Across the Southwest » Workshops

Gallery Reception for George Bornstein

Adam Schallau — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:00:01 +0000

I’m very excited to announce that one of my students will have his work on exhibit as part of a show at the Rift Gallery in Rinconada, New Mexico. The show, titled The Sweet Hereafter, features the work of 10 artists including one of my students George Bornstein. George is an excellent photographer whose work explores the forgotten spaces of the American West. He has an incredible knack for capturing the overlooked and mundane structures.

A couple of years ago George came to me looking for his first digital camera and a computer to process his work, at the time I think neither of us realized how far this would go. From the camera (A Canon 5D and 24-70/.8L lens) we also expanded into the world of modern digital printing with an Epson Stylus Pro 4800. This guy was serious, he wanted to learn the entire process from capture to print. So for the past couple of years I’ve worked with George assisting him in his transition to digital photography. We have covered nearly everything from proper exposure with a digital SLR, converting a raw image in Photoshop, working in Layers, using nearly every Photoshop tool and finally printing.

I’ve had a great time working with George, but the best part of this experience has been the camaraderie shared between us and the inspiration I have gained as a result. I’m very proud of George and his photography, I sincerely believe his work deserves to be seen by others.

A reception will be held on Saturday May 23rd, 2009 from 3-6pm at the gallery located at 2249 Hwy 68 in Rinconada, 20 miles south of Taos.

All images copyright George Bornstein.

Grand Canyon Presentations ~ A recap and thanks

Adam Schallau — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:24:14 +0000

Those of you that know me, you know that I like to talk. I like to talk about photography with other photographers whether they are beginners or a seasoned pro. I also enjoy speaking to groups, and although I’m not exactly great at it (I get very nervous in-front of a crowd), I appreciate the feedback I receive and the interaction that takes place.

Participants in a presentation

During my time as Artist-in-Residence at Grand Canyon National Park, I had several opportunities to chat with other photographers and those that are interested in photography. Some of my best experiences came from the presentations I gave at the Verkamps’ Visitor Center and at the Grand Canyon School. I gave two separate presentations to park visitors at Verkamps that also included time spent working one-on-one sharing photography tips and ideas.

Working with the students at the Grand Canyon School was an extra special treat. It was incredibly rewarding to be surrounded by their enthusiasm and to watch them work because they see the world in a very different way than adults. Their creative process has not yet been influenced by the rules or defined styles of the art and as a result they will often create images that most adults would never consider or visualize.

Tristin working on his photos

The students were given a photographic “assignment” that had to be completed within a limited time frame. Thanks to the contributions of several other photographers and the readers of this site, each student had a camera to use and was able to participate without having to share cameras. Final images were presented to me for review and constructive feedback was provided. Their photography, to say the least, was impressive. One student did standout amongst his peers and that was Tristin. Tristin’s photos were excellent, but most importantly his passion for photography was obvious and it left me with a great feeling to know that there are still young people that are excited by art.

I’d like to thank everyone that made these opportunities available to me including the Grand Canyon National Park staff including Judy Bryan, Chief of Interpretation, who was my primary point-of-contact at the park. Amy McBroom, Art Instructor at the Grand Canyon School. Amy’s enthusiasm is intoxicating and I’m sure is huge reason why the student at the school are so fired-up over art. FYI, Amy was the 2008 teacher of the year in Arizona and she is a founding member of a committee that created Arts for our Park, a juried art show for students in the Grand Canyon Unified School District. Amy is very humble and a dedicated teacher who would never brag about herself, so I’ll do it for her.

Presenting a Slingshot 200AW to Tristin

I would also like to thank Lowepro who has supported me and my photographic endeavours through sponsorship. When I informed the team at Lowepro that I was to be the Artist-in-Residence, they graciously donated several Slingshot 200AW camera bags for me to award to one lucky participant in each of my presentations. The criteria for deciding who would get the bag included the questions they asked and who traveled the farthest to reach the Grand Canyon. I also presented a Slingshot 200AW to one deserving student, and that student was Tristin.

Thanks again to Judy, Amy and Lowepro!

Grand Canyon Presentation Dates

Adam Schallau — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:02:30 +0000

Storm in the distance.

The National Park Service and I have set the dates and location for my public presentations on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Both presentations will be held at the Verkamp’s Visitor Center in the Grand Canyon Village. The presentations will take place on Saturday, March 7th and Saturday March 14th, with both starting at 2pm. My presentations will run approximately 45 minutes with a question and answer sessions afterwards. For anyone that is interested, after the presentations we will move outside to the rim where I will work with participants offering photography advice and instruction.

Don’t forget, I will be giving away a Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW bag to one lucky participant in each of my presentations!

Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW Giveaway

Adam Schallau — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:34:25 +0000

I am excited to announce that one of my sponsors, Lowepro, is giving away a SlingShot 200 AW bag to one lucky participant at each of my Artist-in-Residence presentations at Grand Canyon National Park this upcoming March.

The SlingShot 200 AW is a great bag and is one that I use when traveling and need quick and easy access to my camera. Here is more info from from Lowepro.com:

Perfect for photojournalists, the SlingShot 200 AW uses a unique sling design to go from “carry mode” to “ready mode” in just seconds. Carried comfortably on the back, it easily rotates to the front so you can get to your camera quickly. The SlingShot 200 AW holds an SLR with mid-range zoom lens attached 3-4 extra lenses, cables and accessories and has a full access lid to make loading it a snap. This feature-rich bag also includes a built-in memory card pouch, micro fiber LCD cloth and two generous organizer pockets.

So who wants a great camera bag for free? All you have to do is show up at one of my presentations at the Grand Canyon in March. I’ll be giving the bags away to who ever asks the most interesting question. In the unlikey event that there are no interesting questions, I will present the bag to the participant that traveled the farthest to attend.

I hope we have a chance to chat in March. In the meantime, get out there and shoot!

2008 Photo Tour schedule ~ Updated!

Adam Schallau — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:03:33 +0000

Here it is, the 2008 Photo Tour schedule. You might be asking yourself what is a photo tour vs. a photo workshop? A photo tour is a hiking/walking adventure with an emphasis on creating great photographs while experiencing beautiful sites and scenery. Group sizes are very small allowing me to spend more time one-on-one with you offering guidance and advice.

Photo tours are not meant to be a structured learning environment to teach the mechanics of photography but you will learn while photographing great places . Upon your return home I’ll be available to personally review your images from the tour to offer my thoughts on your work. My tours are open to photographers of all experience levels from beginners to those at more advanced levels.

Here’s what is scheduled for 2008:

New Mexico Waterfalls & Wildflowers Photo Tour – June 28th
The High Road to Taos Photo Tour – July 12th
Streets of Santa Fe Photo Tour – August 16th

Space will be limited to 6 participants for each event and will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis, please contact me to reserve your space in advance. For more information please click on the ‘Photo Tours’ button at the top of the page, or visit RecapturePhoto.com.