PCS: The Black West in Color with Ron Tarver
Select a Date
Acclaimed photographer and Swarthmore College art professor Ron Tarver corrects the American cowboy narrative with The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America (George F. Thompson Publishing, 2024). From ranches to city streets, Tarver’s photographs reveal the beauty, romance, and visual poetry of Black cowboys throughout the country.
Learn about the enduring heritage of Black cowboys through 110 photos made in the early '90s, at the start of this 30-year (ongoing) project. Tarver’s insightful photographs of Black Western heritage affirm a thriving culture of Black-owned ranches, rodeos, parades, inner-city cowboys and retired cowhands, from rural ranches to big city riding clubs – many in Philadelphia.
Be sure to check out Ron's The Long Ride Home, Black Cowboys in America exhibit on display at The Print Center (1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) until 11/14/26!
Ron Tarver
Ron Tarver has a BA from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK, and an MFA from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. He was a staff photojournalist at The Philadelphia Inquirer for 32 years, where he won a Pulitzer Prize and awards from World Press Photos, Society of Professional Journalists and National Press Photographers Association. Tarver has received Guggenheim Foundation, Independence Foundation, NEA and Pew Fellowships.
His work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally, including at The Print Center, Philadelphia. It is included in many collections, including the State Museumof Pennsylvania, Harrisburg; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY; Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC. Tarver’s work has been published in Ebony, Jet, Life, National Geographic, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Time, and has appeared online on Huffington Post and Hyperallergic. He co-authored We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans (2004), which accompanied a traveling exhibition that debuted at the National Constitution Center. His award-winning second book is The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America (2024).
Tarver is Associate Professor/Department Chair of Art, Swarthmore College, PA.
Unique Photo Philly
28 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Unique University® is the highly acclaimed education component of Unique Photo®, NJ’s only camera and video superstore. There is over 2000 sq. ft. of learning space, including our state-of-the art, 1000 sq. ft. main presentation hall. Unique University’s mission is to help our visitors “Create Better Pictures” by providing photography education for beginners to pros. With events daily, it is the place where photography groups such as local camera clubs, ASMP, PPA and others meet. We have a full curriculum of classes and seminars from world famous speakers such as Art Wolfe, Rick Sammon, Michael Yamashita, Tyler Stableford, Lindsay Adler, and Will Crockett. We offer photography experiences to such places as the Lakota Wolf Preserve, Wolf Conservation Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rutgers Football, Longwood Gardens, Festival of Ballooning, and much more. Our technical classes include such topics as basic digital photography, lighting techniques, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, macro photography, composition, editing and printing, wedding photography, HDR photography, working with speedlights, how to use social media, digital organization, one-on-one instruction, and much, much more.
Where are classes held?
Unless stated otherwise, most classes are held in the Unique University classroom within the Unique Photo Superstore (123 US Highway 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004). We also hold classes at our Philadelphia, PA location (28 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106).
What should I bring to class?
You're encouraged to bring your camera and a notebook and pen to most classes. Some classes will require additional equipment, so please check the class descriptions.
Will lunch or refreshments be included?
Lunch and refreshments are not provided for any classes under 6 hours unless noted.
How do I register for a class?
You can register online, in-store at the concierge, or by phone at either 973-377-6454 or 973-377-2007. Please note that you will need to provide payment information.
Can I register at the door?
For most classes, you're free to register at the concierge desk prior to the start of the class. Please note that there are some classes that offer "Early Bird Special" rates and others that have limited seating, so it would be in your best interest to register early for such classes.
I wanted to register for ______ class, but it is now sold out. Is there a waiting list?
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with the following information: your name, phone number, email address, and the class name and date.
My question has not been addressed here. Is there someone I can contact?
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with any additional inquiries.
Unique University Class Cancellation Policy
- Classes costing less than $99 may be canceled up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. For classes costing $100 or more, advanced notice of seven days before the class is necessary for a full refund.
- Requests for cancellation made after these deadlines will be awarded store credit in the amount paid for registration towards a future Unique University seminar or workshop.
- Cancellations made within 24 hours of the beginning of a class will not be honored and no refund or credit will be given.
- Cancellations of any class utilizing models will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the purchased price (up to $100).
- Cancellations of any class that includes an admission ticket (including, but not limited to: museums, gardens, shows, exhibits, and special events or locations) may be subject to forfeiture of the admission ticket fee.
** Attention American Express cardholders: If you cancel a registration for a class costing $100 or more, there will be a 3% cancellation fee deducted from your refund or store credit.
Select a Date
Get a FREE $10 Token Back
Good towards in-store purchases.
*NO REFUNDS or rescheduling for any Camera Show classes.
Acclaimed photographer and Swarthmore College art professor Ron Tarver corrects the American cowboy narrative with The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America (George F. Thompson Publishing, 2024). From ranches to city streets, Tarver’s photographs reveal the beauty, romance, and visual poetry of Black cowboys throughout the country.
Learn about the enduring heritage of Black cowboys through 110 photos made in the early '90s, at the start of this 30-year (ongoing) project. Tarver’s insightful photographs of Black Western heritage affirm a thriving culture of Black-owned ranches, rodeos, parades, inner-city cowboys and retired cowhands, from rural ranches to big city riding clubs – many in Philadelphia.
Be sure to check out Ron's The Long Ride Home, Black Cowboys in America exhibit on display at The Print Center (1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) until 11/14/26!
Ron Tarver
Ron Tarver has a BA from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK, and an MFA from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. He was a staff photojournalist at The Philadelphia Inquirer for 32 years, where he won a Pulitzer Prize and awards from World Press Photos, Society of Professional Journalists and National Press Photographers Association. Tarver has received Guggenheim Foundation, Independence Foundation, NEA and Pew Fellowships.
His work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally, including at The Print Center, Philadelphia. It is included in many collections, including the State Museumof Pennsylvania, Harrisburg; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY; Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC. Tarver’s work has been published in Ebony, Jet, Life, National Geographic, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Time, and has appeared online on Huffington Post and Hyperallergic. He co-authored We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans (2004), which accompanied a traveling exhibition that debuted at the National Constitution Center. His award-winning second book is The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America (2024).
Tarver is Associate Professor/Department Chair of Art, Swarthmore College, PA.
Unique Photo Philly
28 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Unique University® is the highly acclaimed education component of Unique Photo®, NJ’s only camera and video superstore. There is over 2000 sq. ft. of learning space, including our state-of-the art, 1000 sq. ft. main presentation hall. Unique University’s mission is to help our visitors “Create Better Pictures” by providing photography education for beginners to pros. With events daily, it is the place where photography groups such as local camera clubs, ASMP, PPA and others meet. We have a full curriculum of classes and seminars from world famous speakers such as Art Wolfe, Rick Sammon, Michael Yamashita, Tyler Stableford, Lindsay Adler, and Will Crockett. We offer photography experiences to such places as the Lakota Wolf Preserve, Wolf Conservation Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rutgers Football, Longwood Gardens, Festival of Ballooning, and much more. Our technical classes include such topics as basic digital photography, lighting techniques, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, macro photography, composition, editing and printing, wedding photography, HDR photography, working with speedlights, how to use social media, digital organization, one-on-one instruction, and much, much more.
Where are classes held?
Unless stated otherwise, most classes are held in the Unique University classroom within the Unique Photo Superstore (123 US Highway 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004). We also hold classes at our Philadelphia, PA location (28 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106).
What should I bring to class?
You're encouraged to bring your camera and a notebook and pen to most classes. Some classes will require additional equipment, so please check the class descriptions.
Will lunch or refreshments be included?
Lunch and refreshments are not provided for any classes under 6 hours unless noted.
How do I register for a class?
You can register online, in-store at the concierge, or by phone at either 973-377-6454 or 973-377-2007. Please note that you will need to provide payment information.
Can I register at the door?
For most classes, you're free to register at the concierge desk prior to the start of the class. Please note that there are some classes that offer "Early Bird Special" rates and others that have limited seating, so it would be in your best interest to register early for such classes.
I wanted to register for ______ class, but it is now sold out. Is there a waiting list?
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with the following information: your name, phone number, email address, and the class name and date.
My question has not been addressed here. Is there someone I can contact?
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with any additional inquiries.
Unique University Class Cancellation Policy
- Classes costing less than $99 may be canceled up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. For classes costing $100 or more, advanced notice of seven days before the class is necessary for a full refund.
- Requests for cancellation made after these deadlines will be awarded store credit in the amount paid for registration towards a future Unique University seminar or workshop.
- Cancellations made within 24 hours of the beginning of a class will not be honored and no refund or credit will be given.
- Cancellations of any class utilizing models will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the purchased price (up to $100).
- Cancellations of any class that includes an admission ticket (including, but not limited to: museums, gardens, shows, exhibits, and special events or locations) may be subject to forfeiture of the admission ticket fee.
** Attention American Express cardholders: If you cancel a registration for a class costing $100 or more, there will be a 3% cancellation fee deducted from your refund or store credit.