My neighborhood
I was thumbing through my most recent edition of Outdoor Photographer. I should also say that it is my last one, as I have let the subscription expire. It seems that every month, the content is getting less and the advertisements, more. The ads seem to be taking up more than half of the magazine.
There are numerous advertisements, page after page of workshops. Each one claiming that they are the best and that they will take you to all manner of wonderlands on the planet. Africa, India, Antarctica, Australia, you name it!
I’ve been a part of two workshops. Both different. Both beneficial; however, past two, at least for me, I see it as less of a learning experience, and more of a social outing, or perhaps a very expensive vacation. Of course, there is something different to learn from each teacher, but once you’ve gotten your own style, or way of doing things, you tend to shoot that way and utilize the workshop as a means of socializing, which certainly has value, in and of itself.
This, admittedly, may be a very biased opinion because I’ve taken two workshops from the same teacher. If I were to add a third one from a different teacher, perhaps I would differ in my opinion. Were I to take another workshop, it would be a specialty workshop, such as lighting. It would have to be something in which I am a complete novice, or to go to a place that I’ve never gone before, nor could I get there on my own, like Antarctica. I doubt that I would, for example, take another landscape workshop.
Has anyone been to more than 2 workshops? If so, was it worth it? I know that there are a couple of my Jekyll Island friends who have attended several workshops, but who sit silently lurking about. So, let’s hear it! 
Kate? George? Usha? Yes! I called you out by name, so now you have to answer me!
Heck, if you’ve ever taken even one workshop. Was it worth it to you?
Related Posts :
Well, I've never been to a photography workshop, but I just signed up for 2. Actually, one is a ...
I got an e-mail from Tom Dills the other day letting me know that there was a one-day, local p ...
I know! I know! I come up with some interesting titles. :-) Well, it's only a ploy to get you to ...
9 Responses to “The value of workshops?”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Paul, I’ve not been to a workshop, because I’ve heard similar comments from friends who have dished out a lot of $$ and left feeling like they could have learned the same thing by watching some of the excellent tutorials online, or ordering CDs that lead photographers step-by-step through certain techniques. I’m a big fan of the CDs, and have several. They’re relatively inexpensive, considering the alternative (several hundred dollars for a trip to a workshop).
I think it helps to recognize your unique learning style–is it hands-on in a group or is it better received at a slower pace, learning in chunks on your own? I’m more of a loner when it comes to learning. I don’t feel like I have to “keep up” with the pace of a group excursion. It’s the same reason we chose to visit Paris on our own instead of on a tour. The pace is everything, and I like it slower so I can absorb all I’m experiencing.
Bonnie – Your comments on the value of CDs is intriguing. Would you mind mentioning some favorites? I am another big fan of online tutorials because they suit my learning style.
Paul – I am so glad you issued this challenge to readers. I enjoyed your reflections on your personal experience and look forward to more responses.
I think workshops give you what you put in to them. I like the experience, mainly for being a focused week of time just to think and practice photography. That’s probably the main benefit. Guilt free practice without other concerns.
Landscape/ national park workshops are also something of a guided tour of the place, which helps you hit all the highlights in a short period of time. That can be good or bad depending on your style and interests.
I’ve been on other workshops that have been very literally life changing experiences for me. For others on the same workshop, not such a radical impact – again I think you get out of it what you are willing to put in or share.
Mostly though, they are just very expensive vacations – I think if you are willing to invest the personal time and effort in planning a trip for yourself and a few likeminded friends you can get most of the same value.
I know I looked at ‘mountain light’ workshops where I could hang out with the very top photographers in the world, paying $1000 a day to listen to them and have them look at my pictures – would I learn anything useful or worth the expense from that? Probably not. Maybe would get you a rung or two further up the gallery path perhaps.
@Bonnie: In regards to your online training, I signed up for Kelby Training at $199/year and it is a great value. They cover a wide variety of topics including Photoshop, Lighting, Landscape photography, etc. All of the teachers are pretty top-notch. I’ve had classes by Scott Kelby, Joe McNally, and Moose Peterson.
@Anita: Glad to help.
@Gordon: I agree, Gordon. Both of us had some serious experiences at The Next Step workshop. That was a life changing experience and a very taxing one, at that.
I would suggest that most anyone take that one, to be sure. I guess, too, that you get to make a lot of friends … if they keep in touch. From my Jekyll Island workshop, I keep up with a couple of people. My Next Step, nobody. You never know.
I cannot see paying a $1000/day to listen to someone else talk about how they do their photography. I don’t think that it would net me anything.
In 2002, after I had been serious for a year, I attended a workshop to Bosque del Apache and White Sands. Then after wards I rented a car and travled by myself to Canyon de Chelley and Monument Valley. While I enjoyed and learned at the workshop, my experience during the 4 days afterwards, convinced me that the focus available to you when you are on your own, greatly exceeds any value I would get through a workshop.
Aaaah, you caught me “lurking” again……not that I am embarrassed. Paul, I have enjoyed your site for a long time now and consider you a dear friend. I don’t leave comments much as I don’t have much to say. However, as to the value of workshops, other than the socializing aspects of it, I do feel very inspired by spending concentrated time, away from the daily routine stuff that keeps me very busy…and I learn a few take-aways from each workshop. In my opinion, I have to hear a topic multiple times via multiple avenues in order for it to be a subconscious part of me. The workshops help a lot in that regard. But mostly I come away inspired and I seem to be more productive for a few weeks after the workshop. In my book that is worth it.
Beside…I have met you…..and others. That in itself is worth it.
Hope you are having a great start to the week.
Usha
@Alan I’ve been lucky enough to visit a couple of the parks that I’ve been to on workshops under other circumstances, so it is a useful way to compare.
I’ve been to Death Valley NP 3 times now – once on a week long workshop, another time passing through with my wife on a photographic trip and the third time on my own aiming to explore the park.
3 very different experiences. I probably learned more about photography on the workshop trip, even though I possibly took just as many pictures on the other two trips.
What I enjoyed the most about the trip on my own was a chance to push beyond the drive and shoot approach. I could hike further in, get to more remote areas and that sort of thing. Was kind of lonely though.
Wife my wife, we hiked a lot more but it was less about photography – it actually turned into a wonderful photographic trip too, in that I turned it into a portrait study, but less about the more classic landscape approaches (didn’t take a wide angle or a tripod with me…)
I think the ideal ‘photography trip’ for me would be traveling and shooting with one or two like minded photographers, willing to put a bit of effort in to go beyond the carparks and easy vantage points. A bit of companionship during the process would be good, then shoot on your own or similar.
I’m finally able to catch up on this blog, which for some reason I couldn’t view from China… hmm. So this post is
out of sequence, but I couldn’t resist. This is a topic
I do have some opinions on.
I echo alot of Gordon’s and Usha’s comments. The ability to
focus completely on photography for a week at a time, learn new things and socialize with people with the same interests – is a large part of why I usually sign up for a workshop every year (or at least that’s been my recent pattern). Jekyll workshop gang for instance
From the workshops I’ve attended – its not what I was told,
. After I get the shot I think I’m aiming for, I now try pause, and ask questions of myself to see if I should be working the subject further. Could I have learned that from a book? After all the books and magazines I’ve read those words in – this concept didn’t stick, the right question at the right moment made the difference – that’s the biggest value of
but it was what I was asked that make the biggest difference. Socratic method seems to work best for me I guess
a good workshop for me.
In terms of best work – traveling to interesting spots
with a friend or two with similar interests/style is my
prefered way of shooting. It started in Africa, before
I even took my first workshop, traveling through Kruger
with 2 other photographers who wanted to get up for the
dawn/dusk cycle with the animals was the magic that got
me hooked. Heading to Yosemite with Gordon and Becky
was a memorable trip. Recently, White Sands with Paul
If its a choice between photographic trip on my own,
and with like minded friends. Doing it with friends
is my first choice. If its a choice between doing a
trip on my own, and not doing it – will do it.
Of course I wouldn’t have met Paul or Gordon if it wasn’t
for workshops.
Next workshop for me will probably be a techniques
based one – getting the what to do after I’ve taken
a shot – is the current challenge. John Paul Caponigro’s
got some workshops I’ve been eyeing for 2009
@Kate: Excellent points! You and I are of a like mind, especially about trips, groups, and such. I think that, for me, the social aspect of the workshop is very important; however, you made a good point about being asked the right question at the right time can make all of the difference.
I know that you really got a lot out of the Lanting workshops that you attended. Regarding the China thing … maybe I should put a byline on my blog: ***Banned in China!!!*** That might get me a few more hits!