642LAB is an artist-run learning platform connecting students of art and photography directly with practicing professionals for mentorships, masterclasses, destination courses and individual learning.
Flexible, Powerful, Creative Learning
642 LAB offers a uniquely dynamic and inspiring approach to in-person as well as remote learning for artists, photo professionals, and learners of all skill levels and ability. All our masterclasses culminate with the added value of direct feedback and insights on your work as well as ongoing interaction with instructors and class participants.
MASTERCLASSES / 2025
Adobe Lightroom Classic / Creative Postproduction for Photographers
July 12 – August 2
Lightroom has revolutionized the process of digital photographic postproduction and offers photographers a powerful creative workspace in the great traditions of the analog darkroom. In this intuitive and flexible online course and critique series you will work over the course of three exciting weeks to learn how to use this powerful Adobe Creative Suite program and present your photographs in their best light.
Composition Fundamentals / Describing Your Perspective
Rolling Admission / Currently Open to Individual Learners
Composition is the subtle art of establishing a photographic style. Photographers must make deliberate, artful decisions about what to include in the frame and how it is placed to create effective and powerful images. This course introduces participants to concepts in composition, including depth and perspective, visual hierarchy, the golden ratio, figure and ground, visual flow and revealing creative intent through compositional choices.
MENTORSHIPS / 2025
Individual Mentorship Series with Dr. Craig Havens
Rolling Admission / Limited Spaces
Throughout art history and into the present day, the framework of a Mentorship has provided a rare opportunity for students to work individually with a professional artist to address their own practice on a one-to-one basis. In this private mentorship experience, you will work directly with Dr. Craig Havens over the course of multiple sessions to identify areas of your practice – both technical and creative – which you wish to address and form a custom curriculum of project-based actions for independent study.
Portfolio Review Sessions
Rolling Admission / Limited Spaces
Refine your photography portfolio and gain personalized feedback and guidance to enhance your photographic presence, whether online or in printed form. Learn how to present a tightly-edited and cohesive body of work. Your personal portfolio review with Dr. Craig Havens will help you accurately represent your photographic style while clearly communicating your expectations to potential viewers, clients and art buyers.
DESTINATIONS / 2025
Photographing California / Joshua Tree & Other Desert Stories
August 8 – 10, 2025
Joshua Tree Desert and surrounding Desert Landscapes
The Joshua Tree Wilderness and adjacent community of Yucca Valley offer the photographer a stunning kaleidoscope of natural, cultural and social subject matter against the backdrop of a high desert wonderland.
More than just a tour of the Joshua Tree National Park, this extended multi-day expedition provides on-location technical instruction and gives the photographer direct access to unique and little-known landmarks of visual significance. Explore this desert location with Dr. Craig Havens and fellow participants for the first time or as you never have before on this one-of-a-kind photo tour and masterclass.
Monuments that evoke the independent nature and inspirational artistry of this area will be visited including unique structures and artworks created by Frank Lloyd Wright, George Van Tassel, Noah Purifuy, and even western movie star Gene Autry.
Through hands-on personal instruction, discover the essential photographic and conceptual techniques to capture the drama of the Mojave desert from morning through magic light into the twilight and late night hours. Enrollment includes 3 days of group lectures, guided tours and individual instruction.
All participants receive concierge services and accommodation discounts upon enrollment.
Limited Enrollment / To reserve a space and pre-apply Click Here
Photographing Europe / Berlin Street Photography, Location Studies and Art Tours
Sept 10-14, 2025
Concurrent with Berlin Art Week 2025 events
Berlin Street & Architectural Photography Masterclass with Dr. Craig Havens and TBA guest instructors
featuring Gallery Tours, Artist Studio Visits & Museum Events
Discover and document your own experience within a leading European capital of art and photography in a guided photographic course that gives you access to exclusive and unknown art spaces and studios – from famous public collections to private locations around Berlin.
Dr. Craig Havens will present guided instruction on-site in techniques of street photography in the urban spaces of of central Berlin. Participants will experience and document a wide array of people and visual narratives, living and historical monuments amid the fascinating flux of this unique city. Personal, guided actions share historical and artistic insights into the story of the city and its contemporary visual landscape.
All participants receive concierge services and accommodation discounts upon enrollment.
Limited Enrollment / To reserve a space and pre-apply Click Here
For questions or assistance with enrollment Contact Us
