School's In...and Out
Throughout this summer and into fall, photo enthusiasts wishing to learn from the pros will have no end of opportunities at workshops and seminars across the country and overseas. Two such learning experiences, Popular Photography magazine's Mentor Series and Outdoor Photographer magazine's Outdoor & Digital Photo Seminars, take opposite but equally effective approaches: the former takes students on a photo trek adventure; the latter presents an intensive classroom session. Both are co-sponsored and supported by Nikon.
On the Mentor Series schedule are trips to Norway and Iceland in August (with photographers Daniel J. Cox and Rob Van Petten as mentors), Montana in September (with Bill Durrence and John Reddy), Charleston, South Carolina, in November (Tony Sweet and Steve Simon) and Antarctica, also in November (with Tom Bol and Rosanne Pennella.) You can get complete information about these treks and others at www.popphoto.com/mentor-series-home.
The Mentor Series trips offer a unique combination of hands-on experience, personal attention (there are, at most, 20 students per mentor), field and classroom lectures and the chance to observe some of the word's top pros as they capture images in picture-perfect places.
Outdoor, nature and adventure photographer Tom Bol, who's been a mentor on about a dozen treks, says that one of the greatest benefits to the attendees is the opportunity to learn from each other. "We all have the same reference point—we are all out there, at the same time, in the same place, and we get to see what each person has done, how they chose to capture that moment. There's nothing like shooting side by side with peers and pros."
The Outdoor Photographer sessions take the classroom approach, presenting a weekend's worth of lore and learning with photographers like Bruce Dale, Bob Krist and Gary Braasch, professionals who've been there, done that and come back with the visual proof. Designed to inspire as well as teach, the Outdoor & Digital Photo Seminars are scheduled from the end of July to mid-November in a variety of locations in the States. The seminars typically enroll 150 to 200 students for each two-day session. Complete information is available at www.opseminar.com.
Renowned travel photographer Bob Krist will be at the head of the class for two upcoming seminars. "The presentations deal not only with the basic theories, but also the little nuggets, secrets and methods of the pros. There's plenty of time for Q&A, and we've gotten tremendous feedback from the students about how valuable that part of the session is."
