Barnbaum Photographs Above:
Upper Left: Dallas Abstract
Lower Left: In Malibu Canyon
Lower Right: Los Angeles Geometric

Acclaimed Magnum photographer, Bruce Gilden, joins Bruce Barnbaum for the first time, and together they'll lead an exploration of many aspects of the astoundingly varied urban/suburban/natural scene known as Los Angeles. It will be a completely new, different, and very exciting workshop for the Photographic Arts Workshop program.

Variety will be the hallmark of this workshop. From our central location right in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, we'll have immediate access to the most vibrant and varied part of the sprawling metropolitan area. From the new, soaring skyscrapers that have transformed the downtown L.A. skyline over the past several decades, to the traditional downtown shopping areas of Broadway and Olivera Streets, to Pershing Square, and even to magnificent natural areas of the Santa Monica Mountains, including the recently burned portions of Malibu.

Meaningful photography begins with seeing, feeling, understanding, and interpreting. This is true whether your approach is via traditional methods or via digital means. We’ll have plenty to work with during this workshop, and the variety alone, will not only inspire you, but will give you great insights into your own areas of interest. We think you’ll come away from this workshop with a greater appreciation of the world, and a greater understanding of how you want to convey your thoughts about it to others.

Instructors Bruce Gilden and Bruce Barnbaum, and special guest, Ray McSavaney, will also present their own work, their working methods, and their overall philosophy and thought processes. This will be particularly interesting because they create such different imagery: the exciting and amusing street photographs of Gilden; the classic landscape and architectural photography of Bruce Barnbaum; and the varied urban, industrial, landscape and still-life photography of Ray McSavaney.

In addition to the field sessions, there will be thorough, insightful, supportive, and penetrating discussions and critiques of all student work throughout the week. This will be particularly enlightening due to the diverse perspectives that the two instructors bring to the workshop. It is difficult to overstate the importance for every student of two mature, but very different, artistic perspectives and opinions presented simultaneously. Bruce and Bruce are exceptionally good at imparting ideas to you about your photography, including very insightful and constructive suggestions for bringing your photographic thinking, philosophy and techniques to a newer, higher level. But everyone participates in the critique sessions—not just the instructors—so you'll get valuable feedback from everyone in the group. You'll come away with new ideas about your own work, your direction, and the best means of getting there.