It was a wrap on the photographic workshop this week with Joe McNally. There are a few parting observations I wanted to share regarding the whole process and event. Frankly, Joe is one of the rare talents that is completely open regarding his sharing the secrets of his craft. He is the man behind the curtain, except his curtain is open just a bit for the few and fortunate and those with the perseverance to peer in. And nuggets of information abound. Talk about opening the ol’ kimono! But there is another, equally important side of these programs that the Santa Fe Workshops facilitate so well. That being the ability to assemble a wealth of talented photographers from every corner, all walks, with observations, experiences and their own processes to share. And watching those people work through the process of making images, managing the challenges in front of them, is a rich vein to mine as well.
The use of light, to recognize its elemental value in photography, cannot be over emphasized. The ability to manipulate light, whether natural or artificial, is the fundamental difference between pointing a camera and activating its shutter or using the single most important tool a photographer has, light, and leveraging it as part of a vision of how the moment, the scene should be capture. And each rung on the ladder in understanding how light adds value to your photos, how is adds dimension, mood and character, is quiet simple one of the holy grails of photography.
Did I pass Joe?