NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: Mountain Workshops 2026 in Winchester, KY. Join us for a week of education and inspiration as we build upon your skills of visual storytelling, while we document the community of Winchester and Clark County, Kentucky Oct. 20-24, 2026.
Apply online for our Photojournalism, Video Storytelling, or Picture Editing workshops.
Help us spread the world.
#mtnworkshops #photojournalism #visualstorytelling #communityjournalism @wkuvjp #wku #wkupcal #wkusmc
“Through the Lens of Time: 50 Years of the Mountain Workshops” For half a century, the Mountain Workshops, a flagship program of Western Kentucky University’s Visual Journalism & Photography program, has documented the heart and soul of communities across Kentucky and beyond. Here is the technology that has gotten us through the generations.
@wkuvjp@wku.smc@wkupcal@wku
“Through the Lens of Time: 50 Years of the Mountain Workshops” For half a century, the Mountain Workshops, a flagship program of Western Kentucky University’s Visual Journalism & Photography program, has documented the heart and soul of communities across Kentucky and beyond. Here is the technology that has gotten us through the generations.
@wkuvjp@wku.smc@wkupcal@wku
“Through the Lens of Time: 50 Years of the Mountain Workshops” For half a century, the Mountain Workshops, a flagship program of Western Kentucky University’s Visual Journalism & Photography program, has documented the heart and soul of communities across Kentucky and beyond. Here is the technology that has gotten us through the generations.
@wkuvjp@wku.smc@wkupcal@wku
WKU School of Media & Communication recently gathered four organizations dedicated to the tradition of documentary photography in the Kentucky. The John B. Gaines Family Lecture featured an insightful roundtable discussion led by Tom Eblen, highlighting how photography preserves our rich history and the vital role workshops play in mentoring the next generation.
Featured panelists included:
Jack Gruber (Boyd’s Station)
Brittany Greeson (Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project)
David Stephenson (Picture Kentucky)
James Kenney (Mountain Workshops)
Following the discussion, we celebrated the Mountain Workshops 50th Anniversary with the opening of "The Changing Story"—a new exhibit showcasing how customs and traditionas have changed or the past five decades.
📍 Visit the Exhibit:
Where: Jody Richards Hall Gallery, WKU
We are open 9 am - 8 pm M-TH
9 - 3 pm Friday
Parking is available in Chestnut St. South lot after 4:30 pm.
#WKU #MountainWorkshops #KentuckyPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #WKUJournalism @wku.smc@wkupcal WKU Potter College of Arts & Letters @wkuvjp
WKU’s School of Media & Communication and the John B. Gaines Family Lecture Series will host a public lecture and gallery opening on Friday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Jody Richards Hall Auditorium, highlighting the role documentary photography has played in preserving Kentucky’s communities and history.
The evening begins with a roundtable discussion titled “The Changing Story: Four Photography Projects That Document Kentucky’s Past and Present.” The conversation will feature leaders from four major documentary initiatives rooted in Kentucky that have collectively produced decades of visual storytelling across the state.
Participants include representatives from the Mountain Workshops, directed by James Kenney of WKU’s Visual Journalism & Photography program; The Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project, represented by WKU graduate Brittany Greeson; Project 306.36 at Boyd’s Station, founded by Kentucky native Jack Gruber; and the Picture Kentucky Workshop, led by WKU graduate David Stephenson.
The discussion will be moderated by WKU alumnus Tom Eblen.
Following the lecture, a wine and cheese reception will take place at 8 p.m. in the Jody Richards Hall Atrium + Gallery to celebrate the opening of a photographic exhibition titled “The Changing Story.” Sponsored by Canon USA, the exhibition features images drawn from more than 50 years of documentary work produced through WKU’s Mountain Workshops, an immersive storytelling program that brings students and professional journalists into Kentucky communities to document daily life.
@wkupcal@wkuvjp@wku.smc@wkualumni@wku #photojournalism
As I learnt about a recent devastating fire in Williamsburg, KY, my thoughts immediately went to all the wonderful people I’ve met there in October 2024 during the Mountain Workshops. I am so glad that there were no casualties, and I hope that the fire only made the community stronger and tighter. 🙏🏻❤️🩹
#williamsburgky #whitleycountyky @mtnworkshops
Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? 🎁
Mountain Workshops merch is available now—perfect for commemorating the workshop experience and the power of storytelling.
👉 /merch
#mtnworkshops #photojournalism #christmasgift
Barbara “Barb” Bern grew up in northwest Chicago with a single mom and two much older siblings. Money was scarce; she was often alone. When her sister started dressage lessons, an ember began to glow within her heart. “I was drawn to horses,” she said. “I was always going to live in Kentucky because of the horses.”
Link to full story in the bio.
Last week I challenged myself in ways I could not have imagined and participated in The Mountain Workshops in Maysville, KY.
Thank you to @mtnworkshops@jakemayphoto Shannon Eblen and editing teammate Melissa for the encouragement and tough love when I needed it. Thank you to the warm and friendly people of Maysville, KY, and dedicated caregivers at Mason County Animal Shelter.
And absolutely not last or least, thank you Barb Bern for your patience, grace and honesty. We are friends for life now-I definitely left a piece of my heart with you in Maysville, KY.
#kentucky #maysvilleky #maysville #mountainworkshops #mtworkshops #rescue #adoptdontshop #dog #horse #dogsofinstagram #farm #farmlife #shelterdog #dressage #libertytraining #liberty #horsetraining
Mountain Workshops Website is LIVE!! 📸🕺⚡️
See some of the faces and stories of Mason County! We are so proud of all of our participants and their amazing work!
#mtnworkshops, #wkuvjp, #maysvilleky, #masoncountyky #canonusa, #sony, #wkupcal, #mediacafeonline, #dataseam, #tamronamericas, #robertscamera, #boydsstation, #progradedigital, #thinktankphoto, #nppa, #kentucky, #videostorytelling, #visualstoryteller, #photojournalist, #documentaryphotographer, #photojournalism, #editingworkshop, #videography, #video, #photography, #photo, #multimediaworkshop, #wkusmc, #visitmaysvilleky
Our Pinnacle sponsors, Canon and Sony, along with our Summit Sponsor, Tamron, enhanced the experience for our participants by helping make this year’s workshops unforgettable. Each of them donated a camera as a giveaway at the end of Saturday night’s session. 📸✨
#mtnworkshops, #wkuvjp, #maysvilleky, #masoncountyky #canonusa, #sony, #wkupcal, #mediacafeonline, #dataseam, #tamronamericas, #robertscamera, #boydsstation, #progradedigital, #thinktankphoto, #nppa, #kentucky, #videostorytelling, #visualstoryteller, #photojournalist, #documentaryphotographer, #photojournalism, #editingworkshop, #videography, #video, #photography, #photo, #multimediaworkshop, #wkusmc, #visitmaysvilleky
That’s a wrap on Mountain Workshops 2025! 🙌
Our participants have spent the week getting to know the people of Maysville and Mason County — listening to stories, documenting daily life, and forming genuine connections along the way.
From the first day in the field to the final edit, their growth as storytellers has been remarkable.
Thank you to everyone who welcomed us into your homes and hearts — this community is what makes Mountain so special. 🏔️
#mtnworkshops, #wkuvjp, #maysvilleky, #masoncountyky #canonusa, #sony, #wkupcal, #mediacafeonline, #dataseam, #tamronamericas, #robertscamera, #boydsstation, #progradedigital, #thinktankphoto, #nppa, #kentucky, #videostorytelling, #visualstoryteller, #photojournalist, #documentaryphotographer, #photojournalism, #editingworkshop, #videography, #video, #photography, #photo, #multimediaworkshop, #wkusmc, #visitmaysvilleky
