A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

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Sonja Ruth Thomsen

Professor, Adjunct

Contact

Bio

BA, 2000, Kenyon College, Gambier OH; Post-Baccalaureate in Photography, 2002, San Francisco Art Institute, CA; MFA, 2004, SFAI. Exhibitions: Bauhaus Archiv, Berlin; Gallery f5.6, Munich; DePaul Art Museum, Chicago; Aperture, NY; Higher Pictures, NY; Reykjavik Museum of Photography; New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe; Silverstein Gallery, NY; John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan WI. Publications: Un' apparizione di superfici, Luca Panaro, Italy, APM editions; "GR-09022017", Fotogalleriet, Oslo, SKREID Publishing; Earth Now: American Photographers and the Environment, New Mexico Press; Orion Magazine. Bibliography: Chicago Tribune, PDN magazine, Art Contemporaries, New City Art, The New Yorker. Collections: Art Institute of Chicago, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University, DePaul University Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Reykjavik Museum of Photography. Awards: Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowship for Individual Artists, Milwaukee Arts Board New Work Commission.

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

This foundational course introduces students to photography as a tool for creative expression and critical inquiry. Through hands-on assignments, students develop technical skills in camera operation, composition, and digital printing while exploring photography¿s evolving nature and impact on perception. Readings, screenings, and discussions provide a critical framework for analyzing images¿both personal and cultural. Emphasizing both conceptual growth and practical application, the course encourages experimentation across genres and prepares students for advanced photographic study. Required for all subsequent photo courses.

Class Number

1570

Credits

3

Description

This course explores the intricate concepts and practices of color photography, integrating perception, science, and cultural significance. Students refine their ability to see and interpret color through hands-on projects, peer critique, and historical and theoretical discussions. Technical instruction includes image capture, color correction, light quality, printing across various scales and media, and presentation strategies. Through these explorations, students deepen their understanding of color¿s role in shaping meaning and photographic expression.

Class Number

1576

Credits

3

Description

Light is a powerful tool for creative control. In this course, students learn to observe, measure, and manipulate light to enhance their photographic work. Through hands-on practice, they explore the interplay of natural, ambient, and artificial light sources¿including on-camera and hand-held flash¿within existing conditions. By understanding metering and light mixing techniques, students gain the skills to shape mood, depth, and atmosphere in their images. This course provides a strong foundation in lighting, equipping students with practical techniques to elevate their work with confidence and precision.

Class Number

1527

Credits

3

Description

This course fosters the development of self-directed, research-driven projects, challenging students to push beyond traditional photographic approaches and explore interdisciplinary practices. Emphasizing experimentation, students refine their conceptual depth and technical skills while advancing a sustained body of work. Through critiques, discussions, collaborations, workshops, and individual mentoring, the course supports ambitious project development and strategies for exhibition, publication, and public engagement. Designed to complement Senior Capstone projects, it prepares students for the BFA exhibition and professional creative practices. May be repeated for credit.

Class Number

1531

Credits

3