Participants in a photography workshop honoring Chris Caris posed with Chris Caris’ parents Ted and Jeannie Caris in the NCCA Artsplace gallery		Ted and Jeannie Caris and instructor Jane Vitek viewed one of the photos created by a workshop participant. Vitek was Chris Caris’ art teacher when he was in school.
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Young photographers participate in workshop honoring Chris Caris

Eleven young photographers from throughout Newaygo County participated in a special four-week photography workshop held at NCCA Artsplace.

The workshop was initiated to honor Chris Caris, the son of Ted and Jeannie Caris. Chris Caris was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed the art of photography while he was a student at Fremont High School. The classes were funded by the Christopher R. Caris Memorial Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation and taught by Jane Vitek, Chris Caris’ former art teacher.

Area art instructors recommended students to participate in the class. Participants included Deonna Harris of White Cloud, Nicole Conant and Bree Ball of Hesperia, Elizabeth Pell and Becca Wolffis of Fremont Christian, Mary Ann Franks and Ashtyn Hooker of Newaygo, Paige Tibbe and Samantha Pell of Grant, and Troy St. Peter and Ashley Taylor of Fremont.

Vitek gave specialized instruction to the budding photographers, covering 35mm single lens reflex cameras, composition, developing negatives, printing and enlarging. Students also learned to mount their photographs and cut their own mats in order to display their work. Select pieces of each participant’s work and a few photos taken by Chris Caris while he was in high school are on display at NCCA Artsplace through Feb. 28.

NCCA Artsplace is at 13 E. Main Street in downtown Fremont. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.