Instructors: Rachael Sokolowski & Mark Kesling
Monday - Friday
August 17 - 21
9am - 12pm
5 sessions
This workshop explores how individual photographs—or a small group of images—can come together to form a cohesive visual narrative. Using the iPhone as a creative storytelling tool, participants examine how mood, repetition, transitions, and pacing shape the emotional arc of a sequence. We focus on seeing with intention: recognizing characters, settings, light, and meaningful moments as they unfold, and using composition, perspective, and timing to guide the story being told.
Through guided shooting exercises and discussion, participants learn how to work a scene, explore themes and think beyond the single image. We explore how light, viewpoint, and visual rhythm influence narrative impact, and how different types of sequences—linear, thematic, or abstract—can be used to convey emotion and meaning. The emphasis is on observation and choice, helping images speak to one another through subtle visual connections. As the workshop progresses, participants build and refine their own visual sequence. We focus on selecting anchor images, shaping flow, and editing for consistency of color, tone, and mood. Simple sequencing and collage techniques—sometimes incorporating text or graphic elements—are introduced to deepen atmosphere and meaning. The workshop concludes with a shared presentation, with each participant completing a small visual poem: a story told through images that reflects their unique perspective and way of seeing the world through their iPhone.
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Rachael Sokolowski is a visual artist and writer based in North Truro, Massachusetts. Her work blends image and language into visual stories, inviting viewers to reflect on the world—one photograph, one moment at a time. Many of her projects emerge organically rather than following a fixed narrative, allowing intuition, observation, and curiosity to guide the creative process. An early adopter of the iPhone as her primary camera, Rachael embraces the versatility of mobile photography. She works across photography, video, and mixed media, often layering text or experimenting with a range of iPhone apps. Her prints frequently push beyond traditional boundaries, incorporating ink, pastel, and water-based oils to build texture, depth, and tactile presence. Rachael’s work has been included in juried and group exhibitions and has received numerous honors. She is Vice President of the Cape Cod Viewfinders Camera Club and a member of both the National Association of Digital Artists and The Truro Group.
Mark Kesling is a pioneering artist and designer in the field of museum education and design for more than 30 years. He has designed, created and managed major exhibits and installations in museums including The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, The Carnegie Museum, The Exploratorium, and the Children’s Museum of Wilmington. While at the Museum of Science and Industry, Mark was responsible for leading the museum’s long-range planning efforts to redesign its exhibits and programs. He collaborated with local neighborhood leaders, city leaders, and visionaries from a variety of science and engineering fields throughout North America. As the founder and CEO of the daVinci Pursuit, Mark provided leadership through the design of a “museum without walls”. He possesses a unique set of skills, combining art with science in ways that engage learners of all ages. He works with neighborhood, city, institutional, artist and educational partners to create science installations and programs. A professional photographer and artist, Mark teaches nature journaling, watercolor, and photography classes throughout Cape Cod, Ma.