I have taken two workshops this summer so far. The first, with Tanya Marcuse was great. It was about working with the human body, as in nude studies and served me well. I have not worked with formal models much and the experience taught me a great deal about the interaction of photographer and subject. There were four models each day, both men and women, of different ages. Illuminating. I have. posted a couple of images on my photo site, in the “humans” portfolio.
The second was a workshop with the photographer Mary Ellen Mark. She is a legend in the community and her work speaks for itself. The only drawback was that although she is a professional with years of experience, she is not the best teacher. She treated everyone fairly, but I found that she fawned on one workshop attendee more than others. Granted, this person’s work was lovely and moving. They both had a great deal in common and perhaps that was another reason, but I found the undue attention to be distracting. Also unfortunately, due to a personal situation at home, I was not able to attend the shoot the next day at the Ulster County Fair. Mary Ellen was gracious enough to let me still contribute four contact sheets for a post-class critique. Those I have mailed off. They are a continuance of work I have begun as homage to Wright Morris. My photography instructor has told me she wants me to put together a book of images and writings on the subject, much like Morris did, by the way. I think I will. It may take some time, but good things always do. I am eager to hear Mary Ellen’s thoughts.
I have officially become an addict of the developing process and the darkroom. I am spending more time over in Catskill at the darkroom and more time in my kitchen developing film. It is a real high to produce the result from start to finish.