2012 Workshops

Photographers' Retreat

April 13 – 15, 2012 Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, New Jersey

Spirit of Structure: Western Remnants of the Erie Canal

April 15 – 20, 2012 New York Tuition: $1500 Register by downloading our Workshop Application (PDF). Or you can register at www.theworkshops.com

Come explore the old and "new" Erie Canal between Rochester and Buffalo, NY in early spring. The barebones landscape will allow us access into remnants of the original canal as well as provide for photographing in places we couldn't access during the summer season. In addition to the canal and locks themselves, we will also photograph in the infamous Love Canal area, Niagra Falls, Grain elevators on the Buffalo River, Chinaman's Light at the Erie Basin and spend a few hours at the George Eastman House in Rochester.

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Spirit of Structure: Abandoned Farms of North Dakota

May 13 – 18, 2012 Rugby, North Dakota Tuition: $1500 Register by downloading our Workshop Application (PDF). Or you can register at www.theworkshops.com

Imagine the unique opportunity to photograph in isolated abandoned farmhouses and nearly deserted towns in north central North Dakota. Conditions of the structures range from mere windowless shells to intact buildings containing personal belongings of the long gone occupants. Despite the perception that photographing buildings falls under the genre of “architectural” photography these structures also provide the photographer with rich possibilities for still life, portrait and abstract, as well as landscape interests.

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View Camera: Sometimes Bigger IS Better! with Richard T. Ritter

June 17 – 23, 2012 Camden, Maine Tuition: $1500 Workshop Application (PDF)

Join Richard Ritter and myself in seeing the world upside down and backwards! The focus of this five-day large format workshop is three-fold: to develop proficiency at camera operation, to understand the proportional relationships of composition between the different formats and to give you grounding in processing your negatives. Each student will have a camera to use for the week, as well as the opportunity to try out other formats, including the 5 x 7, 5 x 12 and 8 x 10. Intermediate and advanced photographers are invited to bring their own equipment to become more consistent and effective in its use as well as trying out other formats. This workshop offers a “no sales pitch” opportunity to contrast and compare view camera formats before you buy.

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Extraordinary Images in Ordinary Places

July 15 – 20, 2012 Maine Media Workshops, Rockport Maine Register at www.theworkshops.com

Remember your excitement on making your first photograph? Have you lost some of that enthusiasm as life got in the way of time for your passion? Are you ready to revitalize your interest and bring fresh ideas into your images? This workshop, open to all levels of photographic experience, is a great place to begin – whether you are looking to shake old habits, reacquaint yourself with good ones or enjoy the surprise of discovering a new point of view.

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Platinum Printing in the 21st Century, Layton, NJ

July 27 – 31, 2012 Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, New Jersey Register at www.petersvalley.org

The 21st century has created opportunities for photographers in all formats, film or digital, to make platinum prints. In this workshop you will work with both the traditional and the NA2 platinum/palladium printing processes. Covered topics will include: paper choices, image color, contrast controls, basic hand coating methods, use of step wedges and masking techniques. With this workshop a first-time platinum printer will have the knowledge to make platinum prints in their own darkroom. The more experienced platinum printer can use this workshop to build their skill set and problem-solve printing issues.

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Spirit of Structure: Exploring Mid-coast Maine

August 5 – 10, 2012 Maine Media Workshops, Rockport Maine Register at www.theworkshops.com

Hone your skills and refocus your photographic eye while working in unique structures of mid-coast Maine. From the formal State Capital building to an informal quintessential flea-market-in-a-barn, the massive walls of a 19th century granite fort to the simple lines of an old New England church, you are sure to enjoy photographing the diverse mix of subjects. Despite the perception that photographing buildings falls in the “architectural” genre, these structures also provide a photographer with rich possibilities for still life, portrait, abstract, and landscape work.

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Platinum Printing in the 21st Century, Photographers' Formulary, MT

August 12 – 17, 2012 Photographers' Formulary, Montana Register at www.photoformulary.com

The 21st century has created opportunities for photographers in all formats, film or digital, to make platinum prints. In this workshop you will work with both the traditional and the NA2 platinum/palladium printing processes. Covered topics will include: paper choices, image color, contrast controls, basic hand coating methods, use of step wedges and masking techniques. With this workshop a first-time platinum printer will have the knowledge to make platinum prints in their own darkroom. The more experienced platinum printer can use this workshop to build their skill set and problem-solve printing issues.

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Spirit of Structure: Ghost Towns of Western Montana

September 9 – 14, 2012 Montana Tuition: $1500 Register by downloading our Workshop Application (PDF). Or you can register at www.theworkshops.com

Imagine photographing the streets of a classic western ghost town as well as an old mining community – both in the same week! Gold was discovered in 1862 in Bannack, Montana’s first territorial capital, and approximately 3000 people called it home by 1863. It is an intact, high plains western town containing nineteen buildings, including a saloon, school, Masonic Hall, two hotels, jail and variety of other businesses and houses. Garnet was settled three decades later by miners and their families who worked for the mining companies using industrial equipment to dig out the hard-rock mines. In its heyday over 1000 people lived in this high mountain area in the Garnet Mountain range. Many of the original buildings are still intact, although to a lesser degree than the ghost town of Bannack.

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Soft Focus and the New Pictorialism, with Russ Young

September 24 – 28, 2012 Floyd, VA Tuition: $1500 Workshop Application (PDF)

Explore the world of the Pictorialist photographers using historic lenses of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In this newly expanded workshop your time will be divided each day between lecture and hands-on shooting time using our combined eight cameras and nine historic soft focus lenses. You will learn about the evolution of soft focus lenses, become familiar with outstanding examples of early work, understand the soft focus aesthetic and make photographs with a representative group of different styles of these lenses. You will evaluate which lenses make the best choice for your type of camera and work. In addition, you will have the opportunity to make your own simple soft focus lens.

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Platinum Printing in the 21st Century, Camden, ME

October 19 – 21, 2012 Camden, Maine Tuition: $750 Workshop Application (PDF)

The 21st century has created opportunities for photographers in all formats, film or digital, to make platinum prints. In this workshop you will work with both the traditional and the NA2 platinum/palladium printing processes. Covered topics will include: paper choices, image color, contrast controls, basic hand coating methods, use of step wedges and masking techniques. With this workshop a first-time platinum printer will have the knowledge to make platinum prints in their own darkroom. The more experienced platinum printer can use this workshop to build their skill set and problem-solve printing issues.

Full workshop details

For further information email us or call (207) 230-0199.

If you do not see the perfect workshop for you listed above, please contact me for information on individual or group tutorials. I can work with you here in Maine, in your own home darkroom/studio or at a location of your choice. Private tutorials can be set up by day, weekend or week. Email us for further details.