RICHARD SANDLER STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP at GALLERY 881

ABOUT

This three-day workshop (September 28–30, 2025), hosted by Gallery 881, offers an exciting opportunity to learn from photographer, filmmaker, and former ICP instructor Richard Sandler. The program will guide students in their photographic practice and challenge them to think critically about their work and the medium.

Through one-on-one coaching with Richard, as well as group discussions and critiques, the workshop combines practical and theoretical components designed to help participants create compelling street photography of their own. Students will photograph in Vancouver’s downtown core with Richard, who will provide direct feedback and guidance in real time.

Conversations, critiques, and open dialogue will encourage participants to consider influences, refine their selections, and push their practice further. Gallery 881 curator and visual artist John Goldsmith will also actively participate each day, offering insights from his experience as a street photographer, fine art printer, and gallerist.

By the end of the workshop, each student will have photographed, edited, and selected one image (12×18”) to be printed by PrintMaker Studio. This includes one-on-one mentorship in fine art printing and finishing techniques.

DETAILS

• Cost: $1,350 CAD + tax

• Limited to 8 participants

• Questions? Email: info@gallery881.com

Each student will receive a 12×18” archival pigment print on Canson Infinity paper, produced on the final day of the workshop by PrintMaker Studio, our in-house Canson Infinity Certified Print Lab.

We are grateful to our sponsors, including PrintMaker Studio and Canson Infinity.

KEY TOPICS

• The following is a non-comprehensive list of workshop topics:

• Overcoming fear and hesitation

• Manner, approach, and presence while photographing on the street

• Learning to see photographs in real time through composition, subject matter, and social commentary—combining these elements to express your relationship with the world and find inspiration

• Editing and making selections to create cohesive sequences

• Drawing on influences while maintaining your own voice

• Exploring the differences and possibilities between motion and the still photograph

• (Optional) Using flash on the street: techniques, advantages, managing risk, and making thoughtful choices about when—or when not—to use it

Sunday, September 28, 2025
Location: Gallery 881
Time: 10am – 4pm

• Richard will present a selection of photographs from his career, discussing his process, approach to street photography, and offering actionable advice with time for questions.

• Students will have their work—and that of their peers—critiqued by Richard and Gallery 881 curator John Goldsmith.

• In a group discussion, Richard will share some of his own influences while guiding students on how to draw on influences effectively while developing their own voice.

Monday, September 29, 2025
Location: Downtown Vancouver
Time: 10am – 4pm

• Students will gather in the morning in Vancouver’s downtown core before splitting up to photograph independently while staying in contact with the group.

• Richard will rotate among students in 20-minute intervals, providing one-on-one coaching, answering questions, and offering advice on technique and approach while photographing candidly on the street.

• After approximately five hours of shooting, students will reconvene at Gallery 881 for a group reflection. Participants will share photographs from the day while Richard offers feedback and guidance on editing and sequencing.

• Following the session, each student will independently create a sequence of up to 10 photos and select one image to be printed by PrintMaker Studio.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Location: Gallery 881
Time: 10am – 2pm

• Students will present their photo sequences to the group. Richard will critique their images, sequencing choices, and final selections.

• Participants will be asked to articulate their sequencing and selection decisions, encouraging deeper reflection on their artistic voice. Richard will provide tailored feedback and advice.

• A 40-minute lunch with Richard will be scheduled each day. Students are invited to join at their own expense. Lunch provides an informal opportunity to ask questions and gain insights in a casual setting.

LOCATION, DATES, AND FEES

The participation fee is CA$1,350 + tax and must be paid in advance. Attendance is limited to a maximum of eight students. The workshop will take place September 28–30, 2025 at Gallery 881 (881 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3Y1) and in Downtown Vancouver.

EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND REQUIRED MATERIALS
This workshop is intended for students who already have an active photographic practice and a solid technical understanding of concepts such as the exposure triangle and range focusing.

Participants are required to bring:

• A digital or film camera

• A computer for editing and sequencing work

Additional notes:

• Film processing (up to 2 rolls) is available at no extra charge.

• Students should be familiar with their preferred workflow.

• Access to mobile data in Canada and a WhatsApp account are required.

• If film is used, the final print may not be ready by the workshop’s close. In this case, it will be shipped after the event.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Students are responsible for arranging their own travel and insurance.

• Meals and beverages are not provided. A lunch break will be scheduled each day, and students may choose to eat with Richard or on their own, at their own expense.

• Fees must be paid in advance. Refunds will not be issued if a student is unable to attend.

• In the event of force majeure, Gallery 881 will make a reasonable effort to reschedule. Students are responsible for their own availability. If rescheduling is not possible, students will receive a 90% refund.

• The daily schedule may be adjusted to accommodate timing and student needs.

BIOS

Richard Sander
Photographer and FIlmmaker

Richard Sandler, (b.1946) is a street photographer and documentary filmmaker. His still photographs are in the permanent collections of the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, the New York Historical Society, the Houston Museum of Fine Art, the Museum of the City of New York and the Center for Creative Photography. Richard was awarded two New York Foundation for the Arts fellowships for photography, (1992, 1998), a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowship for Filmmaking, (2006), and a New York State Council on the Arts fellowship for Filmmaking (2009). Richard worked as a freelance photojournalist for 35 years; his clients included the New York Times, Time Magazine, the Village Voice, The Boston Phoenix, Boston Magazine and The Real Paper (Boston). 

Richard has directed and shot eight non-fiction films, including “The Gods of Times Square,”(1999), “Brave New York” (2004) and “Radioactive City,” (2011). Presently, Richard’s documentary film, “AKA Martha’s Vineyard” is in post production; it recounts the lovely island’s history, told from Wampanoag first nations' perspectives. His first monograph,"The Eyes of the City," (powerHouse Books, 2016) is in it’s third printing, and two other (street and subway) books are in the works. From 1985-1993 Richard taught street and documentary photography classes at the International Center of Photography in New York City.

Richard Sandler is proudly represented by Gallery 881.

“The best photographs are the ones that ask more questions than they answer.” - Richard Sandler

richardsandler.com

John Goldsmith
Artist, Fine Art Printer, and Director of Gallery 881

John Goldsmith is an artist, fine art printer, and gallery director. He is the creator of Gallery 881, a lens-based contemporary art gallery located in Vancouver, Canada. He is also a master printer and owner of PrintMaker Studio. As an artist, John’s photographs have been featured at exhibitions including the Format Festival (UK), Third Floor Gallery (Wales), and the Head On Photo Festival (Australia). His artwork has been regularly featured in print and online publications.

John has a Master's Degree in Physical Chemistry from Indiana University where he used light to investigate properties of matter. During this time, he began taking darkroom and photography classes at the Hull House in Chicago, IL and began to develop his own art practice. In 2013, he was an invited artist for the inaugural Capture Photography Festival and the 2016 award winner for a public art display on the Canada Line. In 2020, John opened PrintMaker Studio, a fine art printing and custom framing studio located in Vancouver, Canada. John is also the co-creator of SlideNight and 560 Gallery.

johngoldsmithphotography.com

SPONSORS

We are grateful to our sponsors Canson Infinity and PrintMaker Studio, a Canson Certified Print Lab. The Certified Print Labs are a network of ‘best in class’ studios and boutique labs based around the world. All the partners have completed a technical evaluation and offer the best print quality on Canson Infinity papers, combined with excellent service. All the partners offer professional fine art & photo printing, however, some also offer art reproduction services for artists and printmakers, looking to create limited edition prints on Canson Infinity or ARCHES digital fine art papers. These studios use high-end capture devices and the correct lighting to faithfully reproduce the original artwork. The network offers services for photographers, printmakers & artists looking for excellent quality and service.