Photography Workshops

[Rick]

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I am curious... does anybody really go to these workshops and pay $3,000 to, for example, break your boundaries as a photographer?

 

It just seems silly to me to go to a workshop to find your personal creative talent. I wonder if any of the great photographic artist ever took a home course and paid someone kilobucks to find themselves or went on a workshop with a web personality.

[andybarton]

I went to an Akademie day at Leica in London last year. I had a very enjoyable day, but can't say that I took a quantum leap forward in my photography, though.

 

At least it wasn't three grand.

[earleygallery]

There are workshops and workshops though.

 

I attended a Street photography 'workshop' a few years ago at the Tate, run by the In-Public photographers. It was more about exploring different types of Street Photography and looking at the work of other photographers, although we were tasked with a project and had to display our results for critique (so I can now tell people that my work has been exhibited at Tate Modern ).

 

I notice on Groupon (a website for discounts/promotions) that they are always offering various photography workshops, how to use a DSLR, shooting portraits, that sort of thing. They only offer stuff that sells well, so I guess there's plenty of takers out there for these kind of days.

 

I've also seed ads for Photo holidays - spend a week somewhere scenic with a group and tutor, not my thing at all but again, there's a market out there.

 

It seems to be a lucrative market too, which gets me thinking........

[stuny]

Both Ben (roguewave) and Virgil (vdb) have taken a couple of multi-day workshops in Manhattan, and wihin the genre they favor I can see a marked improvement in their photography.

[andyedward]

I would have thought that trying a new avenue of photography or travelling somewhere you haven't been before would be more beneficial than any workshop?

[earleygallery]

I would have thought that trying a new avenue of photography or travelling somewhere you haven't been before would be more beneficial than any workshop?

 

That all depends on the individuals level of knowledge, and confidence. Some people take evening classes to learn a new language and some go and live in a country to learn it through having to communicate directly.

 

Workshops are limited of course as they are usually for a day or two at most, but they are popular with a lot of people.

[NikonJeff]

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As I am mostly a wedding photographer, the workshops that I've attended were geared specifically to what I wanted to improve upon for my wedding work. The workshops were geared toward enhancing my skills (tool kit if you will) for areas I felt needed a boost.

 

Most workshops are very expensive but also very intensive, so you get a lot out of them if you put the time and attentiveness into them. The workshops I've gone to were Joe Buissink, Cliff Mautner and George Weir - all three of them were wedding or journalism geared.

 

There are many fly by night workshops and it seems like everyone here in the US is suddenly offering workshops as soon as they get one good image posted somewhere... I personally think it has helped me with some of my concerns and the monies I have paid out for the intensive training is worth it IMHO, but you need to be VERY picky.

Jeff G.

[MPerson]

Chris Weeks wrote about this subject earlier in the year on his blog. For those who don't know Chris, he is a pro Leica shooter and you should be warned he uses colourful language!

[Messsucherkamera]

I took a street photography workshop with Constantine Manos in 2009 through Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine. I can't recall the price of admission off the top of my head but it was nowhere near $3000; the same workshop is now priced at $1150 which includes food and lodging. It was money well spent.

 

As a teacher and mentor, cannot recommend Constantine Manos highly enough.

[Ted Lemon]

I attended a Tuscany Photo Workshop (| TPW - Toscana Photography Workshop) back in 2005 entitled ‘street life of Rome’ with David Alan Harvey the Magnum photographer. The cost including fares and hotel was around €2k. It was a life changer as far as my photography went. I started the workshop as somebody who takes nice photographs that were mostly meaningful to me and ended up as somebody who could capture images that other people appreciated.

 

Out of that workshop I had 2 awarded winning images which led to (I was in a non-photography profession at the time) a number of small commercial ‘on the side’ photography assignments which nearly met the cost of the workshop. In my opinion a successful workshop is measured by the person taking it (David was incredible) and obviously the amount of effort you expend in it.

 

Since then I have dropped out of my previously successful career and now photograph fulltime – which at my stage of life (I am 60) creates enough income to buy the beer and keep the misses happy.

 

Some time ago I came onto this forum and asked anyone about workshops in NY (I am there anyway this September) and I got some great responses. Based on those I am attending the Jay Maisal workshop in a few weeks which is as expensive as it gets for me. I also investigated a Santa Fe workshop but that did not work out time wise. Also after research I found it very difficult to find renowned photographers running workshops these days unless you go for a 1-1 scenario (now that’s really expensive!). As with the David Alan Harvey workshop I am hoping Jay Maisal does the trick for me and meets my objectives for this workshop. Jay is 82 so how long he can carry these workshops on is also a factor for attending now.

 

So with most things in life you get out of it what you put in - and it’s a major investment you are going to work hard to get some return!

 

I will report back on my Jay Maisal workshop experience.

[Bill Allsopp]

..... I wonder if any of the great photographic artist ever took a home course and paid someone kilobucks...........

 

Probably not but then most, if not all, will have spent years studying their craft at art college and/or working under a pro and as a result will have gained the sort of insight and experience these courses are trying to provide in a few days.

 

However for those who have a day job outside the industry and want to broaden their knowledge and insight it may have benefits.

[SiMPLiFY]

B&H has "event space" for free on youtube. Educational and FREE!

[honcho]

I have lead numerous courses and workshops over quite a few years and I always enjoy those select few that I attend as a course member from time to time. You're never too old or too good to learn from others!

 

Workshops can be fun socially and a great way of sharing information and gaining knowledge and there are plenty going.

 

The only caveat is that photographic workshops have reached a bandwagon level and there are some people offering workshops and 'training' with no great personal achievement as photographers. It may matter, it may not.

 

Take your pick.

[jaapv]

Better a great teacher than a great photographer imo.

[stickan1]

I attended a Tuscany Photo Workshop (| TPW - Toscana Photography Workshop) back in 2005 entitled ‘street life of Rome’ with David Alan Harvey the Magnum photographer. The cost including fares and hotel was around €2k. It was a life changer as far as my photography went...

 

I have been to TPW:s summer workshops the last two years and it has been two very interesting weeks, especially this year with Laurence LeBlanc "Going beyond the surface". I recommend that you check their programme now and then.

[SiMPLiFY]

I love

lesson "As Seen Through the Lens" by Allen Weitz (B&H Event Space). He's a really good teacher and a really good photographer. He's helping me learn to compose and get the most out of my lens. It's nice when your new at something to learn about it at home before spending a lot on a workshop with people way more experienced than you are. If I try a technique and miss the mark I can watch it again to see if I misunderstood the concept and try again.

 

For a beginner some of these videos are great! It depends on the teacher. I really like this one so I thought I'd share it here.

[AlanJW]

I will let you know in a month. I'm attending a 3-4 day workshop in Maine (Acadia Natl Park vicinity) that is one of the Leica "Akademies". . I also spent a day a couple of years ago in London with Brett - also considered an Akademie-- and found it useful. Not life changing like one of the prior posters, just interesting and useful.

[adan]

Thirteen years ago this month, I took a workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA, run by Rich Clarkson. I can't remember what the price was then, but it is still offered at $2,250 US. Doesn't include housing, just classes and equipment and some meals.

 

Not just one instructor, though - a dozen or more working pros from National Geographic Magazine and Magnum and other groups, as you can see by the list for this year:

 

Fall Photography at the Summit - The Summit Series of Photography Workshops

 

I actually took really dumb photos at the workshop, due to the location being biased towards "nature" over "people" - right at a point where I was tired of landscape and trying to re-energize my people/story photography. Midtown Manhattan might have been more what I was looking for. Although the toughness of the setting may actually have improved my "story-hunting" skills.....

 

But sitting in the audience for a week of slide shows and lectures from some serious heavy hitters in the world of photojournalism and other photography, and quizzing them afterwards (and listening to them quiz each other), and then have them rip my portfolio and workshop work to shreds over beer and pizza in the wee hours - eventually had an effect.

 

David Alan Harvey (again) was there that year, having just finished his Cuba book. Watching a film of him at work on that project with just his M6 and 35 Summilux got me really interested in the minimalist, small-camera idea that had already been gestating in my mind. I got a Voigtlander Bessa and 15mm lens within a month or so and just started shooting RF-style, eventually leading to a Contax G and then an M4-2 of my own, all resulting in a serious upward gear-shift in my vision.

 

As with any educational setting, you can come out changed if you go in willing to have your vision and work totally deconstructed, laid waste and rebooted. If you go in hoping to have your preconceptions reinforced and catered to - you'll learn nothing.

 

I'd add that there are "lesser" events everywhere that can help in repotting your photo skills. The POY awards weekend last April in Chicago had a lot of people attending outside of the awardees and pros - college-aged, middle-aged, retired. The workshop I attended in 1999 was basically like that weekend extended to a full week (with shooting added). You can try something like that (photo-related one-night programs) for free or a minimal contribution, if you are in most metropolitan areas with places like these:

 

Photofusion Photography Centre, London, UK

Home | International Center of Photography

Jeu de Paume

Chicago Photography Center - Community. Learning. Inspiration.

Neue Schule f

www.bostonphotographycenter.com

The New CPAC: Colorado Photographic Arts Center - "Working with Artists through Exhibition and Education"

Creative Local Auckland Photographers & Photographic Artists Exhibiting Photography at Visual Arts Events, Festival Calendar

 

and then decide if a bigger, more concentrated dose is worthwhile.

[Ted Lemon]

I will let you know in a month. I'm attending a 3-4 day workshop in Maine (Acadia Natl Park vicinity) that is one of the Leica "Akademies". . I also spent a day a couple of years ago in London with Brett - also considered an Akademie-- and found it useful. Not life changing like one of the prior posters, just interesting and useful.

 

When I got my M8 I attended the London M8 Academia session with Brett and it was an excellent overview of the camera (my first digital camera). I then contacted Brett and had a 1-1 day with him to further explore the camera and also post production (again I was moving on from film), good value for money, good fun and an excellent learning experience. But obviously much different than 5 days of intense shooting and critical analyse – horses for courses etc...

[bybrett]

I will let you know in a month. I'm attending a 3-4 day workshop in Maine (Acadia Natl Park vicinity) that is one of the Leica "Akademies". . I also spent a day a couple of years ago in London with Brett - also considered an Akademie-- and found it useful. Not life changing like one of the prior posters, just interesting and useful.

 

Hello Alan, I remember we had half a day in London together and it was very very hot. Pleased you found it useful and thanks for the mention.

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