Start date: May 27th, 2014
I want to welcome everyone to my third “Springtime” workshop. The first was held in Prague, the second in Tuscany, and if you were attending one or both of them you’ll know what a great time was enjoyed by all.
Since Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world, I’ve always thought about bringing my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshop to this wonderful ” La Ville Lumie`re” or “City of Light”.
Paris, a city of light.
Now, with the help of a very good (French) fellow photographer and online student of mine living in this wonderful city, my vision is going to become a reality.
Thierry is a very good photographer with a strong ‘eye’, keen imagination, and sense of design. I can’t think of a better person to lead us through this incredible maze of beautiful and historic locations, both known to the general public and some known only to local shooters.
Here’s a glimpse of what we’ll be doing during the week:
May 27th: The class will get together in the evening for my traditional “meet and greet” over wine and cheese at a local establishment.
May 28th: After an early morning shoot where everyone can be on their own, or as a group to a location to be determined through my scouting, we’ll have breakfast then get together in a meeting room to look at what you consider to be your six favorite images that each one has brought on a flash drive. The meeting time will be determined.
This is just to show me where you are and what you want to work on (if anything) while being together for the week. Since most of the people have either attended a workshop through one of the schools, organizations, or my online courses with the PPSOP, the classroom time will be devoted solely to looking and talking about your images during the week, and not what I go through showing my own work from day to day.
After we break for lunch we’ll be going to Vilette: https://www.google.com/search?q=villette+france&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Y75NUqXFFablyQGNqoDICQ&ved=0CHsQsAQ&biw=1768&bih=890&dpr=1
It’s one of several locations we’ve picked to shoot in the afternoon light.
All locations can easily accommodate the entire class at the same time; without tripping over one another. The locations and times we’ll shoot will be picked based on my scouting before the start of the workshop.
Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
Paris is a river town and the evolution of this historic city can be seen by simply walking along the banks of the Seine; photographing the amazing masterpieces that line it. These photo opportunities as well as portraits of the local artists selling their own work will give you a lifetime of memories.
That said, at any time during the week you can go off on your own with a list of locations that we’ll hand out to you during the “meet and greet”, or you can take any morning off and sleep in; this sometimes happens towards the end of the week.
May 29th: We’ll load up in a private mini-bus for a morning shoot at Versailles: https://www.google.com/search?gs_rn=25&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=HhzZeetLyk5ND53RPTPVTA&cp=5&gs_id=h&xhr=t&q=versailles&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.51156542,d.bGE&biw=1280&bih=685&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=fr&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=SeAbUt2iHOf07AavhIGQAg.
After breakfast, we’ll meet in the classroom to look at the photos we’ve taken. We’ll break for lunch and continue the class critiques. The late afternoon and evening will be spent shooting at Foiredu Trone for something colorful and entirely different: https://www.google.com/search?q=foire+du+trone&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=N89SUrrHNKr4yAH9tIHAAw&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=1768&bih=890&dpr=1
May 30th: In the early AM, we’ll go to Parc Monceau: https://www.google.com/search?gs_rn=25&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=eqSmbh18M_gMrLbDx32faA&cp=8&gs_id=u&xhr=t&q=parc+monceau&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.51156542,d.bGE&biw=1280&bih=685&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=fr&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=Tt4bUsTKGOWM7QaRm4BA
After breakfast and a little rest, we’ll meet in the classroom and look at everyone’s work from the previous day and early morning.
In the afternoon, we’ll be going as a group to Reims: https://www.google.com/search?q=reims+france&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oMFNUty5B5KqyQGgqoDgCg&ved=0CEYQsAQ&biw=1768&bih=890&dpr=1
We’ll shoot either in the city, in a vineyard, or in the countryside. The opportunity may arise where we’ll possibly have time to shoot all three locations. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a Champagne tour and tasting at Veuve-Clicquot: http://www.veuve-clicquot.com.
May 31st: This can be a personal day that can start with a sunrise stroll down the Champs-Elysees, which offers endless photo-ops, or again some of us will go as a group to a location based on my scouting ahead of time with Thierry.
Strolling down the Champs-Elysees
After lunch we’ll meet for the class discussions and critique of the images that were shot the evening and morning before; plus any images not seen to date.
The afternoon shoot can be spent individually, again as the personal day, while the rest of the group will go to the Jardins des Tuileries: https://www.google.com/search?q=jardins+des+tuileries&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sb9NUvzsIKHhygHVzoHgBg&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1768&bih=890&dpr=1
This evening might be a perfect time for you to enjoy dinner on your own while cruising on the Seine. The one I would recommend would be on the Bateau Mouches: http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/
Be sure to bring your camera for that epicurean and visual experience.
June 1st: We’ll be shooting the early morning light at the Buttes Chaumont: https://www.google.com/search?q=buttes+chaumont+paris+pictures&sa=X&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=Qz4uUrrZDYmOqgGTp4CIDw&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1583&bih=853
After breakfast or a rest, we’ll meet in our hotel for the daily review and critique. After lunch we’ll finish the critiques and afterwards you’ll be on your own and shoot until early evening when we’ll gather at the hotel to leave for the farewell dinner that night. The restaurant will be one that Thierry and I will decide on.
After dinner, for those that have been mellowed by the French wine and still thinking about taking pictures, you will be driven by private coach to the Arc de Triomphe for our last group shoot.
It’s a wonderful place to end the week since the sun will be setting behind it at 9:45PM on June 1st, so the fantastic after-glow (ending at approx. 10:14PM) in the sky will be behind this magnificent lit structure. It will offer an incredible photo opportunity, and a truly memorable end to the week; one that can only be realized at the end of May and beginning of June.
After the shoot, you’ll be driven back to our hotel where most of you will be staying. How about an after the shoot final toast with a cognac when we get back?
June 2nd: We’ll meet at 9:30AM for the last review, and the workshop will officially end at 12:00PM.
Here are just a few of the other locations Thierry and I are considering:
Jardins du Luxembourg: http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/jardinduluxembourg.htm
On the night of the “meet and greet”, besides these incredible locations you’ll be handed a list of locations that are known mostly to French Photographers.
I will be traveling to Paris three days before the start of the workshop to scout locations with Thierry. Based on my compass readings, these locations may change according to which ones (if any) get the best light. This schedule could very well change, but if it does it will be in the best interest of the workshop photographers.
Since the Eiffel Tower is the most famous of all the Parisian landmarks, I thought it might be appropriate to hold a juried digital classroom exhibition for the most unusual photograph of this icon taken during the week. A wonderful memento of the week will go to first place. Needless to say that this is NOT a requirement for any of the participants.
From my hotel room.
After the first of the year, Thierry and I will be looking through all the hotels that will offer us both price and location, and will be reporting back with our decision. It will be a four star hotel where we’ll also be holding the class. This will be one of the deciding factors, along with…location, location, location.
I can assure you that you’ll be happy with our decision. Of course, anyone is welcome to pick another of the reported four thousand plus hotels, and will be given the locations, the times we’ll be there, as well as the times of the daily critiques.
The cost of the workshop will be $1295.00. This includes the workshop fee, the wine and cheese “meet and greet”, transportation to Versaille, the Arc de Triomphe and Reims, the private wine tasting and tour, and the farewell dinner. All other meals and expenses will be your responsibility.
As far as the daily transportation, Paris has a great subway system that is efficient and easy to navigate.
You’re welcome to bring your spouse, friend, partner or significant other. You’ll be responsible for any and all of their expenses.
The workshop is limited to twelve photographers, so the sooner you decide and send a deposit, the sooner you’ll relax and look forward to a once in a lifetime workshop with me (perhaps once again) as your photo guide.
Au revoir,
Joe
