I want to take a moment to thank everyone who came to the open house that launched my recent show at Manu Propria Photographic Studio, in Staunton Virginia. I especially wish to thank my family and dear friends who came to share this moment with me, as well as those who could not be there but encouraged and supported me in this endeavor!!!

I met a lot of interesting people and had a lot of fun. There is something exciting about seeing your work beautifully displayed on walls that are not your own! I also enjoyed speaking with visitors about my work and watching them move in close to look carefully at the photographs. I print them on 8×10 paper – meaning in practice they are smaller than that. I came away very encouraged and learned a lot … and in the end that is what really matters!

I encourage you to try to find a venue to display your work. However, what is most important is that you keep making meaningful photographs … those that are meaningful to you!

The show stayed up for a few weeks, than I traveled back to Staunton, Virginia and conducted the Shenandoah Valley Workshop with Richard Pippin. This too was great fun for me, and again I learned a lot. In particular, just how easily it is to make a beautiful platinum contact print … from the coating of the paper to the final print. Part of the objective of the workshop was to show participants that they could do this with little or no experience, and with a minimum of equipment — even without having a darkroom, using either the sun or a UV light source. Richard did a great job demonstrating this and removing much of the mystery and fear. While alternative processes are not for me, you can’t argue with the beautiful results!

And since we were in Staunton, we paid a visit to the really cool Camera Heritage Museum, the largest camera museum open to the public in the US. Museum Curator David Schwartz held court, showing us how camera technology has evolved over the years. This is THE camera candy store, and we saw some unique and extraordinary equipment! All I can say to you gear heads and everyone else that would like to see and touch the exquisite tools that made photography possible … this is THE place!

For me, the workshop was a test. Could I do it? Would I freeze up, or be stiff and boring? Could I motivate? In short, could I teach what I know and learn something myself?

I answered my all of my questions and achieved my goals; I hope this is the first of many workshops to come!

Stay tuned!