Photographic Lenses: History, Design, and Use

Instructor: Eric Taubman | Tuition: $328 (Members) $385 (Non-Members) | Dates: Wednesdays, June 18 - July 23 (skip July 2) | Time: 6 - 8 PM ET

The role of the photographic lens in the creation of photographs is largely an accepted and seemingly obvious one. This class invites students to dig deeper to explore the aesthetic, technical, and historic context of lens choice in photography. Through lecture, discussion, and visual examples, students will be introduced to a range of historic medium and large format lenses and the photographs they helped produce. This study will provide a practical understanding of how lenses have influenced image-making throughout history—and how these tools can inform and inspire contemporary photographic practice. While a historical timeline provides valuable context, the primary focus is on understanding different lens types for personal artistic use.

The course is structured around five weekly sessions, each two hours long, covering the following topics:

• Portrait Lenses

• Landscape Lenses

• Pictorial Lenses

• Modern and Speed Lenses

• Formats, Technical Info and Purchasing Choices