Explore the spiritual side of photography while learning to put more depth and meaning in your photography by re-examining your creative process. You will revitalize your photography while exploring your relationship to your subject, your camera and yourself through photo exercises, assignments and daily field trips. We will learn to deepen our visual awareness while clarifying our approach, making images that are both more personal and more meaningful.

This workshop provides a unique opportunity to rethink your expectation of what it means to ‘see’. We will work on cultivating simplicity while making more powerful photographs, supporting the notion that a photograph is not ‘taken’ but ‘made’. We learn to become better photographers by becoming more in touch with our inner selves and then use that awareness to deepen our connection with our chosen subject; whether person, place, or thing. Attention will be paid to lighting, composition, depth-of-field and exposure issues but it is not the technical concerns which will drive our image making. Much practical advice will be given but more importantly you will use this information to make more emotionally expressive images. Anyone can learn to improve their technical skills but the artist can cultivate their vision to make more emotionally or even spiritually connected images.

“Zen and the Art of Photography” is a challenging invitation to redefine not only what is personally suitable subject matter but for re-examining your whole approach to creativity. Inspiration will be sparked by a balance of conversation, readings, poetry, meditation, writing exercises, assignments, sharing images or whatever means necessary. Numerous photographic exercises and assignments will be site specific and are concerned with both internal and external experience and growth. Mornings will be spent in class and going on photographic exercises. Early afternoons will be with Doug doing assignments or critiques, with the rest of the afternoon open for soaking, hiking, bodywork or working on your photo assignments. There will also be a short class session after dinner, with open time after for reading, relaxing or soaking under the stars...

Esalen Institute is an internationally known and celebrated retreat center famous for it’s progressive and relaxed atmosphere and it’s beautiful dramatic setting, with natural hot spring pools set into the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Founded in 1962, it soon became known for its blend of East/West philosophies, experiential/didactic workshops, and a steady influx of philosophers, psychologists, artists, and religious thinkers. Once home to a Native American tribe known as Esselen, Esalen is situated on 27 acres of the Big Sur region's coast with the Santa Lucia Mountains rising sharply above the Pacific Ocean. The location is also a Monarch butterfly overwintering site.

Esalen is located near Big Sur, California, about 45 miles south of the Montery and Carmel area along scenic Highway 1, about a three-hour drive south of San Francisco.

Who should attend:

While participants must have a working knowledge of their camera, the creative process of image making will be emphasized over the mechanics of camera use. Both digital and film cameras, in all formats, welcome. Open to all levels of experience but better suited to those looking to expand their creativity and vision.

Which Zen workshop is right for me?

Dates:

Workshop begins Sunday May 2nd at 8:30 PM and ends on Friday May 7th at 11:30 AM

Cost:

$570 plus cost of lodging (optional), which includes all meals

Registration information:

please contact Esalen at 831-667-3005 or visit their registration page.

< back to workshop listing