Ralph Gibson will be holding a workshop in Vancouver (Canada) this July. For details go to: http://www.focalpoint.bc.ca/

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002

Answers

Has anyone ever been to a Ralph Gibson workshop? I first heard about this workshop in December, when I was in Vancouver, but there is no more information available now than there was then. I may be in Vancouver that week and would consider taking it if I knew what it might be like. However, I'm not going to pay a bunch of money to sit around with a famous photographer, there are other, much cheaper, ways to do that.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), April 24, 2002.

Jeff,i reckon you really don't need a workshop! Your ideas,thoughts and concepts realized in your photographs prove that.Having taught photography and done workshops,you should Give them.I have attended some "pro" workshops in recent years and all one feels that the lecturers are salesmen for the products who sponsored. I admire Ralp Gibsons work,not all,certainly not the color. It could be imformative...but reality is simply really looking at each photo.

-- jason gold (leeu72@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

I attended a Ralph Gibson/Leica Workshop at his studio, Canal & Laight, NYC, Sept 7,8,9, 2001, within blocks (and hours) of WTC 9/11. We had basically a day & half of female nudes and a day & half of general photography. I found him to be humble, humorous, and with a great love of all that is art. The Workshop ended with his playing his electric guitar. I don't know whether it did me any good or not, but my purpose was to meet him, and see what he was like. I wasn't disappointed. He has an internet site. Look up his e-mail address, write him, and see if you think the workshop will fit your needs. All in all, I think he's one hell'va photographer.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

I don't know... take a look at the M7 brochure (at your dealer or at leica-camera.com). If you enjoy the crap writing of his and the two lousy photos of his, maybe you'll like his workshop.

-- Gary (leicaman@kingston.com), April 24, 2002.

Jason, I agree that Jeff is an excellent photographer, but I don't think anyone ever reaches a point that they can't benefit from working with other talented people. It really becomes a matter of the cost vs. the potential benefit.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), April 24, 2002.

Glenn,

What kind of el gtr was he playing...

-- Dave Doyle (dave@soilsouth.com), April 24, 2002.

Dave, Fender. RG is working on a book with Andy Summer (Police), about Fender Guitars. I think he had just returned from spending several days at the factory photographing.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Geesh, I'd have thought he'd be a Gibson player Doh! (Or actually a Stromberg or D'Angelico, which Fender owns now.), Summers is a bit of photog in his own right, odd that he didn't complete the project himself.

-- Dave Doyle (dave@soilsouth.com), April 25, 2002.

A couple of years ago I contacted Ralph Gibson to find out if he could suggest a bookstore that would possibly carry one of his older, out of print books, Apropos de MaryJane. I also asked him if he could critique some of the work I was doing, which he did, in a very positive manner. He then offered to send me a signed copy of the book (he had a couple left) in exchange for one of my prints. Pretty classy in my opinion. As well, if you check out some of Leonard Cohens albums from about 10 - 15 years ago, Ralph (the same) plays quitar on them. A talented individual. Gary - would you like it if someone decided what kind of a photographer you were from two of your prints that you didn't chose (Leica chose the prints in the brochure)?

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.