Basin Mountain, Approaching Storm -- Barnbaum -

The three instructors, Mark Gardner, Al DaValle and Bruce Barnbaum fully cover today’s photographic field. Al DaValle (see https://www.davallephotography.com) and Mark Gardner (see https://www.markgardnerphotoart.com) are digital experts; Bruce Barnbaum is a traditional film/darkroom expert (with a lot of knowledge of digital methods, as well). All three are deeply committed to helping you progress to meet and exceed your own goals. From the technical to the artistic, these three will supply answers to your questions and worthy suggestions for your further development. Whether you’re working digitally or traditionally; whether your interest is color or b&w; whatever your favorite subject matter, we will help you in every way.

Take advantage of this unmatched expertise in two extraordinary settings: the haunting variety of subject matter in Death Valley and the awesome Sierra Nevada Mountains with its thick winter blanket of snow, and its remarkable environs. From the seemingly endless Mequite Dunes to the hidden geodes of Titus Canyon in Death Valley; from the Sierra’s 14,000’ summits rise more than two miles above the Owens Valley (North America’s deepest valley), to the extensive and bizarre boulder fields below it named the Alabama Hills, we’re there to work with you. In late February those mountains are draped in snow, making them even more awesome than at any other time of year. We’ll include a photographic session to the nearby semi-ghost town of Keeler (amazingly, there are still a few ruddy residents there, they welcome all photographers, and they can be willing portrait subjects!), and the unique rock formations of Westgard Pass. The photographic opportunities are endless.

Outdoor field sessions are not photo tours taking you to the same “known places” where you can take the same well known photograph as thousands before you; they are places where you can find your own unique imagery. We’re not there to replicate what others have done. Instead, we’ll visit locations where you can produce new, unique imagery. Indoors we’ll review everyone’s work, uncovering your strengths, helping you overcome your weaknesses, and truly raising you to a vastly higher level of photographic quality. It’s all done in a supportive, enjoyable manner, with lots of camaraderie, support and laughter.

The indoor sessions also cover the instructors’ complete photographic workflow from initial vision, effective image exposure, to the finished digitally post-processed image or traditional darkroom imagery. We’ll focus on the art of photography through insightful seeing, better understanding of light, and using the elements of composition to produce photographs that make viewers stop, look and think. Instructors and students all provide input, ideas and encouragement to one another. Instructors work will also be shown and reviewed. They have no secrets; instead there is remarkable sharing of everything photographic. This is a perfect time to dig into instructors’ brains, including their thinking, workflow and materials—and those of fellow students—knowing that all question are valid, worthy of thought and consideration.

In the indoor sessions, we’ll review the photographic work of all students and instructors. As time allows, we’ll also review images made during the workshop and explore topics of interest to the group in lectures and discussions.  We’ll unlock ideas that you may never have considered in your thought process. These sessions will not only reveal things about your work that you never consciously recognized; they’ll also provide new paths to explore in making your photographs. All reviews will be done in the most encouraging and supportive way possible. They’ll be totally honest—no pandering allowed—but, with an open mind, the reviews of your work will boost you to levels you never believed possible.

Our accommodations (and our indoor conference meeting rooms) are at the Stove Pipe Wells motel in Death Valley and the luxurious Dow Villa Motel in Lone Pine, where we have reserved a block of rooms at both locales to accommodate everyone. You’ll find both extremely comfortable. We will do everything for your room reservations. You simply pay for your room when you arrive. If you prefer to camp or reserve a room elsewhere, just let us know. (For those who wish to camp, nearby campgrounds are available in both locales. You can make your own camping reservation if you so choose.)

The workshop begins on Sunday, February 22 in Death Valley. On February 25, we move to the town of Lone Pine, beneath the highest of the Sierra summits. We ask all participants to arrive the day before that, Saturday, February 21, and join us for an informal “get-to-know-you” dinner that evening, when our motel reservation also begins. The workshop begins early the following morning.

The workshop runs until noon Saturday. February 28. Please make your travel plans with that in mind, so you don’t miss any of the workshop. If you plan to fly, we recommend flying into Las Vegas, just a two hour drive to Stove Pipe Wells in Death Valley. The workshop ends in Lone Pine, CA. You can then return to Las Vegas (a 3 1/2 hour drive), or fly back from Los Angeles (a 4 hour drive) or Reno (also a 4 hour drive). If you want to share a rental car during the workshop we will try to connect you with other participants. During the workshop, we’ll carpool to all outdoor field destinations. Detailed travel information will be sent to you once you apply for the workshop.

Accommodations have already been secured both Death Valley and Lone Pine for the duration of the workshop. Once you sign up for the workshop, you'll be asked for your room preference—either a single or shared room in motel, or camping nearby—and your motel accommodations are taken care of (you don’t have to do anything until you arrive and pay for your room). If you plan to camp or make your own motel reservation elsewhere, just let the workshop know. We accept that, as well.

To register for this workshop via the website, please return to the top of the page, and click on the button Add to Cart. Fill out the information, including your choice of a deposit ($350…nonrefundable, but it holds your space for the workshop) or full payment ($2,525) for the workshop. If you register with a deposit, the final payment will be due 6 weeks prior to the workshop. You will receive an email response to your application shortly. (If you are applying for more than one workshop, please do this for each workshop you wish to attend.)

If you do not wish to apply and pay via the website, we accept registration with a check (deposit or full amount) and an application. Please download and fill out the the application (Workshop-application.doc or Workshop-application.PDF). Specify whether you will pay the deposit or full payment, and make the check payable to Bruce Barnbaum. Mail the check with filled out application to the address below. We will notify you by email to confirm your resignation.

Bruce Barnbaum Workshops

P.O. Box 1791

Granite Falls, WA 98252

If you have specific questions, please contact Bruce by phone at (360) 691-4105 or by email: barnbaum@aol.com.