Suspect Photography

words and images from david george brommer

Category: Suspect Photography Education

October 20, 2025

Mastering Photographic Styles: Insights from a Five-Day Workshop

I recently taught the “Finding & Developing Photographic Style” workshop for the second time, and it was a very positive experience. With only three students, the personalized instruction and individual feedback were exceptional, making it feel more like mentorship than a regular class. I am amazed by the students’ work over the five days.

Highlights of the Content and Structure:

The structure of the five-day workshop was superb, perfectly balancing inspiration, practical application, and in-depth review. The daily profiles of master photographers, such as Andre Kertesz, Helen Levitt, and Sally Mann, provided essential historical context and tangible examples of established photographic styles. This foundation made the field assignments feel more purposeful.

The itinerary was meticulously planned to maximize both learning and shooting opportunities. From the practical “Rock Leaf Tree” assignment on day one, designed to immediately engage  with editing and style deconstruction, to the stunning outdoor locations like Elmer’s Barn, Beauchamp Point, the Rusty Truck Quarry, we were constantly applying new concepts in varied settings.

Every Student got a turn at the control sticks of a DJI Mavic to explore Drone Photography.
Sending out the Drone past Beuchamp Point unlocked hitherto unavailable vistas to photograph like a Seagull at flight.

The full-day devoted to The Narrative Morning & Model Session at Vesper Hill was particularly invaluable for learning how to direct a subject while maintaining a personal vision. Some would say, the work with famed Maine Media Character Model, Peter Patton was out of this world (yes I brought up a space NASA space suit that I’ll be recycling on Halloween).

A Culture of Constructive Growth:

The most significant takeaway was the focus on real-time feedback. The regular editing and review sessions and the rigorous final edit leading up to the mini gallery showing on the final evening, instilled a strong sense of accountability and professionalism. This process helped the students hone the top images and articulate the style we were developing. I was very proud of the work in our class that the students made.

Elise Klysa
Emma Lucarelli
Don Logie

We took a deep dive into Brommer’s Six Points of Photographic Style; Attitude & Emotions, Genre, Technique, Treatment and Presentation.

For anyone serious about moving beyond technical competence to creating work with a distinctive voice, this small-group workshop is an outstanding investment. The high level of personalized attention, refined curriculum, killer locations all make for a great time while achieving photographic style. 

2026 Date is Live! This time we’re heating things up with the class from July 13-17. Unlike the quiet fall workshop at the Maine Media Campus, the summer vibe is lively with many students and renowned instructors. Join us; this workshop will fill up quickly—Mid Coast in July is beautiful.

Book Your July 13-17 2026 Workshop Here
~David Brommer
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June 30, 2025

Inside the Massive No Kings Protests: A Peaceful Dissent

NYC does things big, and this march was no exception. The call was out on social media and being discussed, I actually heard about it while I was parking my Vespa on 35th street.

The “No Kings” march was a series of nationwide protests held on June 14, 2025, coinciding with a large military parade in Washington, D.C.

These protests aimed to voice opposition to the Trump administration’s policies and what they perceived as authoritarian tendencies. 

Organizers said the protests were a response to what they saw as an attempt by the Trump administration to project dominance and militarize the country. 

The protests drew large crowds in cities across the U.S. and even internationally, with organizers claiming millions participated in hundreds of events. Demonstrations took place in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities. 

The protests were generally peaceful, with a focus on expressing dissent and concerns about the direction of the country. 

While the protests were not explicitly anti-monarchy, the “No Kings” name was chosen to convey the message of rejecting authoritarianism and what organizers saw as an overreach of executive power under the Trump administration. 

The timing of the protests, alongside the military parade, was meant to create a contrast between the perceived militarization of the government and the public’s desire for a more democratic and inclusive society. 

Above is a one minute 38 second video of stills mixed in with audio I recorded on my iPhone. The video was edited in iMovie.

My feelings photographing this protest were one of duty and respect. As Americans, there is something sublime to exercising your first amendment rights. The key is peaceful, and this protest march was certainly peaceful. I witnessed no aggressive or destructive behavior from my walk of 42nd street to 23rd street. There were families and many other older New Yorkers on the periphery and no counter protesting. The rain was relentless and it did not dull the numbers. I estimate 50K showed up. It was a solid mass of marchers from 42nd to 23rd for well over an hour.

Photo by Brandon Remler

I used a Nikon Z9 with 14-24 2.8 and 24-120 4.0. I had originally planned on two bodies, but the rain was really coming down and I didn’t want the extra weight. At one point I was changing lenses under a scaffolding and was quite cautious in the operation! That’s the merit of two bodies- no lens switching. Noted for next time.

~David

“I have friends everywhere”

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