We have been touched and gratified by the many thank-you notes and comments
we have received from both our participants and those whom we fondly
call our "spousal units," including these from our Alumni workshops in Yosemite and Death Valley National Parks:
"Death Valley is a wondrous place, but much more so when seen with and through the eyes of great photographers! Mary and I really enjoyed the locale and the company. It was great to see old compatriots and to meet new ones, all of us disciples of Margo and Arnie.
"As in previous workshops I found the critiques the most stimulating part, especially when the degree of agreement was least; the discussions about whether an image was wall-worthy made us all think about what makes an image strong. You had scouted great locations, and you both were there for advice and comment when we needed it. All those things are what makes BCPA uniquely valuable for finding my vision and improving my eye!"
Nat Dean, Florida, USA
"Again, Chris and I would like to thank both Margo and Arnie for another terrific workshop. This one, in Death Valley, was our 6th workshop with these two outstanding people. So why would we do 6 workshops with them? There are many, many reasons.
"Let's start with locations. Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures delivers top-notch venues in which to seek out your photographic vision. The sites are thoroughly scouted to present the participants with a variety of unique photographic opportunities. Margo and Arnie know where to go, when to go, and why to go.
"Another reason is the learning experience. Both Margo and Arnie are long-time professionals who have actually done everything they teach. They bring a wealth of proven photographic knowledge and techniques to the table. In the field or in the classroom, these techniques are uniquely applied to the individual needs of each participant. There is no better learning environment for photography than a Barefoot Contessa workshop.
"A third reason is the camaraderie developed during the workshop. The workshops are managed in a fashion that allows everyone to interact. No matter what level your photography is at, everyone shares and learns from each other, all while having a great time. Margo and Arnie do a wonderful job of making everyone in the group feel a real apart of the workshop. You leave with a hug or hand shake knowing that any question or idea can be discussed or explored with a quick e-mail to a new-found friend.
"There are so many more reasons, I could fill up pages. Simply put, if you are a photography enthusiast looking for a well-rounded, fundamentally-sound workshops, designed for any level, taught by two of the nicest, dedicated people in the world, this is the place to be!
"Thanks again, guys. We can't say enough about the growth we have experience under your guidance."
Gary & Chris Olejniczak, Wisconsin, USA
"I want to thank you for having me come along and experience some beautiful country and join the alumni workshop. The trip was special, too, for me and my Dad who haven't had time like that together. I did get a great feel for the fun and friendliness you and your participants bring to your 'adventures'.
"Thanks again for your composition pointers and welcoming me on your Death Valley workshop."
Kenny Dalsheimer, North Carolina, USA
"Hi Margo and Arnie,
"I just wanted you to know that thanks to you and my new attention to "the light", it took me about 6 hours to make the 3 hour drive back to Las Vegas after our Death Valley workshop. I kept seeing interesting light everywhere and couldn't keep myself from stopping to make more pictures.
"As a first-time attendee, I really appreciated the perfect balance that you struck between inspiration, instruction, correction, and encouragement. And of course the well-scouted shooting locations were fabulous. My appreciation for good photography and how to improve my own images grew more in 5 days with you (and the other alumni attendees) than in the past 5 years.
"You both put a lot of yourselves into the workshop; you did a great job; and I am very grateful.
"Thanks again!"
Steve Copeland, New York, USA
"Margo and Arnie, once again your workshop succeeded far beyond my expectations. It was an unusually talented group; many of the images were just fantastic.
"Because I was somewhat limited in what I could do, I found myself even more engaged in the creative process. Light and shadow came to have new meaning for me. And I think that my images were more successful than usual even though I actually shot fewer images.
"The critiques are an important part of all of your workshops, and I'm sorry I missed a couple.
"Frankly, I think that the best experience was when I was by myself when you were in the dunes. I got into a flow and began to look for and see things that would go unnoticed by most people. And you were not there to hold me by the hand. The same thing happened when I shot the caboose, though I know that you are not crazy about HDR. Still I find HDR challenging and believe that with careful planning and post processing, I may achieve excellent results. I am not there yet. At my age it is important to have some projects or goals to achieve next year."
George wrote a note to the whole group later...
"I am glad that Margo sent out the email addresses as I wanted to thank you for helping to make the Death Valley workshop so memorable for me. I had been there before as part of another workshop and can assure you that our experience was far superior and enjoyable, at least for me. You were most understanding and I regret having to have missed a number of the critiques as these are an important part of any workshop. The work produced on this workshop surpassed that of other workshops that I have attended which attests to the fact that we have all learned and gained from our experience with Margo and Arnie.
"My best wishes for the holidays and a happy and healthy new year.
"Thanks again. Maybe we will be together again next year; Joshua Tree looks very promising."
George Dalsheimer, Grand Cayman, CAYMAN ISLANDS
"Thank you for the wine [Chuck and Sally were our EMT experts for the workshop] and the excellent company these past few days. We really enjoy your classes and the people who go with them.
Happy Holidays and see you in a couple of months.
"
Chuck & Sally Lovers, California, USA
"Thank you, Margo and Arnie, for putting together this wonderful workshop. As a first-time participant, it was a great learning experience for me. It gave me a whole new perspective on 'making' photographs rather than 'taking' photographs. Your constant guidance through this workshop has helped me a lot. The things that I learned will help me tremendously on how I view subjects through the viewfinder. The critiquing session was one of the most novel and useful formats that I have seen in a workshop of any kind. All the Alumni were very welcoming and helpful for a first-timer like me. I thank you again for this wonderful workshop and look forward to learning a whole lot more in future workshops.
"Have a wonderful and merry Christmas and a happy New Year. "
Kanwal Gill, California, USA
"Thank you thank you thank you! Once again, Arnie and Margo, another great workshop. You hit this one out of the park. Yosemite was my fourth workshop, and each one has been better than the last. Your coaxing to get us to articulate what drew us to a scene and then in postprocessing showing us how to further emphasize those elements made for some very dramatic photos. I am eagerly looking forward to death Valley."
Chuck Lovers, California, USA
"Thanks for a great workshop and a fabulous opportunity to improve. I learned so much from you and Arnie and the group. I am trying to 'isolate and eliminate' [Dave's version of Arnie's 'Simplify and isolate'] and looking for the ever-elusive 'hero' in my photos. I am not sure what I enjoyed more, photographing the beautiful Yosemite Valley or being with such a fine group of people that also enjoy photography. I really appreciated the post processing time and the critiquing time, both giving and receiving, as I feel that is where I really absorbed information.
"Thank you all for helping us make better images."
Dave Sutherland and Suzanne Bailey, California, USA
"Mary and I certainly join in adding a huge "Thank you!" to Margo and Arnie for a wonderful workshop! It was fun, exciting, beautiful, a unique opportunity – for us easterners – to see the wonders of Yosemite in the winter, and we got to do it in a fantastic way. We both greatly enjoyed meeting and sharing the time with everyone, both shooters and SU's [spousal units]!
"My first workshop, in Savannah, showed me it's possible to be more than a snapshooter and gave me an idea of what an image should be. My second, in Andalucia, helped me consolidate and elevate my vision. But this one was by far the most rewarding, because working with such good photographers made me a better photographer, too. As we shared our own visions and critiqued each other's with so much passion and insight and intelligence, I began to be able to understand things about the art of the image that until now I had glimpsed but never fully understood. I left the workshop with better images than I've made before, but less satisfied with them, because Margo and Arnie and all my fellow shooters helped me realize how much better they can still become.
"We send our best wishes for the holidays to everybody and look forward to seeing y'all again!"
Nat Dean, Florida, USA
"Chris and I would like to thank you, Margo and Arnie, for our 4th wonderful workshop. This one was very special with all of the alumni. We haven't been as inspired and excited about doing something in a long time. Your enthusiasm and extra-mile efforts have led us to levels we could have only dreamed of in the past.
"Since our first workshop through this one, we still often ask each other, 'Ok, so which one is sitting on your shoulder right now?' Thanks again for being there and continuing to lead the way.
"We also want to say how great it was meeting all of the alumni and spousal units. We very much enjoyed the time spent with all of you. Both in the field and during imaging time, a tremendous amount of passion and experience was shared. WOW!
"Happy Holidays to all.""
and in giving permission to use the above comments here...
"At the risk of being mushy, its all true. We really do love photography and our time spent together making images and traveling to places we haven't seen. You and Arnie, from the first workshop, have given us tools to enjoy at a very high level. You have helped us see and imagine.
"Personally, we wish the two of you were our next-door neighbors! You are damn fine people.
"Enough, have a very happy holiday season."
Gary & Chris Olejniczak, Wisconsin, USA
"Thanks to Margo and Arnie for making this another special photographic experience. I learned from everyone on the trip, as I always do, because all of you showed a passion for photography and a willingness to share your vision. As usual, Arnie and Margo have gone the extra mile and continue to provide support as we go back to our own locales and try to keep inching up the wall toward better and better image captures. I for one can point to my first BCPA workshop (New England) as the first major jump in my skills as a photographer. I have a long, long ways to go, but it sure feels good to have moved beyond snapshots to the point of having people actually appreciate the final product.
"Best to Margo, Arnie and all of the workshop participants. I sincerely hope we cross paths again.
"Happy Holidays."
Dave Robertson, California, USA
"We had a fantastic trip. It's always nice to see the two of you.
"On the way home, Dr. Gill said he really enjoyed the class, and he really learned alot. We went to his house before we went home, had a little wine, and he said he has a lot to process and was trying to decide what trip to take next. Dr. Gill said you have a trip planned for Death Valley next year??? Sounds good.
"Love,"
and in reponse to my comment, 'We got such amazingly wonderful comments! Arnie and I are humbled!'
"That's because it was such a great class, and everyone just meshed. Going to the bar each night really made the class more interesting; everyone was able to just let loose and enjoy themselves. Dr. Gill said he really enjoyed the class and will probably be taking another one.
" Have a great Holiday and Happy New Year."
Sally Lovers ("spousal unit"), California, USA
"I had a great experience at the workshop. You are both wonderful teachers and, thanks to both of you, my work will continue to grow to a higher level. Thank you for pushing me to continue to reach my potential. You have been generous with your time and knowledge, and I appreciate what you are helping me to accomplish. Thank you so much.
"I loved the images of water in Yosemite that you just posted on your blog. After the workshop yesterday, I wandered over to the Ansel Adams gallery. If I could sell two images for $45,000 (neither matted nor framed), which is the amt of $$ that this gallery is selling some not-great Adams prints for, I would be able to attend two of your workshop per year for the next forty or so years."
and later, after other comments came in...
"Greetings to all. It was a wonderful experience for me to photograph with and to learn from such a group of talented and creative photographers. I learned from each of you, and hopefully my own work will grow as a result. It was indeed a pleasure to be with you and I thank each of you.
"Margo and Arnie: as I have told you after each workshop and, again, after this one at Yosemite, both of you are superb teachers -- patient, knowledgeable, and inspiring. Thank you for all that you do for me, and thank you for pushing me to reach new levels in my work.
"I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a most happy new year! "
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