DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE TO WORKSHOP ATTENDEES

Dear Workshop Attendee:

You’ve made an important choice in selecting to participate in our Workshop Program. A few points to consider:

Your instructor is a celebrated, full-time professional photographer and not a professional teacher. I believe the most important aspects of your class will be getting insights from your instructor – the class critiques, his / her responses not only to your work but that of the other students in the class as well. It is assumed you are already a reasonably advanced photographer, therefore the instructors will not be going over basic technique, but instead, focussing on the intent of photography, the point of view, what makes a great and accomplished photographer tick. It’s an opportunity to soar – grasp concepts, take your work to the next level. Keep in mind this is a festival and not a school – we don’t have conventional classrooms, we won’t have a distance between you and your instructor. Rather, you’ll be able to have meaningful one-on-one contact with someone with an outstanding career and reputation who is there to help inspire you and open your eyes to new possibilities. We are more about vision and content than technique and craftsmanship – not because these are not important, but because in a three or four-day workshop program, the essentials are what count. Inspiration is what you can hope to gain from this intimate contact with this important photographer, and inspiration is priceless. Make sure to bring strong examples of your work to show the instructor and class for discussion. This is a major learning aspect of your class.

Your workshop assistant is your liaison with the festival staff and direction. The assistant will help you to get your film processed if you shoot film, provide your workshop with gear if required, know your schedule and transportation options, locations etc. Be sure that person knows your cell number in case they need to reach you for whatever reason.

Remember you are invited to attend all four of our Symposiums at the Annenberg Theater of the Palm Springs Art Museum each day at 5pm. Refreshments will be served from 4-5 in the museum garden. Signs will direct you where to go when you arrive at the museum. Of course if your workshop is not finished for the day at the normal 4pm hour, you are invited to come into the Symposium as soon as you can. They end at 6:30. You’ll then have a little over two hours to have dinner – perhaps with your group? – and then please be sure to return to the Annenberg by 8:45 to take your seat at our Evening Presentation each night. This is the program you won’t want to miss. Each night we have planned an amazing 2-hours for you. On Monday and Thursday nights, immediately following our Evening Presentation concludes at approximately 11pm- we have our Festival Parties – they take place just next to the Annenberg Theater in the museum’s Sculpture Garden. We’ll have an open bar – wonderful Wine-tastings and a great chance to unwind and network.

I look forward to meeting you during the festival.

Sincerely,

JEFF DUNAS
Director