This summer, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a photography workshop at The Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, Colorado. The workshop was called “Finding Your Vision,” and was co-led by Arno Minkkinen: prolific self-portrait photographer, and Jonathan Singer: technical genius extraordinaire.  Having these two team-up was really wonderful, as Arno is a master teacher and conceptual thinker, and Jonathan has an ability with Photoshop and printing beyond compare (as well as a brilliant mind).

Our class was comprised of twelve students whom have varying levels of experience.  As one of the more advanced students, I was really happy to find that the experience level of the others hindered no one in the class.  We all got our time, and we all had the opportunity to learn and grow as photographers (even though a week is a very short time to get anything accomplished).

If you have read some of my previous posts, you may have noticed the growing frustration I have had with my work.  I have been feeling a bit stuck, like my work is not maturing or developing.  It was for this reason I decided to take a workshop.  After sharing some of my images with the class, I was given a private meeting with Arno in which to discuss possible new directions.

Arno himself is quite a poet, and his critiques are certainly an extension of this philosophy.  I find Arno’s style of teaching really helpful for my creative thought process, as it leaves me loads of room in which to learn and explore.  Out of our discussion came this: most of my previous work was either performance art or opera, and now it was time to give the viewer front row seats to the theater!  This means that rather than feeling like the viewer has stumbled upon a performance, or is witnessing a spectacle so large he can only marvel, he is there with you, invited.  Up close and personal.

I can’t say that I have firmly grasped and embraced this in my work yet, but I do feel like it is slowly drawing me somewhere I was not before the workshop.  Yes, I still do opera and performances, but I am also trying to get closer to the camera, to sit in the discomfort of the situation, and to move the work into new realms.  I am excited to see where this takes me over the next year.

One of the new elements added to my work during this period, was finally using my 10 f-stop neutral density filter. This allows me to take long exposure photos during the day.  After years of only working at night, it opens up a lot of time to shoot and practice.  The filter also mimics the conditions I have in full-moon light and forces me to work through some of the issues I have found so troubling.  Since the workshop I have been using this filter a lot, and I am thrilled with the outcome of some of my newest images.

But rather than jump ahead, I am going to show you a few of the images that came out of this workshop, leaving the “ghost horse” series for the next post, as it deserves attention all its own.  Keep in mind that each image was part of a particular assignment so they may feel quite different from the work you have previously associated with this blog.

For more info on Arno Minkkinen: http://www.arno-rafael-minkkinen.com/

For more info on Jonathan Singer: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Singer-Editions-LLC/116575908398381

For more info on The Anderson Ranch: http://www.andersonranch.org/