MISSION:

To raise up a diverse breed of passionate, adventure-loving, visual storytellers who function as ambassadors for people, places and experiences. 

GOALS:

Taken from the Life motto in Walter Mitty

“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, to draw closer, to find each other and to feel.”

• To See The World-

  Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow- mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad wholesome views of people and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one’s little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

  The world is fascinating, we should spend time getting to know it better. 

• To See Behind Walls— 

  Culture, geography, physical boundaries, etc. all function as walls in our life. As photographers our goal is to ‘see’ physically and metaphorically behind these walls and convey that process with compassion.  Not just seeing behind walls, but starting to break them down.

• To Draw Closer—

  To each other as photographers, to the land, to the people, to the adrenaline of a new experience. The best times in our lives are the times when we get a little to close, climb a little too high, stay out a little too late. When we learn to shoot from these experiences, we draw closer to the truth and the intimate beauty of conveying that to others. 

• To Feel—

  The best pictures are the ones that tug at our heartstrings. It is an amazing skill to be able to take an unfeeling lens and spark a felt emotion. We strive to teach this skill through experience itself.

What you can expect to learn

A photographer’s journey never ends.  We are always learning. We will never truly 'arrive'. In light of that, this workshop is for everyone.  Wether you are a working professional or just learning how to hold your camera; wether it is your job, your hobby or what you give your life to, there is something for everyone in our workshops. Your confidence in your craft as well as who you are becoming within that are of utmost importance.  Aside from the ‘given outcomes’ of any photography workshop like have fun, meet people that share a common interest, advance your photo skills, learn new techniques, gain a better understanding of post processing, etc., I want to develop you as a photographer, as a visual storyteller, as an adventurer and as a lifelong ambassador for the things of this world.

I want you to walk away from this with a better grasp on how to shoot in challenging or unexpected environments, troubleshoot on the fly when things aren’t in a controlled and mapped out scenario, figure out where the shot needs to happen from and how to get yourself where you need to be to make the picture, feel completely out of your comfort zone and learn how to shoot in the midst of that, feel a connectedness to the environment and geography and culture.  We shoot from where we are and I would hope the ‘where I am’ philosophy moves away from the ‘me and them’ and more into the ‘us’. 

I will encourage you to push boundaries, take risks and work more fully on developing your photographic vision.

Workshop Model:

This is, by far, the best way to improve as a photographer.  There is no substitute for hands on training and field experience guided by fellow photographers and working photographic professionals.  Days are full.  Expect to work hard.  Here’s the general idea of this workshop model. 

Every ‘teaching’ element is done in the field in real time.  There is no structured class or designated teaching time.  We shoot all day and critique all night.  Nightly critiques offer a chance to review your daily work and provide insight as to how to advance your skills.  Critiques are done in a group and involve input from other workshop participants as well as instructors.

Global Influence:

In partnering with Children’s Heritage Foundation, we are able to connect your heart to help people, your developing camera skills and your desire to see the world in a win-win situation for both you and the NGO.  We take the stress out of coordinating the mechanics of travel arrangements, ground transportation, etc. so you can focus on making the pictures.  In conjunction with our global partner, you will be able to leave the beaten path and experience parts of Uganda in a way that most tourists would not.  At the end of the workshop, Children’s Heritage Foundation will have access to your images, thus helping them in their marketing and social media endeavors to continue helping those in need.

YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

I believe strongly that the best of our work can be used as an instrument of change.  This workshop comes out of a commitment to doing good, taking great photographs and having a deeply enriching experience. 

You will make a difference.  Sometimes this is by documenting and photographing, sometimes this is by physically getting your hands dirty and pitching in with the work of CHF.  Other times, it is by simply listening to the story of the less fortunate. There is no limit to what you are capable of and the influence you can have; with your photography as a photographer and even more so with yourself as a human being.