some of our students have described it as "unreal". For six full weeks, you'll eat, breathe, sleep, and dream photography. Our classes are practical and hands-on; there's no dabbling in abstract theory or irrelevant course work. Unlike trying to teach yourself from books or online videos, our talented instructors will teach you, meet you where you are, and help you achieve your personal, creative vision. Want six college credits for the six weeks you're learning photography? You can get them through the University of Montana! Click here to learn more! Tuition: $4,395 Deposit: $500 Apply Now Other options: Purchase a gift certificate F.A.Q. Cancellation Policy Description Details Equipment & Supplies Missoula, Montana Instructors Our Summer Intensive program has been running strong since 1989, and there’s a reason for our success. We care about our students. And our goal? It’s simple: to help you become the best photographer you can be. Immerse yourself in five core areas of study, enhance your knowledge of everything photography, and leave feeling confident and inspired to take stunning photographs and creatively express yourself through your images. Are you ready for the photography experience of a lifetime? A Different Kind of Education What we offer at RMSP is so unique that some of our students have described it as “unreal.” For six full weeks, you’ll eat, breathe, sleep and dream photography. Our classes are practical and hands-on; there’s no dabbling in abstract theory or irrelevant course work. Unlike trying to teach yourself from books or online videos, our talented instructors will meet you where you are, teach you, and help you achieve your personal, creative vision. No matter your skill level, everyone develops the same solid foundation by the end of our program. Nowhere else can you walk in with limited photographic knowledge, dive headlong into an immersive, six-week curriculum, and emerge with the confidence and know-how of a well-rounded photographer. There’s no substitute for pursuing what you love in an inspired community of other budding artists, and you’ll learn as much about yourself in this program as you will about photography. You simply can’t get an education like this and walk away unchanged. Who Comes to SI? Diversity is the key to creativity and learning, which is why everyone is welcome at RMSP. One of the highlights of our Summer Intensive is meeting people of different ages, skill levels and backgrounds. Some students come to us out of high school because they’re looking to build a photographic foundation. Others have entered retirement and are eager to finally pursue their passion. Some students have never picked up a camera until day one, while others are eager to expand their existing skill set. We’ve had students who are veterans, mid-career professionals seeking a change, and everything in between. Over 2500 students in the past 29 years have traveled to Missoula from all over the U.S., England, Scotland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the Bahamas, Poland, Thailand, and elsewhere. It’s unconventional, and we repeatedly hear from our alums that this variety is what truly makes and shapes the program. One thing that all of our students do have in common is a sense that life can’t wait — that it’s time to get off the couch and explore your photography calling. Course Descriptions Photographic Studies begins with fundamentals. Learn how to use your DSLR and how shutter speeds, f-stops, ISO and color balance affect your images. With the basic skills under wraps, you’ll experiment with different photographic genres, including landscape, macro, and photojournalism, and you’ll learn about lenses, tripods, and the latest in camera technology. Then you’ll head out on field shoots with RMSP instructors, where you’ll get to tinker with your exciting new gear and understand how to make the most of your photographic toolkit. Visual Studies is all about perception. You’ll explore the history and evolution of photography and learn about composition, story, perspective, and style. You’ll grow adept at identifying the qualities of extraordinary images and engage in interactive critiques with your group. Most importantly, you’ll pursue your own unique vision and discover how best to express it. Lighting is elemental. Being a good photographer is all about mastering light in its variations and forms. This course teaches you everything you need to know, from the fundamentals of seeing light to understanding the differences between natural and artificial lighting. You’ll learn how to maximize light, shoot in low light, and accentuate images with a flash. In no time, you’ll understand how to create polished, captivating photos. Output is a crucial skill for photographers. You’ll learn how to get your photos from your hard drive to their next destination. Color management, inkjet printing from Adobe Lightroom, using a print lab, and an introduction to social media will prepare you to share your work with the world. Image Editing is where we bring the magic of photography to life. Our instructors will teach you how to turn a good image into an exceptional one. Using the latest version of Adobe Lightroom, you’ll learn how to crop, sharpen, vignette, remove lens distortion, make corrections, bring out detail in your shadows and highlights, and many additional skills. Through follow-along instruction and one-on-one lab time, you’ll master techniques for capturing, processing, and maximizing every image. Last but not least, you’ll learn proper storage and workflow techniques so that photo editing doesn’t become a major time drain. At RMSP, you can count on learning more than you ever thought possible — about cameras, equipment, and crafting images — from some of the world’s most thoughtful and dedicated instructors. What you might not realize is that an RMSP education is about more than just photography. Summer Intensive students frequently tell us that the program blew their expectations out of the water. That’s because the SI experience isn’t just about capturing the best images of your life — it’s about undertaking the communal journey of becoming a photographer and forming the kinds of friendships that last a lifetime. Going to school can be intimidating, especially in an intensive art program. Not at RMSP. We are a supportive community that encourages you to take risks and try something new. We’re not about competition here. We’re about becoming part of a family, the kind where everyone pushes one another to grow, collaborate and succeed. THE SI EXPERIENCE At RMSP, you can count on learning more than you ever thought possible - about cameras, equipment, and crafting images - from some of the world's most thoughtful and dedicated instructors. What you might not realize is that an RMSP education is about more than just photography. Summer Intensive students frequently tell us that the program blew their expectations out of the water. That's because the SI experience isn't just about capturing the best images of your life — it's about undertaking the communal journey of becoming a photographer and forming the kinds of friendships that last a lifetime. Going to school can be intimidating, especially in an intensive art program. Not at RMSP. We are a supportive community that encourages you to take risks and try something new. We're not about competition here. We're about becoming part of a family, the kind where everyone pushes one another to grow, collaborate and succeed. WHO COMES TO SI? Diversity is the key to creativity and learning, which is why everyone is welcome at RMSP. One of the highlights of our Summer Intensive is meeting people of different ages, skill levels and backgrounds. Some students come to us out of high school because they're looking to build a photographic foundation. Others have entered retirement and are eager to finally pursue their passion. Some students have never picked up a camera until day one, while others are eager to expand their existing skill set. We've had students who are veterans, mid-career professionals seeking a change, and everything in between. Over 2500 students in the past 29 years have traveled to Missoula from all over the U.S., England, Scotland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the Bahamas, Poland, Thailand, and elsewhere. It's unconventional, and we repeatedly hear from our alums that this variety is what truly makes and shapes the program. One thing that all of our students do have in common is a sense that life can't wait — that it's time to get off the couch and explore your photography calling. Summer Intensive Curriculum Composition & Color Digital Capture Shooting Action Advanced Exposure F-stops, ISO, & Shutter Speeds Histograms Zone System Night Photography Landscape, Wildlife, & Macro HDR & Panoramas Inkjet & Outsource Printing Photojournalism & Documentary Portraiture Photo History Visual Language Understanding Light Contemporary Trends Mounting, Matting, & Framing Flash & Natural Lighting Image Storage & Editing Retouching Techniques Print & Digital Lab Sessions Course Descriptions Photographic Studies Photographic Studies begins with fundamentals. Learn how to use your DSLR and how shutter speeds, f-stops, ISO and color balance affect your images. With the basic skills under wraps, you'll experiment with different photographic genres, including landscape, macro, and photojournalism, and you'll learn about lenses, tripods, and the latest in camera technology. Then you'll head out on field shoots with RMSP instructors, where you'll get to tinker with your exciting new gear and understand how to make the most of your photographic toolkit. Previous Next Summer Intensive Exit Competencies: What will SI graduates actually know? Throughout six weeks, there is a lot of time for lectures, assignments, shoots, homework, fun, learning and community, but what specifically will you leave Summer Intensive knowing? Click below to see the Summer Intensive Exit Competencies for a list of what Summer Intensive students will have learned upon graduation. It must also be noted that this lists only the advanced topics. The basic skills a student needs to understand these advanced concepts will also be covered thoroughly. Summer Intensive Exit Competencies GRADUATE Q&A Sheeron Salinas 2013 Summer Intensive Graduate From: Norman, OK Previous Next A Week in the Life A student at SI will spend an average of eight-to-ten hours a day immersed in photography. A typical week will walk you through multiple genres and topics with expert instructors. Classes run from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Full days of instruction coupled with constructive assignments enable students to spend all six weeks fully engaged in photography. Monday Morning: PS: Landscape II Afternoon: VS: Creating a Photo Essay Evening: Tuesday Morning: Field Shoot: Landscape II, Sunrise Afternoon: PS: Photographing Action, Sports & Wildlife Evening: Field Shoot: Action, Sports & Animals Wednesday Morning: PS: Macro Photography Afternoon: Field Shoot: Macro Evening: Thursday Morning: Edit: Advanced Develop Module Afternoon: PS: Low Light & Astro Photography Evening: Field Shoot: Sunset & Night Shoot at Garnet Ghost Town Friday Morning: Outsource Printing Afternoon: Edit Lab & Print Lab Evening: Mixer: Portraiture at Night with Flash What our students say... Leanne Tippett Mosby Summer Intensive Often when you wait many years for an adventure, the anticipation creates out-sized expectations and you end up disappointed when these expectations are not met. I first heard about the Rocky Mountai... Read More Kimberly Minter Summer Intensive I was so excited for Summer Intensive that I signed up in October and couldn’t stop dreaming about it until I got to Missoula in May. I had very high expectations about what I was going to get out of ... Read More Candace Merlino Summer Intensive When I think about how many summers have come and gone without making the scary jump of moving to Montana and attending Summer Intensive, it is more than I want to think about. I am excited to know t... Read More Perks of Registering For Summer Intensive EDU Advantage Program By registering and completing any course with us, you will automatically be eligible for EDU status with B&H Photo. EDU members can save money on select items sold by B&H. Creative Cloud Subscription The software you use in your workflow is almost as crucial as your camera. Register for any RMSP course and you will receive a code to save 15% on a Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for the first year. What Gear Do You Need? Want a specific lens for a workshop? Need some extra gear fro your next shoot? Renting gear from Lens Pro To Go allows you to try before you buy! Upon registering for a course, you will receive a discount code for 10% off your next rental. Top About Gift Certificates Open House Scholarship Program High School Photo Contest Alumni Referral Program Educational Partners Privacy Policy Connect with Us Sign Up For Our Mailing List 1-800-394-7677 rmsp@rmsp.com 216 N.Higgins Ave. Missoula, MT 59802 United States of America Course Inquiries courses@rmsp.com Marketing Inquiries marketing@rmsp.com © 2018 - Rocky Mountain School of Photography