Workshops, southwestern U.S.

[Mark Sawyer]

Does anyone know of any large format workshops coming up next year in the southwestern (or just western) U.S.? I've never been to one, and figure it's about time to find out what I've been doing all these years...

[evan clarke]

Hi,
We went to Death Valley and the Owens Valley with Bruce Barnbaum and
Ray McSavaney (http://www.tgartworks.com/raymcsavaney). It was fabulous..Evan

[Bill_1856]

The Santa Fe Photo Workshops are first rate. Get their catalog online.

[Kirk Gittings]

I have taught, off and on, travel workshops with the Santa fe Photographic Workshops, though I am not now because of other committments. They are first rate.

[Don Boyd]

Mark,

Here is a review that I wrote of a Charles Farmer workshop I went to in November, 2003. Do a search on the largeformatphotography.com forum and you will find numerous other references to Charles' workskhops as well as others.


http://largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/topic/497051.html (http://largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/topic/497051.html)

[Mark Sawyer]

Thanks for the responses so far, everyone; so far I'm leaning towards the Barnbaum workshops in Washington, even though it is about a week's round-trip drive from Arizona, (presuming there's nothing woth stopping to photograph between Seattle and Tucson...) I really like the idea of an on-site darkroom so that work can actually be done during the workshop.

The Chuck Farmer workshops sound interesting too, though. Quite a few reviews on it, mostly very positive.

The Santa Fe workshops sounded more commercial than art oriented, with a heavy lean towards digital and color. Even the only b/w workshop used C-41 processing...

And maybe Per Volquartz will have something in the near future, or who knows what else will pop up... Keep that advice coming!

[Dave Langendonk]

John Sexton runs several workshops from his studio in Carmel Valley. He has some coming up in February and March. He also runs one on location with Ray McSaveney in Arizona/Utah. It was in May this year but he hasn't published his 2005 schedule that far out yet. Check out his website for more details.

[Kirk Gittings]

Your right, if you are looking for a more traditional B&W workshop, the SF workshops are probably not the best.

Though he is not currently doing a SW workshop that I know of (he and I did a couple together in the past), Gordon Hutchins is a truely inspired and knowledgeable workshop instructor. I have co-taught a couple of workshops with him and he is excellent on traditional materials especially, of course, Pyro. He is also the most informed guy I have ever met on optics, lens design, film and developer characteristics etc. he is amazing.

[Henry Friedman]

Don Kirby does an Anazazi workshop and perhaps also something in the slot canyons. He is a fine photographer, a giving instructor and a very nice guy, to boot. He also assists Bruce Barnbaum with some of his Washington state workshops.

www.donkirbyphotography.com

[Gem Singer]

Hi Mark,

Since you are in Tucson, take the short drive to Phoenix and talk to Rod Klukas at Photomark. Rod is very knowledgeable. He, and his wife Lana, as well as Jay Dussard, Keith Canham, and others put on LF workshops in Arizona, yearound. You might be able to save money, as well as travel time.

[David Karp]

I took John Sexton's printing workshop in Carmel Valley. It was first rate. A great experience. I had a great time and learned a ton.

My late father-in-law took Bruce Barnbaum's printing workshop in Washington and loved it. His work improved tremendously after that experience.

I have met Chuck Farmer. He seemed to be a nice guy, and I have heard good things about his workshops.

[J.L. Kennedy]

Barnbaum, Sexton, McSavanny, and Kirby are all first rate. I've been on workshops with all of them. When I was at Per Volquartz's Zion Free Workshop last month he mentioned another free workshop at Joshua Tree in January, the last weekend I think. I really enjoy Per's workshops but in a completely different way than the organized (and expensive) workshops. Per's workshops are more of a free for all. In fact, the exchange of information is very similar to this forum, but face to face instead of via internet. I've gotten some great photography related information that I would never have gotten in an organized workshop (for example: how the IRS treats a photographer's income and expense). It's also a great way to check out different equipment, although I'm not much of an equipment fanatic. Best of all, if you're not interested in the topic, you don't feel bad about taking off for some photography.

PS: I just checked Per's website and the Joshua Tree workshop is Jan 22-23, 2005.

[Ben Hopson]

Hi Mark,

Chuck Farmer does have some very good workshops in the desert SW. He is planning one in Death Valley in Feb. Check his web site for details. Although his 2005 schedule is not listed yet other than the death valley workshop, you may want to email him and see if he will be holding one in Lone Pine and the Eastern Sierras this spring.


http://www.charlespfarmer-photo.com (http://www.charlespfarmer-photo.com)

[Mark_3632]

I second going to Photomark and talking to Klukas. Just standing at the counter I got great pointers for free. Helpful and knowledgable. If I were not 6 hours away from Phoenix I would take a class from him. He teaches a Scottsdale COmmunity College I believe.

[Gem Singer]

Mark,

Did you ask Rod about the LF workshops that take place in Arizona? Jay Dussard, Dick Arentz, Keith Canham, etc.? You probably wouldn't get much technique, or information that you don't already know, from Rod's LF classes at Scottsdale Comm. College. Check out Dick Arentz's workshops in Flagstaff.

[james mickelson]

Which workshop you want to take of all those offered depend mainly on what you are looking for out of one. For technical hands on practical I'd recommend Bruce's workshops. All the technique you could want both in the darkroom and in the field. It is the only one mentioned that actually has the facilities (except Santa Fe) where you get to shoot, process, and print. For scenery and shooting technique, Sexton/McSaveney are top of the heap. I would choose wisely because unless you've recently hit the lottery, they are all expensive although for what you get I feel Bruce offers a lot for your money. For a great workshop and more info than you can use right off the bat, Per's free workshops are unparralelled. And free. I took Chuck's workshop and it is a good one. But to really get all you can from a workshop I think one should offer the complete package. Either shooting and using a PC based printing system or shooting and darkroom work. Hands on work too boot.

[Mark Sawyer]

Thanks again, all! Great responses, as usual, (love this forum!) Right now I'm leaning towards this summer's Barnbaum "complete photographic process" workshop, though I'm wondering if I'll have to do it in 4x5 to learn his enlarging techniques. (I usually work in 8x10, and Barnbaum's darkroom apparently has only 4x5 enlargers.) Then again, I'm not yet sure what quality I'll get out of my recently finished 8x10 enlarger. It has great potential, but then again, it of course has great potential to flop too, which would render the whole enlarging thing moot.

Per Volquartz's free workshops may happen too, as I can afford those (hey, I'm a high school teacher!), and others (Farmer and Sexton especially) may happen too. I'll stop in and talk to Rod next time I'm in Phoenix. but I don't get up there often.

[james mickelson]

Bruce runs probably the best workshop from his home in Washington. For the price it can't be beat. All of the workshops mentioned bring different things to the participants but Bruce actually has the facilities to expose/develope/print the work of his students. John's, Ray's, and Don Kirby's are all shooting expeditions. All good workshops but I feel that with LF, part of the learning curve incorporates the entire system from visualizing to printing. There are quite a few photographers out there who will teach you the whole thing but for the money, I feel Bruce's is the best bargain around.

[Tom Westbrook]

> John's, Ray's, and Don Kirby's are all shooting expeditions

Untrue, at least in Sexton's case. See above comments or check John's workshop brochure on his web site: http://www.johnsexton.com (http://www.johnsexton.com) . John & Ray do give one field workshop a year together. Bruce also gives field workshops.