Free Large Format Workshops this summer and Fall!

We just finished the first free workshop in Joshua Tree last weekend. It was a very small group but a good start. Gregory drove all the way from San Francisco, John from San Diego. The rest of us came from the L.A. area.

These free workshops are intended as gettogether / shooting workshops.

In regular fee based workshops you usually learn the most from other participants - at least from my experience.That was my initial reason for starting these workshop / gettogethers. My career (primarily in commercial photography) got a major boost from a workshop that I attended way back in 1976 in Yosemite, with Ansel Adams and Morley Bear. At that workshop Allan Ross, John Sexton and Bob Kolbrener were all assisting.

Anyway, here is a tentative plan for more Free (non fee based) workshops this summer and fall:

San Diego July 13-14. Architecture, tide pools, Torrey Pines etc...

Red Rock Canyon Sept. 14 and 15. Amazing sand stone formations off route 395 in California.

Mammoth Mountain from Oct. 20 to Oct. 26 = think Mammoth and Convict Lakes, Devils Postpile, Mono Lake, Yosemite right behind, Bodie Ghost Town, The Owens Valley High Plains, lava flows south of Bishop, glass flows around June Lake, June Lake loop, Mt. Whitney, Bristlecone pines etc...etc... Mammoth has a wealth of accommodations which are cheaper during off-skiing season, many restaurants WITH margaritas and Mexican food... For this workshop it is important that everyone bring at least 5 prints and a couple of negatives. If you shoot color bring transparencies or color prints. If you have experience in Alt. processes (platinum printing, gum, etc...) please bring a few samples of these as well. During this workshop there will be presentations of various topics, from Pyro development, Azo printing, negative masking, how to see and evaluate a subject matter before shooting and after making the final print, etc...

More info will be posted this summer.

Regular fee based workshops are still very important. Hopefully a constant series of free workshops will actually serve to deepen the interest for participants so that some may take the plunge and spend the money to learn from their imagemaker of choice. Anyway, that is my feeling...

If you are interested and have questions please email me.

(I am putting together a small website outlining these free workshops. In addition to general info the site will also feature work by each workshop participant, who will be willing to share his or her work. Pictures from Joshua Tree will also go up during the next week or so...)

-- Per Volquartz (volquartz@volquartz.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

For those considering participating in the next workshop, I whole- heartedly recommend the experience.

I was one of the six participants last weekend in Joshua Tree. Based on my observations, everyone had a good time, made new friends, saw spectacular scenery and had the opportunity to learn from their peers. Per Volquartz is a wealth of technical information and is willing to share his expertise without "talking down" to the participants. I believe we all benefited from one another -- seeing new photography equipment, hearing individual philosophies about photography, and sharing stories about life and travel.

The one improvement for which we must strive is better food. The Joshua Tree Denny's just didn't do it for me. (We didn't get around to eating dinner until after 9:00 p.m. and most of JT had rolled up the sidewalks.) The San Diego workshop promises fine Mexican food and margaritas.

John

-- John Cooley (deliajohncooley@cox.net), May 07, 2002.

Bravo, bravo, bravo. Wish I could attend.

-- David Stein (DFStein@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

This sounds wonderful!

How many others would like to do something similar in the Northeast?

Perhaps at Ricketts Glen in PA?

Or one of the classic Vermont villages?

Or the White Mountains in New Hampshire?

Anybody up for it?

-- Brian Yarvin (brian@brianyarvin.com), May 07, 2002.

I could be interested, Brian, but I am in New York and without a car, so it would need to be someplace accessible by public transportation, or I would need to carpool with someone.

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), May 07, 2002.

have you thought of holding the free workshops close to (both in time and vicinity) to other events which may help to get more people to your events? example: the ansel adams symposium in yosemite in late july...

-- mark lindsey (mark@mark-lindsey.com), May 07, 2002.

I could be interested in something in the northeast as Brian as mentioned - not so far from where I live in Canada to make the trek. The southwest is extremely attractive, but unfortunately a major trip in time and expense for me.

-- Paul Coppin (coppin@execulink.com), May 07, 2002.

the one in Joshua Tre National Park was a wonderful experience... nothing compared to "per tutotoring"... errr.. I mean "peer tutoring" :-) a tip.. one must expect to have more work to do in the dark room after the workshop...aaaahhhh

thenks Per for the wonderful idea...

-- dan n. (dan@egmail.com), May 07, 2002.

i'm in western ma. and would be interested. lots of beautiful places around here.

-- howard singer (howard@singerpotito.com), May 08, 2002.

Hi everyone, I'm putting together an email list of those who responded to my suggestion that we do something similar in the Northeast. Please write to me if you haven't already.

When I have a more solid idea of what I'd like to see, I'll put it to the rest of the list.

Of course, if anybody else is creating an East Coast workshop list, they should add me to it.

-- Brian Yarvin (brian@brianyarvin.com), May 08, 2002.

Hello all,

I've been lurking around in the shadows of this forum for quite some time trying to glean as much knowledge as I could. I wanted to attend the Joshua Tree workshop, but unfortunately due to prior commitments could not. I’m really excited to see that more free workshops are down the line and with enough advanced notice that I can keep those weekends free. I look forward to making some new friends and hopefully developing my LF skills.

-- James Wolfe (wolfephoto@earthlink.net), May 08, 2002.

I think it would be great idea to have rotating workshops throughout the US..It would be a great way to improve and exchange ideas..Please keep me informed of any possible locations..Thanks..

-- Mitch Abate (mitchabate@netscape.net), May 24, 2002.

I would be interested in attending and haelping out at these workshops when they are in the western US. I am in San Diego and if anyone happens to be in the area and want to get together let me know.

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.