We are Nancy Rotenberg, Les Saucier, and Don McGowan. Collectively that represents nearly half a century of teaching photography and leading photography workshops. Nancy currently lives in the small western Pennsylvania community of Aliquippa, near Pittsburgh. Don and Les are both residents of Western North Carolina, having discovered many years ago that their hearts were of the mountains of the Southern Appalachians. Les lives in Weaverville, and Don in Canton; both close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Don and Les have been leading workshops together for several years. In the spring of 2005 they met Nancy, and the rest, as they say, is history; for it was immediately evident that what they shared in common were three distinct visions – photographically and spiritually – joined together in a single heart. And Photography with Heart Workshops: Walking in Beauty was born.
What is a typical workshop day like?
A typical day would be to rise before sunrise, travel to a “first-light location, to be part of the magic of dawn. Typically, we will spend the morning at one or two locations, travel to lunch as a group, have an afternoon in the classroom, and then travel back out to the field for afternoon light and/or sunset opportunities. We will then – as a group- enjoy the fun and camaraderie of dinner together.
The classroom (which is approximately 30-40% of the workshop), contains different presentations and critique and discussion of participants’ work and assignments.
The culmination of the week is a final image show to music – representing the images of the group and the sense of the experience of the week. Check out past final shows.
Do the instructors photograph in the field?
It is our policy that instructors offer their undivided attention at all times to our participants and, therefore, do not, as a general matter, photograph in the field. There are occasions when, in the course of demonstrating a particular technique, instructors will set up their equipment and photograph for instructional purposes. Occasionally, during sunrise and sunset opportunities, instructors will join the participants in photographing, but never in such a way as to not be immediately available to assist participants or answer their questions.
How many participants are in each workshop?
A full workshop would be 20 participants with 3 teachers and one assistant. This is a wonderful ratio of 7:1, enabling great assistance and availability for all. As leaders, we take pride in the fact that we are always present, not working on our own photography, and eager to make your experience as good as possible.
What are the prerequisites for attending any workshop?
Workshops are open to photographers who are comfortable with their cameras, who photograph with a tripod and who have a SLR camera with a variety of lenses. If you are a digital photographer, participants are asked to have a basic knowledge of how to download images and how to process those images for projection.
How do I register?
Registration is done with Kris Morgan at kris@naturaltapestries.com. She will inform you of the deposit needed, when balances are due, and the withdrawal and cancellation policy. A Registration Form will be sent to you via email or download this Workshop Registration Form and send to: Natural Tapestries, 1208 SR 18, Aliquippa PA 15001
What does my registration include?
Your registration includes tuition, opening party, and pizza party. Tuition does not include rooms, food, transportation, or any personal expenses.
How do I pay for my workshop?
We accept personal checks or money orders.
Make your check or money order payable to Natural Tapestries.
Mail to: Natural Tapestries, 1208 SR 18, Aliquippa PA 15001
Please note on your check/money order which workshop your payment applies to.
What if I am registered for a workshop but have to cancel?
WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: "The fine
print."
- Deposits are due upon registration and are not transferable to another Photography With Heart workshop.
- Deposits are refunded, less a $50 processing fee, if you notify us 60 days prior to the start of the workshop.
- If you cancel between 30 and 60 days prior to the start date of the Workshop, the full deposit will be retained.
- In the event that you must cancel less than 30 days prior to the start of the Workshop, your balance will be reimbursed if a replacement is available to assume your position in the workshop.
- No refunds are given for cancellations/no-shows after the Workshop has begun.
- If a Workshop is cancelled by Photography With Heart participants will be informed as soon as possible and tuition fees will be refunded in full.
- Photography With Heart is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of a course cancellation. We encourage participants to purchase refundable airline tickets and consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance.
Where do I stay during workshops?
Rooms are always blocked and you will receive that information after registration. Generally, rooms are arranged and paid for directly by participants.
Where do I eat?
We, here at Photography with Heart, feel very strongly that much is learned during meals and there is a wonderful connection and intimacy that occurs when like-minded souls dine together. We, therefore, take much time and energy in organizing a variety of eating locations and making reservations so that our time eating does not interfere with our time photographing and experiencing the beauty of each location.
What will I learn?
You will learn appreciation of nature, you will increase your knowledge of the craft of photography and how to optimize your experience in the field. You will receive immediate feedback – during the workshops, in the form of critique discussions – generally every day. You will also learn who you are in the creative process as we feel this is such an important tool – often underestimated.
What kind of physical shape do I have to be in?
Generally, there are few long hikes. We feel that we want you to use your time with us – photographing and learning – not hiking. All that said, you should feel comfortable walking about one mile with your camera gear and experiencing full days from sunrise to sunset.
What do I need to bring?
Upon registration, there will be a “what to bring” list. This is not meant to be a shopping list – rather, just a list that will add to your experience with us. You should, however, have 2 cameras bodies, a variety of lenses, a tripod, and a way to download and view your images - preferably a laptop.
Will there be film processing?
As you know, there are fewer and fewer E6 labs available. We will, however, always try to accommodate film users. There will always be a film projector.
Would it be OK
if I brought my spouse or best
friend?
We welcome spouses or best friends – as long as
they are not photographing.
I would love to
tell my friends and neighbors about your workshops
but PhotographywithHeartWorkshops.com is a lot to
type into their browsers.
Any Suggestions?
Sure,
try NancyDonLes.com,
that's what we do.
Why are we
different?
Each of us, in
addition to possessing an overarching desire to be
the best professional nature photographers we can
be, came to our profession through the route of the
workshop experience. We have seen, and learned
firsthand, what it means to participate in a
wonderful and meaningful workshop, and well as some
that weren’t quite that way. We want our
participants to know what it is to have the very
best of that experience and to gain as
photographers from having spent their time with us.
Yet, more than that, because we are three visions
with a single heart, we want to celebrate the
beauty of nature with our participants in a way
that can best be found, we believe, when we open
our hearts to the diversity of the journey and join
together in the dance of creativity.
For each of us, photography is so much more about
expression; so although we recognize the value of
documentation in our medium, we feel that it is our
going beyond the documentary aspects, both in how
we teach and in how we photograph, that makes us
different. We want to offer our participants the
greatest opportunity possible to find for
themselves their own path to self-expression and
creativity through the process of photography.