To that effect, PhotoManhattan offers introductory and advanced photographic instruction to the public at rates that are only a fraction of those of larger institutes and schools in the area, as well as affordable rentals of darkroom and studio space and lights. Instruction in basic topics emphasises critical technique and control of the camera. You can worry about philosophizing on whether a picture reflects "beauty" or not another time. First things first. To those more advanced, PhotoManhattan has challenging courses in Studio Lighting and Street Photography that will make even experienced amateurs stop and think about exactly what they are trying to do when they hit the shutter.

In addition, we host group events, exhibitions and lead group expeditions into different neighborhoods of New York City and beyond. A wide range of people have taken classes here, and participated in group events, from professionals, to those seeking to become professionals, to those who are looking for a means of moving beyond the 8-6 routine that otherwise traps so many of us.

We invite anyone interested in either taking classes, renting space, or becoming involved in PhotoManhattan's group activities, to contact us by phone, by email, or by passing by the studio. Now go out there and shoot.

Instructors

Ilir Bajraktari

Ilir is a photojournalist based in New York City. His passion for documentary photography began while he was working as an assistant for war photographers and documentary filmmakers in war zones.
In 2009, Ilir received an MS in Photojournalism from Boston University after having received a BA in Photography from Texas A&M University-Commerce and an AAS in Photography from Kilgore College. He has won numerous national awards both as a student and as a professional, including awards from Boston Press Photographers Association, Texas Photographic Society and Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. His work has been selected as a part of an exhibition with multi-city installations by the Texas Photographic Society. He also has a five image permanent installation at Boston University’s alumni gallery.

To view some of Ilir’s work you can visit: www.ilirb.com

Jackie Munro

Jackie is a documentary photographer and art educator based in Brooklyn. She likes taking photographs as a means of engagement while traveling along well-trodden routes and getting to know people by taking their picture. Jackie received her BFA in Photography from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Jackie's work can be seen online at www.jackiemunro.com.

Kathleen Rugh

Kathy is a photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. Her artwork centers around the psychological effects of the spaces we inhabit. Through repetitive and careful observations she uses the film and photographic medium to gain a deeper awareness of the places that easily get overlooked in our daily routine.

Kathy received an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston/Tufts University and a BFA from the University of Colorado at Denver. She has had her film and photographic work exhibited in galleries and screenings throughout the US and in Canada. She was recently awarded an Artist’s Residency at the Experimental Television Center in New York. Kathy has taught photography at Ithaca College, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and at the Denver Darkroom.

To learn more and to view her work, visit www.kathleenrugh.com.

Kevin Joseph Laccone

K.J.L. is a multi discipline artist who specializes in photography. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in fine art, a degree from the International Center of Photography in photography, and his master’s degree in fine art from the San Francisco Art Institute.
Mr. Laccone has moved back to Brooklyn to pursue a career in teaching.

You can see examples of Mr. Laccone’s work at: www.blurb.com/user/laccone

Maciej Markowicz

Maciej Markowicz is an interdisciplinary artist who works predominantly in photography, video, and sculpture. His main motivation comes from a desire to understand matters through a multi-sensory experience and to investigate the contexts for creating tangible things.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Photography from London College of Communications in London, United Kingdom. After graduating in 2010 he was awarded with Scholarship by School of Visual Arts to participate in one year Photo Global Residency here in New York.

Visit www.maciejmarkowicz.com to learn more and to view examples of his work.

Rocio Alba Gonzales (On leave of absence for 2011)

Rocio is a Queens based, fine art photographer. She began her formal artistic training at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. There, she discovered and fell in love with photography and was inspired to relocate toNew York and complete her BFA at the School of Visual Arts. Through her prolific series, Rocio hopes to unveil unconscious emotions that unify and divide the explosive dynamics within herself and her relationships. She attempts to depict expressions of psychosis and obsessions by the use of highly saturated colors, rhetorical symbolism and fantasy to recreate real life events that visual stimulate and provoke the viewer's imagination.

Rocio has worked as an assistant to various artists in New York and is also a teacher’s aid at her Alma Mata. She has participated in several group shows in both Los Angeles and New York. She works as a freelance photographer and is currently represented by Getty Images, one of the leading stock image proprietors in the country. Her most recent personal project involves documenting women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.

You can see some of Rocio’s work here: www.rocioalbagonzalez.com

Sara Mayti

Sara graduated summa cum laude from Montclair State University, with a degree in Photography. Now based based in New York City, her photojournalism takes her on African Safari, fishing trips in the Amazon, and bear hunting in Alaska.
Sara has been published both nationally and internationally, and works frequently as a private event photographer.

You can visit Sara's work at: www.saramayti.com

Virginia Hunter

Virginia is a photographer and art educator living in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute. Her personal work is currently focused on landscape and cityscape in mixed lighting. She recently worked as an architectural photographer for a real estate corporation and has done portraiture for professional musicians. In fall 2009, she worked as a Photography Assistant at Women's Wear Daily. Virginia also has an interest in cinematography and works as a Camera Production Assistant in the film industry whenever possible. She is a regular volunteer with New York Cares and Riverkeeper. Her photography can be viewed online at virginiaahunter.com or at pratt-talent.com.

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Studio Assistants
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Kati

Kati is available at PhotoManhattan Mondays - Thursdays between 10:00am-5:00pm and Fridays between 5:00 and 10:30PM

Martin

Martin is available at PhotoManhattan Mondays - Thursdays between 4:30am-10:30pm

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Collaborators
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Sebastian Ignacio
Sebastian contributes to the maintenance, developement, and improvement of this website. Although busy with his full-time job, Sebastian has us through out the years since our opening in 2003. Sebastian's main contribution was the rebuilding of this site in 2006 and the development of the user interface and visuals of developed between 2008 and 2010. .

Federico R.
Living abroad, Federico has contributed as our main consultant & data base development on and off since 2006. In 2009 Federico developed our main data base system which is still in place today. Between 2010 & 2011 he worked with us on a weekly basis to improve several company internal systemens.

Khaled Zakharia
Khaled is an outstanding web developer who is currently building our new and exciting website that will launch in 2012. Khaled has worked with us since 2009.

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