We have been touched and gratified by the many thank-you notes and
comments we have received from our participants, to wit, these from
New England Fall Foliage:
"I'm
very pleased with my photos from New England. I made
one of those photo books, and when people see the pictures
their first comment is, 'Did you do these pictures?
REALLY?'
"The trip was
great fun....Looking forward to Moab."
Jean
Thomas, Florida, USA
"I
wanted to let you know what a great time I had in New England
with you! Growing up in Northern Maine, I always enjoyed
the fall colors and really looked forward to being back
up north for a visit. As much as I love New England and
the fall colors, the subject was not something I would naturally
gravitate to as a photographer, though. My thinking was,
that if TBC can help me get good images of something that
didn't really light a spark, I would be making true advances
in my skills. Thanks for an amazing trip and I look
forward to more of your photo adventures.
"Turns out two things
happened: I really feel like I did make good progress
on my skills; and you also lit a big spark. I guess there
is a reason why you hold your workshops where you do;
the richness of opportunity was really something. Also,
Long Lo Lodge and Canaan Street Lake were icing on
top.
"Over the weekend
I found out that the picture you have in the student
gallery of the leaves and pine needles floating in the
lake won me a first place in my first photo contest.
I can now say I have won every contest I have entered
:). A local chain of camera stores was holding a contest
for what says fall so I had to give it a try — needless
to say, I am very pleased with the results.
"Thanks for an amazing
trip and I look forward to more of your photo adventures."
Jeff
Chase,
Virginia, USA
"I had some high-school and college experience with photography, but let it fade away over the years as life got a little crazy. Once I decided to get back into it, I thought that combining my passion for travel + photography = the best time ever! A photography workshop at some cool destination seemed like the most logical choice, so I turned to my friend and go-to girl at PDN for some guidance. She suggested a few names, and after some online research, I thought that BCPA looked like the place that could potentially offer everything that I was looking for: #1 Professional expertise with vetted pro’s, #2 small group size, and #3 (most importantly) looked like they had fun! …oh, yeah, and #4, would work with a total novice like me!
"Long story short, after torturing my friends month-after-month with unrealistic expectations of this new adventure, the 1st day finally arrived. The New England Fall Foliage! I don’t want to bore you with too many details, but Margo & Arnie helped me streamline my eye for composition, learn about my aperture and shutter speed, and capture the light in a whole new way.
"Every muscle in my
body ached from hauling our gear around in the pouring
rain and crouching in some crazy position to JUST GET
IT RIGHT! I loved being with other like-minded photographers,
passionate about the same thing, and each person composing
their art more individually than the next. As I drove
away on the last day, I missed them already. My takeaway:
the stills from each location (each more awesome than
the next!), memories of laughter and fun times, and the
VAST knowledge instilled from Arnie and Margo. My expectations
were fully realized! It was full-on, long days with a
little bit of a roller-coaster ride along the way, but
I felt that I walked away with some of the best shots
that I’d taken in my life, and more importantly — passion
renewed!
"Thank you Margo & Arnie!!! I can’t wait to go on another BCPA adventure!"
DeAnne Warner, New York, USA
"The Fall Foliage trip for 2009 is over, and I'm back and emerged in my business. As I started to process some of the photos that were taken on this trip, I became aware of the real value that I had received.
"Throughout the 3 photo adventures with you guys, there was a great diversity of different subjects to photograph. (Literally, hundreds during the 3 trips). Each had its own challenges.
"What makes me enjoy these trips is the help that one or both of you give to me in how to approach the situation that confronts me. Often, there is a suggestion to approach the challenge from a different perspective from my original one. Frequently, I use my approach along with the one from you all. This allows me to compare and evaluate each, giving me a chance to study and determine which best suits my ideas of photography.
"The bottom line is that I now have a collection of over a 1,000 photos from various places covering various subjects, many of which I can show with confidence because of the advice from both of you."
Tony Miller, New Jersey, USA
"Hi Margo and Arnie,
"I returned home yesterday, Tuesday, and awoke to a blanket of snow!!! Back to work today, just got home....I had a great time and I'm so excited about some of my pictures. Yes I will send some but won't have any time to work on them until this next week since I headed right back to work...
"I'm hoping to sign up for Moab; it's at the top of the bucket list....
"Thanks for all our help and suggestions."
Jean Thomas, Florida, USA
"I wanted to say that I had a fabulous time at the Fall Foliage Workshop. As a beginner, I came in very nervous and a bit intimidated. Looking around, I realized that everyone had powerful cameras . . . multiple lenses . . . filters . . . and I had my little compact Canon G10. And I'll never forget how you both laughed with approval when you saw my heavy duty tripod with my little camera.
"But by the end of the week, I proudly carried my heavy duty tripod and Canon G10 to our photo shoots, and my insecurities completely changed. While I may not be able to do everything they can do, I can certainly produce something satisfying to me. And that's what it's all about. Making pictures that make me happy.
"And I was very happy when I left, although very tired. I had a great time learning about making pictures and getting to know you both. The workshop was professional but in a friendly-family sort of way. It's amazing to me that you can put twelve people together for five long days and have so many new friendships develop.
" I hope to see both of you and my fellow "photographers" at another workshop soon."
Anne Pace, Maryland, USA
"I had a lot of fun on the workshop but regret not being there to share the images. I promise not to let this happen again. As far as the images go, it is hard to choose which ones to send. How would you like me to send them? The only way I can actually send any photos is with gmail and Picasa. Any other method just will not work on my computer. This has been going on for five years so it is not about to change now.
"I just wanted to let you know that I met a physician on the plane. He was hugging a Nikon D300 like it was his baby. I started asking him about his photography and learned that he is a novice. He is from Panama but is living in New Hampshire. He was very interested in learning about your workshops so I gave him your name and showed him some of the photos on my computer. Of course, I heard, "They look just like paintings!" For someone who is new to photography, this is a great compliment, so I did not let it get under my skin. He was such a nice man and I hope he talks to you and signs up for a workshop."
and later...
"I have been "tweaking" and found some shots that I wanted to share. I loved this workshop! In fact, this has fulfilled a life-long dream of mine. I was supposed to be in New England on 9-11-2001 but could not go. As we all know, it was NOT the time to be there.
"I just cannot say enough about how wonderful this workshop was."
Harriet Feagin, Texas, USA
"I'm exhausted. So why am I now searching your site for the next workshop? That's because I LOVED IT! This experience was so much fun. I enjoyed everything, and the foliage colors were more spectacular then I expected. Did you arrange that too? Getting up close and personal with nature in a beautiful location is an excellent way to sightsee, bond with my camera, and grow as a photographer.
"I'm a little banged up. My hands are bruised and cut up from adjusting my tripod, and I have braces on both knees today. Ibuprofen rocks!
"Thanks and see you again soon! Maine and Virginia workshops look appealing for the next go. I'm sure I'll get [sister] Anne to come, too, as she's also got the bug, I think.
"P.S. Unbeknownst to me, I'm apparently drawn towards the mysteries of the deep forest along water. I love the deep colors and contrast, and I love that I discovered that!"
And in a later e-mail:
"I was thinking how I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the images during review day on Sunday and seeing everyone's work."
Pat Gardner, Virignia, USA
"Thank you for a very informative four days. I apologize greatly for leaving early. I really did not want to go, as I was learning so much from the review of everyone's work and would have loved to have had time for critique of mine. However, [husband] Bill informed me that he had spent those days traveling around the area and lower part of the state hunting down places where I might make more pictures.
"We went up into the mine. I really was not into the rock, when I heard a little voice that said, 'Look for patterns, and textures; stop and look at it from different angles.'
I actually got some really great shots!
"When I get home I will check my schedule for the next workshop. I will also look over my old pics and rejudge them with more educated eyes.
"Thanks again!"
and a few days later...
"The trip is going fine. I feel like I can finally discriminate on the pictures I actually take. I made a few (OK several ) sunrise pictures. I only applied "Margo's Tweaks." I am not going to do any further work on them until I get home and put them on larger my computer screen.
"I have been raving about the help I recieved and the way that I have grown as a photographer. Tell Arnie I have been "waiting for the light" but so far not much change in this area. Is it OK if I suggest your workshop to my classmates when I start that "night photography course" in Edmonton?
"Thank you again!"
Marg Wood, Alberta, CANADA
"What a fantastic workshop! I really learned a great deal from you both as well as from the other participants. You made it fun while also "pushing" me to achieve results I never considered possible. Only native New Englanders, such as yourself, could have found these remote areas with the most gorgeous scenery that any photographer could only dream about!
"I'll look forward to my fourth workshop with you next year."
Harry Goodman, Pennsylvania, USA
"I
had a blast, [and] I miss you guys already! It was fantastic and I am
amazed what wonderful pictures we all came home with....
"Big hugs
to you and Arnie...and Jim too!
"OXO, U."
Ursula Esser
, California, USA
"Hi everyone,
"I really had hoped
to get this note out sooner upon returning from an amazing week with
Margo, Arnie, and all of you. I need to say thanks. I’m very grateful
for everything I learned from everyone ... our instructors and my fellow
students alike. Everyone’s openness and willingness to share his or
her ideas and constructive criticism was amazing and powerful beyond
measure. I only hope I can put it into practice each time I pick up
my camera. 'Simplify and isolate.' Those words don’t stop ringing in
my head."
Tom Dwyer
, New York, USA
"Wow! You have successfully provided
me with one of the most enjoyable and memorable
experiences of my life. While I learned a great
deal about photography, it was so much more than
that! It was about creating wonderful memories,
enjoying new experiences, making new friends, and
leaving my photographic comfort zone. Thank you
for helping open my eyes to a myriad of new and
exciting photographic possibilities. You both went
above and beyond the call of duty. Honestly, I'm
at a loss for words. You are simply the best!!!"
Les
Phillips , California, USA
"I just returned
from the Northern New England: Fall Foliage workshop
put on by Margo Pinkerton and Arnie Zann. This
was my third photography workshop in the last
two years and was the most useful for how it
helped me to develop as a photographer. I came
to it with hopes of capturing beautiful fall
foliage, which I did, but more importantly I
made a great leap in the quality of my images
based upon the close attention given to me by
both Margo and Arnie.
"They are both
able to communicate in such a way that the suggestions
take hold and transform good images into special
images. They care about the workshop participants,
something that was missing from my most recent workshop
experience. There is nothing hurried about these
two. We would stay at a location for however long
it took to capture the light. Often we were still
out in the field after the sun went down so we could
experience a quality of light that many photographers
fail to even know exists.
"Without
any hesitation, I would strongly recommend Barefoot
Contessa Photo Adventures for anyone interested
in taking their photography to the next level,
wherever they may currently be. Not only do
you receive generously of their time and expertise,
but you also have a great time making images.
To know Margo and Arnie is to love them. If
your passion is photography, then you need to
share it with these two, because they will reflect
it back to you."
and in a later e-mail...
"I have already had two people inquire as to the workshop after looking at my images. Hopefully they will result in future attendees."
Dave
Robertson , California, USA
"The Northern New England Photo Workshop
was an experience of a lifetime for me. TBC and
Company were a delight to be with. Thank you both
for a fantastic week."
Jim
Rowse, New Hampshire, USA
"I want to thank both of you for providing
me with the wonderful learning experience that I
had in your recent workshop. When I was heading
home, I realized that as I was driving and looking
at the scenery around me, I was seeing and visualizing
what was around me in a way that I had never really
done before. I did stop from time to time along
the way to photograph what would catch my eye. As
I walked around, I was much better able to visualize
how I wanted the image to look.
"In particular, I
am seeing light now in a way that I had not really
attended to prior to the workshop. I now think about
how to use light to make a much more impactful photograph.
I believe I am also better able to discern what
it is that will make an image compelling, rather
than merely a pretty picture post card."
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