Posts Tagged: Photo Workshops
1 to 3 day intensive experiences to enhance creative expression – established photographers
blog post: now what?
“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” — Lao Tzu
You’ve attained technical mastery with your camera and perhaps even with on-/off-camera lighting. now what?
How do you connect; how do you move from the typical to the extraordinary? what to do, what to see…differently, or compose…differently; how to go about creating uniquely; what is to be done to stretch yourself artistically.
If you are asking these questions you are ready to move yourself towards more personal, artistic and professional growth.
Team Zen has inspiring ideas to challenge your growth and help you move yourself towards your goals.
A Zen Photography Workshop or Retreat can be the stepping stone to your journey . come join us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 70-200mmmm L f/2.8 @ 185mm | ISO: 100| f/3.5 | 1/2000 | Presque Isle Erie PA | Image refined cropped, processed + enhanced in PS5
blog post: attainment
“I have so overcome the mechanics of my camera that it functions responsive to my desires, my shutter coordinating with my brain is released in a way, as natural as I might move my arm. I am beginning to approach actual attainment in photography — that in my ego of two or three years ago I thought to have already reached. It will be necessary for me to destroy, to unlearn, and then rebuild upon the mistaken presumptuousness of my past.” — Edward Weston
Ego interferes with our personal and professional growth; it’s a constant battle to be aware of ego and keep it in check.
Edward Weston was a Master Photographer who continues to inspire through his work and wisdom, even thought he is no longer with us.
I am one of those photographers who believe in mastering the technical aspects of photographing because it can set us free to create imagery that can astound. it is my opinion that when you shoot in “P” / Program mode, it’s the easy way out. it’s like cheating on the test; all the answers are there for us, even if they are mediocre answers. Program mode doesn’t allow for us to stretch our creativity, it simply allows us to create just like everyone else, and then deludes us into thinking we are fantastic photographers. well, delusions will only get us so far in anything we choose to do.
Team Zen wants you to have success, whether you are photographing as a career choice, for your self, as a parent or an enthusiast who simply wants to learn to be more proficient with their DSLR.
Let your ego go. take a risk and learn the skills that will be of great service to you and bring you joy. Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats can help. come join us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 70-200mmmm L f/2.8 @ 100mm | ISO: 100| f/5.6 | 1/1000 | Boston MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: nourishment
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — Chinese Proverb
If i tell you how to do something without showing you, without teaching you the hows and explaining the what-fors, what will you learn? you will learn that i am full of myself only.
As you seek to create your own definition of what you feel success is, we must guide you in a way that provides you with information and opportunities combined with exploration and dialog. this will involve respect, honesty, ethics and an open and flexible mind on both the part of the teacher and student. it is a mutual dance we share that will lead to personal and professional enlightenment.
Team Zen will impart skills that you can take, use and blossom from by teaching you “to fish” at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats. come join us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 35mm | ISO: 400| f/8 | 1/100 | Provincetown MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: pursue your path
“Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.” — Henry David Thoreau
The “path” of photographing has so much significance for so many people…it can be an outlet for creativity, a means to document life and loved ones, a way to earn a living…photography and the act of photographing is multifaceted! it’s a path that can instill immediate awe and excitement, both while photographing and through the visual rewards of the end result: an image that evokes emotion or memories. photography is a powerful medium of expression! no wonder so many people have such tremendous reverence for it.
Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats will assist you in refining the photographic path you have chosen, at any level of experience.
Take a moment to share what your favorite photographic subject is with us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 28mm | ISO: 200 | f/11 | 1/30 | DL Convention Center | Pittsburgh PA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: knowing ourselves
“Knowing others is wisdom; knowing yourself is enlightenment.” — Lao Tzu
There are many people that touch our lives. we learn from them in many ways; how to cook, how to drive, how to lawyer or doctor, even how to photograph. we become busy learning and doing; very busy. and in all this busy-doing we often lose touch with ourselves. if we can be still and introspectively return to ourselves we will gain enlightenment, not just knowledge.
At Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats, we offer just the right balance of knowledge and experiences to help you gain wisdom, but most importantly, Satori (enlightenment).
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 lens @ 28mm | ISO: 100 | f/5.6 | 1/160 | Kentuck Knob Chalk Hill PA | Image refined, cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: priorities
“We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that wecan see.” — Taoist Proverb
Elusive time. we all need time, but too often we don’t make time to do the things that could make a difference for ourselves. we need time to be still, to see, to learn, regroup, meditate, explore, exercise, laugh, be with people we love… many people remind us that we cannot buy back time. where does time go?
When we are “still,” when we take the time necessary to nurture ourselves, it will offer us opportunities that we couldn’t even begin to see all the while we are busy doing things.
Perhaps it’s about our priorities.
Only 3% of Americans make time to create goals that would advance their lives, be it their finances, careers or even their personal lives. that is a shocking statistic! what have your priorities been? have they been leading you in the direction you want to go, or do you need to make, and then take, time to regroup and redirect yourself? “but I don’t have time,” you say. i disagree. you can create and effect big changes for yourself in thirty, fifteen, or even in as little time as seven minutes; yes, 7 minutes.
We have a plan for you at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats. we want to help you help yourself to prosper in all aspects of your life. we know that it can be done. come join us.
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 70mm-200 L f/2.8 IS lens @ 100mm | ISO: 200 | f/4 | 1/250 | Hopewell PA | Image refined, cropped and enhanced for tonality in PS5
blog post: tortoise or hair
“It does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop.” — Wisdom of Confucius
The fable of the tortoise and the hare comes to mind here…let me make myself an example: i move and think with awareness, so at times, i can appear to be slow. my grandmother would always encourage me by saying “slow but steady; that is how you will have success.” she was right.
At times we may wish that our success was quicker, but wishing does not get us closer to our desires. the steady drip of water wears even the hardest rock over time. consider allowing the process to unfold.
At Zen Photography Workshops + Retreats we help you to be consciously present in your daily deeds to help you move the mountains you were meant to move.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 24mm | ISO: 100 | f/4.0 | 1/30 | Falling Water | Mill Run PA | Image refined, cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: creating success
“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.” — Chinese Proverb
It is easy to lose your way to creating your own success when you compare yourself with others. comparing is an outward gaze; it negates the person you are – all of your many talents and fine qualities. if you are trying to determine how to direct your passion for photography or how to create your photographic style, look inward and ask yourself: what are my values? what do i love? who or what inspires me? how would my friends describe me? these are a few of many questions that can lead you down the path of self-creation.
Trends are deceiving; they are exciting today, but pass by quickly. if you seek to follow trends or duplicate another photographer’s style, your business will pass by quickly too. take care to learn the time-honored principles surrounding the craft of photography, integrate them and they will help you to be true to yourself and build a strong foundation for your business.
Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats will impart inspiration and help you build your photographic foundation and style. join us and offer yourself a rich opportunity to blossom.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE: Zen Photography Safari: Pittsburgh Night-Light
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 24mm | ISO: 100 | f/8 | 1/125 | Pittsburgh PA | Image refined and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: inspira-Zen
“Inspiration is a different thing. Through inspiration you start on the journey, not on any effort of copying. You move on your own path. Inspiration is just a challenge. A thirst arises, and then you move. Tantra says, ‘Be inspired, but don’t become imitators.’ Always remember that you are your own goal.” — Osho
“Tantra” is akin to principles or ethics based upon Divine Universal principles.
Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats was created with the intention to inspire, guide and inform people who love photography, no matter what the skill level.
We can derive our inspiration in many ways…here, i simply want to focus on the inspiration for our photography.
Perhaps we find inspiration for our photography from the beauty of nature, or the repetition of patterns at an industrial site, or perhaps from the irony presented often in life, and we can even find it through the work of other photographers – all are beautiful and viable ways to become inspired as we move through learning to see and photograph all that we are seeing. the challenge then, presents itself with taking the inspiration you have found and integrating it into your own creative process without copying what you have been inspired by.
Tricky.
Consider this:
When you can approach being inspired as a challenge where you integrate that inspirational source into your own creative process, instead of copying it verbatim, you will have stretched, extended and liberated your OWN creativity, and THAT is exciting! this liberation will then extend further and move you to places of personal and professional growth that you previously only hoped for.
The various practical experiences and lectures available to you at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats are designed to help you get in touch with and integrate your inspirations into your own creative process. we look forward to helping you fuel your soul and direct your creativity towards your own truth.
For more inspiration to reflect upon, please refer to our INSPIRA-ZEN-AL BLOG posts where you will find inspiration for your personal, creative, technical and business needs.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone