Participant Introductions
One of the joys of a photography workshop is getting to know the other participants. To help facilitate that, use Team Reach to introduce yourself. You received your photo workshop Team Reach code in your registration email.
During our first meeting, we will introduce ourselves. Some of the information that will be asked of you is your name, photography experience, and what you want to get out of the workshop. You will often be asked an off-the-wall question as well, such as what is your favorite tree species.
We may also use ice breaking exercises during the workshop to help you get to know the other people on the workshop.
How We Work Together
Every workshop depends on respect for the places we photograph and for the people we’re photographing with.
Caring for the land
All my workshops operate under both Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly outdoor ethics. The U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and local parks expect us to follow these principles, so please take time to visit both sites and understand what’s expected. Download and review the Leave No Trace pamphlet before the workshop.
We’ll also practice my basic outdoor photography ethics and etiquette, which that article explains in more detail. Three points sum up my philosophy:
- Only take an action if its impact, and the impact of everyone else doing the same, won’t inhibit the land’s ability to heal itself.
- Consider the interests of others above your own needs.
- Act only in ways that benefit the group: everyone at a location, and everyone who visits it in the future.
In practice, that means staying on designated paths and never disturbing wildlife or plants for the sake of a shot.
Caring for each other
We strive to create a supportive, collaborative environment for everyone. Be mindful of your fellow photographers and respect their space and creative process. When we shoot in a group, take care not to block anyone’s view or composition. If you need to move in front of someone, ask permission first and be quick about it. On night classes, make sure to ask if anyone is shooting before turning on your light. Even red lights, when left on, can impact other participant’s photos.
I encourage open communication and sharing what you know. Ask questions and offer insights, but time them so you don’t disrupt demonstrations or shooting sessions. Everyone is here to learn and grow, so keep a positive and encouraging attitude toward your fellow participants, whatever their skill level. Also, feel free to shout my name if you need help, especially during night classes. I try to check in on everyone at each location but sometimes, especially at night, I can’t see where everyone is at.
Types of Workshops
I offer several types of workshops and the structure is slightly different for each style.
North House Folk School
Takes place at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota. These workshops are run by the North House Folk School and have different registration and cancellation policies than my workshops. Each workshop is ~1.5 days long with a slideshow and. I also offer hand-drawn map making courses at the North House.
You can find the NHFS classes that I’m offering here.
Minnesota Workshops
Workshops based in Minnesota have classroom time, outdoor field time, and an image review session during the workshop dates.
Destination Workshops
Destination photo workshops are designed for participants that have taken one of my workshops previously or have equivalent experience. For destination workshops, videos of my presentations are available but not required. You can watch them on your own if you wish. The goal of destination workshops is to emphasize experiential learning by spending more time in the field. For destination workshops if there is an image review, the review takes place after the workshop via an online video conference.
Online Photo Workshops
Online photography workshops have multiple online classroom sessions, and depending on the topic, they can have at-home practice time of up to two weeks between sessions. These are designed to help you learn a subject without having to travel to a national park or the Grand Marais area.
Add-On Classes for Some Workshops
There is one possible add-on class for some workshops. If your workshop has an add-on class, the website description will mention it. I’ll also mention it when I send out a reminder that the final payment is due. You can register for these when you pay your final payment. Each has a required minimum number of participants.
Please, don’t register for these add-on classes until I let you know we have enough people.
- Night Photography Add-on ($100): This extra session includes a two to three-hour long night photography outing. If the stars are out, we’ll concentrate on shooting stars, but if it is cloudy or stormy, we’ll concentrate on learning low level lighting. Depending on the moon phase, we may spend time shooting the Milky Way or spend time shooting the moonlit landscape. This is Sunday evening. Minimum participants: 3
Workshop Activities
Classroom
Minnesota-based workshops and some destination workshops offer classroom time. Check the workshop description to see if your workshop has classroom time. Typically a classroom session will have a presentation. Some workshops have preparation exercises during the classroom times. Others feature processing work sessions.
Field Sessions
All workshops feature field sessions. During field sessions, we will be outside for extended periods of time. You should bring all your gear and equipment and be prepared for whatever weather that we encounter.
Usually we meet at the hosting hotel before the field sessions.
Image Review
On workshops that have image reviews, you should sort images you’ve made during the workshop and find five to share with the class. Convert all images to jpeg with 1500 pixels on the longest edge and email them to me.