We have been touched and gratified by the many thank-you notes and comments
we have received from our participants and those whom we fondly
call our "spousal units," including these from Cascades & Wildflowers of Virginia. For more comments from other workshops, click here.
"Margo, Arnie, Thanks again for a wonderful 5 days. It was a truly unique and educational experience. Needless to say the instruction and attention I received was way beyond what I had expected when I signed up for the workshop. Besides the camaraderie and having a lot of fun, I came away with a wealth of knowledge on shooting and processing images. Fusssssy is my new mantra. "
Steve Goldin, New York, USA
"Arnie and Margo,
"Great to watch the Blog and hear of your exploits. I do miss our time together. I feel like I really grew as a photographer those few days. Abilities and confidence. Now I must find a way to do one of the longer trips, but bring my wife along. Hope all is well. Look forward to many more meetings with you."
And a little while later...
"What a great time! The friendship time, the camera time, the “family”time . . . All was great.
"The direction and instruction by Arnie and Margo was tremendous. At times it was a little nudge to get you to possibly re-direct your camera or mental vision. Other times, it was a little more of a push (that Margo!). No matter which way, you were always treated with respect and professionalism. Statementsssuch as, ‘Remember what drew you to the scene and make sure that is your only subject,’ as Margo would look through your view finder or Arnie and his mantra, ‘Simplify and isolate.’ Our favorte was Margo and her ‘ahem." Not sure how to spell it, can’t even make the sound, but I am sure everybody who takes a Barefoot Contessa workshop has heard it from the corners of the shoot. Someone is doing something ‘wrong’. I know our group had great fun with that one.
"Again, the whole workshop was just fun! Friendships, Photo ops, 'Family' time. Yes, 'family' time. In just a short period of time, our group had become a close 'family.' Laughing together, laughing at each other, supporting each other, enjoying meals together, sharing past history and stories. It was just like being together with family, a family of photography nuts, but a family. I plan on doing more workshops with these great photographers and people.
"Thanks, Margo and Arnie."
And more recently...
"I think I have become a one-person ad man for you in our area and with my online friends at Betterphoto. Haven't won any prizes/awards, but of the photos that I have loaded up on Betterphoto (since the workshop) 11 out of 16 have been give an "Editor's Pick". (http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=150961&mp=V2) Had a good Roanoke Sidewalk Art Show and Sale. Placed three photos in the Bath County Art Show (they gave us flyers while at workshop).
"Again, getting tons of compliments about how my work has gone to the next level. Thanks for the confidence in my abilities. You and Arnie's tutelage and confidence in me open my vision. I have always been confident in my abilities as a dentist. That was sometimes lacking as a photographer, especially in the context of being a 'professional photographer.' No, I don't do it as vocation, but as Arnie commented, 'You are a professional photographer'. Many thanks to my mentors and friends, Arnie and Margo. Looking forward to doing another workshop with you soon. Yes, I still hear that little 'ahem' in my head when I do something 'wrong' or don't take time to take that small step to the left or tilt my camera in an odd way to get a photo. Lois looks at me rather oddly, when I quietly make a comment about Margo gently scolding me! LOL. Have a great rest of the summer.
John Singleton, Virginia, USA
"Dear Arnie and Margo,
"Thanks for a great workshop. It definitely was a workshop with more laughs per image and more good images than any workshop I have ever taken. I am going to recommend it to all my photo friends.
"Sunday after I left the workshop, I did some shooting on the way to Staunton, Then crashed for about 2 hours. Got up and had dinner. Then went back to sleep for another 10 hours. That's right, 12 hours of sleep - playing catchup after early to rise and late to bed in pursuit of learning and the perfect image."
"I was this week reading a blog by Margo Taussig Pinkerton, aka the Barefoot Contessa http://bcphotoadventures.wordpress.com/about/, in which Margo refers to her love of ravens and her habit of talking to them. At this point, I should add that if you have been around Margo, you will know that she talks to all of nature's objects, animate or inanimate, and this includes not only ravens, but clouds, fence posts, cows, etc!
"She has an infectious love of life and photography that just bubbles about her. Her partner in life, love, and photography, Arnie Zann, has developed a near-saintly beatitude helped by a touch of male-patterned deftness which only enhances Margo's enthusiastic communications.
"Make no mistake, their extensive background as working photographers and their love of life make their photo workshops both enjoyable and truly educational. I hope to join them again soon both to recharge my photographic batteries and to share in their enthusiasm for life.
"Margo's praise of the raven made be remember that I also had some pics of this intellegent bird. This Friday's photo is one of those."
David Kay, Virginia, USA
"Chris and I awoke early this morning prepared to catch the wonder soft light and scenery you showed us. To our surprise it was bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky. We packed up and headed home!!!!!
"Once again, thanks for the wonderful week and memories. Chris and I had a terrific time. (Cheeks still hurt) We especially liked the part where we got to know you a little on a personal level. That was very nice. You are two wonderful people. "
And soon after...
"My
wife and I just returned from the Cascades and Wildflowers of Virginia
workshop. What an incredible experience for two retirement photographers.
Margo and Arnie do an exceptional job of scouting locations to insure
a well-motivated customer while they gently teach and enhance your photographic
skills. Each location was perfectly suited to teaching the day's lesson
or technique. Class sizes are designed to allow the instructors to provide
the maximum one-on-one personal attention to each student's needs. They
have an uncanny eye for seeing what the student needs, in both the field
and the lab, and guiding that person into creating the image they
saw in their vision. We came away with a greatly enhanced knowledge
of working with light and how to effectively make the subject of the
image the "hero" it
was intended to be.
"In addition to all of the above
and the countless other photography-related knowledge we were taught,
we met two of the best people one can ever meet. Margo and Arnie are
truly skilled and excellent instructors, photographers, and artists.
However, they are exceptional human beings as well. They bring their
professional and personal lives to the workshop in such a fashion that
puts the student totally at ease. Learning is so much easier when you
are in such a frame of mind. What is amazing is that their passion is
not only photography but also about life and the many people they meet.
"Great locations,
expert knowledge, and truly wonderful people. How could one better spend
a week chasing Cascades and Wildflowers in Virginia!"
Gary Olejniczak,
Wisconsin, USA
"Mary
and I had a great time, and we enjoyed meeting you and Arnie. We are
looking at our schedule to see when we can fit in another one of your
workshops."
Steve
L.,
Virginia, USA
"Thank
you for a wonderful experience! You guys are warm, friendly, funny,
patient, and very knowledgeable in photography. I learned so much in
the four days of the workshop, and I know I will never see the same
way again! I was inspired and loved the mountains of Virginia, but most
of all, I loved the company!! Everyone was great! I hope to do another
workshop soon! Please keep in touch when you stop for a moment."
Melanie Shalam,
New York, USA
"I
learned more about how to make a good photograph in three days of a
Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventure workshop than I had in the previous
five years of reading and experimenting on my own."
Tony Miller
, New Jersey, USA
"Phyllis and I both enjoyed the workshop immensely. I truly did not know what to expect, but the workshop far exceeded any expectations I may have had. I was also thrilled that Phyllis found that she enjoyed photography, and I was much appreciative of the reception that you guys gave her.
"I learned so much, but I am sure my retention will need refreshing. I thank all of you for spending so much individual time with me, I certainly did not expect this. I hope to take workshops in the future... Phyllis even suggested that after she became a little more experienced that maybe we could do some private training since we are close.
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