Painting with Light with Joe Glyda. This class will demonstrate the photographic approach that blends technique, creativity, and a bit of controlled chaos. Light painting is both one of the oldest and most experimental forms of photography. Long before digital cameras, photographers discovered that moving a light source through a dark space during a long exposure, they could draw directly into a frame. Overtime artist, commercial photographers, and visual experimenters have refined, reinvented and reimagined this process into what we now recognize is Light Painting. This will be a hands-on class. You won’t just be learning about light painting you’ll be doing it. I will a walk you through the history of light painting, by showing work from highlighted key photographers who help shape its evolution from the early dark room experiments to contemporary practitioners pushing the boundaries today. You’ll see how the light painting has moved from scientific curiosity to an artistic tool, and in some cases of powerful story telling device. Make sure you bring a flashlight along with you camera and tripod and we’ll have some fun.

Joe Glyda is a seasoned commercial photographer with over 48 years of professional experience, specializing in food and product photography. For 36 years, he served as a staff photographer at Kraft Foods in Chicago, IL, where he created national advertisements, brochures, point-of-sale materials, and countless food-related campaigns across the company. A pioneer in the digital photography arena, Joe introduced digital imaging technology to Kraft in 1993. His leadership in this evolving field led him to co-chair the digital photography section for the FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) industry guidelines, first published in 2000, setting standards for flexographic printing nationwide. Joe’s expertise in both traditional and digital workflows positioned him as a respected industry educator, leading to teaching roles at top photographic institutions including Professional Photographers of America (PPA) conventions, Texas School, West Coast School, M.A.R.S. School, Lamar School, Image Explorations of Canada, Photoshop World, and Kelby One Training. After retiring from Kraft in 2009, Joe relocated to Tulsa, OK, where he continues to photograph food and products, expanding his portfolio to include aviation photography. In 2015, he joined the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team as a volunteer and has been documenting their parachute operations as well as restoring three vintage aircraft since 2016. Joe holds the prestigious titles of PPA Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, and Master Artist, and was awarded the ASP Fellowship in January 2024. He is also the author of two books: Food Photography, creating appetizing images published in 2019 and a WWII aviation art coffee table book, a self-published project released in 2021. Known for his energetic spirit, sharp eye, and sense of adventure, Joe Glyda continues to push his creative boundaries to capture compelling imagery.