First Annual Spring Workshop in Virginia

[RPippin]

The much anticipated workshop in the Blue Ridge is now a go. Mark your calenders for May 15th through May 17th, at Swannanoa on top of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Afton. We also have available dates for those who need or want to come earlier for the 13th and 14th. Swannanoa is reserved for the days of Wednsday, Thursday and Friday, the 13th, 14th, and 15th. We will not have access on Saturday and Sunday, however we have planned activities for those who are interested in darkroom work as well as other photo opportunities in the area. The Inn at Afton has rooms for those who are planning on staying through the week or weekend and we also have a confrence room booked for Friday the 15th in the A.M. to get togather and talk about the shoot. I'm hoping to have time for a Lith session in my darkroom on Saturday for those who are interested. The general plan is to get an idea of the various talents that folks are bringing and hope to share with otheres. There arn't going to be any "official" instructors but anyone with something to share is encouraged to do so. Just bring your enthusiasm and let us know your area of interest. We are paying a small fee for the exclusive use of Swannanoa and are asking a small donation of $50.00 for those who can afford to do so. More details will follow, and if you have any questions feel free to email me at side_c@yahoo.com. A good time will be had by all.

 

[jgjbowen]

Sounds like fun, I'll mark the days on my calendar! Please keep us posted.

 

[keithwms]

Richard, thanks for making the arrangements. I'll just point out to anyone who doesn't know already: arranging anything at Swannanoa is not easy!

I'll just post a pair of quick exploratory images from Swannanoa- my first two shots with a shen 4x10 and a lens that didn't have enough circle to do what I wanted Anyway maybe these'll give some ideas....

The place offers very nice classic marble architecture, a number of interesting locations to experiment with lighting (natural and artificial) and perhaps some good spots for model shots etc. Very nearby are some lovely vineyards as well, and of course a number of excellent locations are a short distance along skyline drive and the blue ridge pkwy.

See you in May!

 

[dwdmguy]

I'll be there for sure. (I hope Jared too)
Thank you so much for doing this and I'm looking forward to meeting.
Best,
TOm

 

[Travis Nunn]

I won't be able to make it to Swananoa, but I should be there on the 16th/17th.

 

[dwdmguy]

Looks like Jared, my 12 year old son, can indeed join us. I'm so excited. I'll make our resv. next wed when SSD check is in.
Thanks so much for doing this. We will be there early on the 15th coming home on the 17th. Driving from Central NJ.
Tom

 

[photobum]

Looks like I'm good for those dates. I may come down a day or two early. What time would the conference be? Will it be shooting at Swannanoa in the afternoon? Who do we see or hook up with to get in for shooting on Thursday? Does anyone want to bring prints to show what we are doing? Anyone interested in trying a L/F camera or a type L/F that they may not be familiar with? I have extras. Workshops call it date a camera.

One last question to make this flow of ideas a bit easier. How about we all hook up with RPippin on private e-mail and reply all to save space here and get on the same page.

 

[keithwms]

Yes, prints, bring prints! I have been discussing with Richard the possibility of us having a booth on the downtown mall on Friday or so. That'd be great if folks would like to show (and maybe sell!) some prints. Apart from that, we will definitely have some casual evening time for looking at prints, showing off gear, and talking shop. I will have my cameras on hand (everything 35mm to 8x10") and there are some ULFers in the area too, so I am sure that we'll have a lot of gear to play with. I'd be happy to assist anyone wanting to start with LF... from shooting through develolpment and contact printing.

I'll try to arrange for c41 and E6 and rollfilm b&w materials to be quickly developed as a service to our workgroup; we can do b&w sheets ourselves in one of our darkrooms.

About arranging this, let's keep this thread alive by bumping it from time to time with new details as they emerge.

 

[jgjbowen]

Looks like I'm good for those dates. I may come down a day or two early. What time would the conference be? Will it be shooting at Swannanoa in the afternoon? Who do we see or hook up with to get in for shooting on Thursday? Does anyone want to bring prints to show what we are doing? Anyone interested in trying a L/F camera or a type L/F that they may not be familiar with? I have extras. Workshops call it date a camera.

I too plan on arriving on Wed/Thur to photograph, so I have the same questions.

I plan on bringing prints and a couple Ritter Cameras (8x10 & 7x17).

Thanks!

 

[keithwms]

Let us get back to you with specifics over the coming weeks, but personally: I plan to be photographing at Swannanoa from dawn through night on the days that we have access there. Others are welcome to join, and we can consolidate transport from Charlottesville. We'll also ave other shooting nearby venues and people may divide up into subgroups and then unite in the evenings for show and tell.

John, LF is heartily welcome and it'd be great if folks would be willing to give brief tutorials on different gear types and metering and lighting etc.

We'll have darkroom space for loading and developing and printing and such.

 

[Travis Nunn]

What are the plans for Saturday and Sunday?

 

[jgjbowen]

I'd be more than happy to discuss/demonstrate LF and ULF with anyone interested. All they have to do is ask, then be prepared to tell me when to shut-up!

 

[keithwms]

Travis, Richard and I were discussing Sat/Sun as a time to show prints, do some darkrooming, show gear etc. I'd be happy to take people to some other sites for photography on Saturday if they wish, e.g. vineyards, cliffs, Barboursville ruins, whatever. I'd also like to arrange some sort of outdoor print minishow for us on the mall in C'ville if possible.

I won't be available most of Sunday though; UVa is having their graduation and I am a faculty marshal. Of course you're all welcome to come to that with all your ULF gear, but nobody is allowed to take any pics of me in a silly hat

 

[photobum]

Bump. A couple of things. I did a search and The Inn at Afton website will not come up. Does anyone have a price? What did come up is a review report on hotels. What was said about the Inn was not encourging. I may stay down along I-81 at a chain motel. Any advice from locals?

A bit off thread. A couple of years ago in June C'ville had a thing called Foto 3. Is there a Foto 5 in the work's?

 

[Travis Nunn]

A bit off thread. A couple of years ago in June C'ville had a thing called Foto 3. Is there a Foto 5 in the work's?

Foto3 was that debacle in Colorado last year.

Look3 is what you're looking for.
Dead Link Removed

 

[photobum]

Thanks, that's what I wanted. For some reason I thought it was the third year of the show. I saw it in '07 so I thought it was time for 5.

 

[Travis Nunn]

It is the third year of the show, I just think the name is Look3 (with the 3 as a superscript)

 

[keithwms]

Personally, I'd not want to stay at the Inn at Afton. Note that Waynesboro is a very short drive from Swannanoa; Charlottesville is about 20 mins. As I mentioned, it will be graduation weekend, so if you need to reserve a room in C'ville then do so soon! Richard and I and others may also be able to put up a few people.

 

[John Irvine]

I will be there!

I will make some of those days, if not all. I will be driving in each day from Orange, VA (northest of C'ville) and will be able to pick up anybody on the way who needs or wants a ride.

When, how, and who do I pay the money to.

 

[keithwms]

John, let's handle money matters in person when we all meet. Richard and I are going to pay the upfront cost of using Swannanoa etc.

I have space for two in my apartment on grounds at UVa; it's just two couches, but I offer that. I also have a lovely hammock out in the yard, so... maybe there's space for three!

 

[msdemanche]

I am 80% sure I will be there. My in-laws have a house in Waynesboro so I will have a place to stay. I have worked out my final exam schedule with my chair, now all I need to do is speak with my husband. I am very excited to finally meet people that I have seen their work and or have communicated with. I just posted some new images in the gallery, my Holga work so you can get some idea about my level of work there. Also my 4X5 work is on my portfolio page. I shoot with a field camera but would love to see someone working with a 8X10. I will have my complete answer tomorow morning. This will be fun. Michel

 

[dwdmguy]

This may be the time for me to rent a Large View camera if I can find one.
I'm excited to see and meet everyone and again, thank you so much for doing this.

I'm excited also to see your dark room as I'm building my own right now. Just picked up an amazing Film drying cabinet and a Zone VI print washer. Next week I get the Beseler 45 enlarger and then onto vent and building my sink.
Very best,
Tom

 

[keithwms]

Well, Tom, we (folks in the C'ville / W'boro area) have all manner of LF gear, if there is something a person wants to use... no need to rent. I have all manner of 5x7s, a 4x10 / 5x8 and two 8x10s, and a half ton of medium format stuff (rb67 pro sd, rz pro2, mamiya 645AFD and pro, mamiya 6es) that I'd be happy to loan out. I know that there are a few 11x14s and 14x17s in the area, we might be able to arrange something, I might like to try some ULF myself.

 

[dwdmguy]

Wow Keith, that would be just wonderful. Really.
Thank you so much for such kindness.

 

[photobum]

Michel, I will be working at least one day with a 8x10 Deardorff. (for Pt/Pd)

Tom, I saw on another thread that you now have a Leica M. If you want I will bring my 21mm for you to try out.

Jim