Photography Workshops: Art, Inspiration, Adventure

Over the past five years, photography has seen a bewildering number of technological advancements (see State of the Art, page 33) and an astonishing rise in the number of workshops offering guidance to devoted enthusiasts. These two developments are not unrelated. The sophistication (and often complexity) of modern photography has created an unquenched thirst for knowledge of the digital arts, from shooting to postproduction and printing. (Conversely, there are also plenty of workshops dedicated to those photographers who are enthralled by "antiquated" processes and technologies, including film.) But the demand for technical training doesn't fully explain why workshops have become so popular and plentiful. Many also offer the chance for travel (if not adventure). Others can be a source for valuable career mentoring. The very best ones offer both students and teachers the chance to dwell, for a few days at least, in a place where inspiration flows in all directions. On these pages you'll find a dozen workshops that fulfill all those goals. Our choices reflect a range of prices and locations, as well as photographic specialties from commercial and fine-art photography to photojournalism. You'll also find exclusive master classes with three different and remarkable workshop mentors. So get ready to learn.

Santa Fe Photographic Workshops

Santa Fe Photographic Workshops is more than just a place to learn; it is a full-fledged community. Instructors from all walks of photography, students from around the globe, and some of the best full-time staff in the business come here to learn from each other, exchange industry news, and indulge a mutual love of the medium, all with the stunning and dramatic beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop.



As the meeting place of the photographic world, Santa Fe has a workshop for every approach, interest, and skill level. A small sampling: Students can find out what it means to create visual poetry with Keith Carter (June 22-28); refine the use of figure-ground relationships in their photographs with Jay Maisel (July 20-26); get an introduction to creating volume using studio lighting with Bobbi Lane (July 27-August 2); or comb the nitty-gritty of advanced Photoshop for photographers with Joshua Withers (June 29-July 5).

Participants can also experience the quality and flavor of a Santa Fe workshop offsite. Just one of the many destination-oriented offerings available through the workshops, for example, is Raul Touzon's Dance of the Gods: Oaxaca, Mexico (July 19-26), which gives students access to traditional dancers at the Guelaguetza celebration in the village of San Antonio. -- Mary Goodwin

At A Glance: Santa Fe Photographic Workshops

• Instructors: So many the website includes an index search by last name

• Where: Santa Fe, New Mexico; destination tours

• Why: Like