March 23, 2007

Dear Reader,

You're receiving this special notice because you indicated your interest in workshops when you subscribed to Insights. You may get other special notices once or twice a year.

I've had a lot of requests for more information on my workshop Illuminating Creativity, which is being offered May 14-18, August 27-31, and October 1-5, 2007.

In response to these requests I've update the description on my website to give you more specifics.

This workshop is different. There's nothing out there like it.

It will give you tools to stimulate your creativity and generate more ideas.
When you have more options available to you, you can make better choices, better develop the work you have, and find more applications for it.

It will strengthen your photographic skills.
A substantial amount of time is spent making new exposures with exercises designed to help participants explore and practice different modes of photographing with an eye to understanding how they differ from conception straight through to practical aspects of workflow. Versatility is a key ingredient to become a more accomplished artist.

It will give you tools to help you identify important areas in your work and make valuable choices.
Significant time is spent reviewing work - both work brought and work done during the week. You'll find many new ways of looking at your work and ways of looking at the work of other artists. Identifying your core strengths and focussing your efforts on developing these is essential to artistic and financial success.

Perhaps the most challenging thing to communicate about this course is it's not just about photography, it's about life. That shouldn't be surprising because your art is an expression of the life you live. The skills you learn in this workshop can be applied to anything you do that requires creativity.

Learn more about this workshop or register by visiting my website and read the newly updated description.

15% early registration discount is extended through this weekend. Space is limited. Register today!

Best wishes,

John Paul

March 2007

Dear Reader,

This month's issue of Insights highlights a conversation with R Mac Holbert - photographer, master printer, and cofounder of Nash Editions. In addition there's a short review of his new book. And there's a new Technique PDF High Pass Contrast, which Mac introduced to the presenters and attendees of the Epson Print Academy; it's one you definitely want to know about. Stay tuned for information on a special printing workshop with Mac and me.

I'm back from a 20 day voyage to one of my favorite places - Antarctica. You can view new images in a free portable PDF gallery. You can find out more about my new work and Antarctica in the accompanying text. Images and impressions from my 2005 voyage are also available. And you can find out about what one workshop participant, Olaf Willoughby, has achieved with his work from 2005.

Best wishes,

John Paul
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In this Issue...

Creativity - Spend Time With Other Creative People
May Workshop - Illuminating Creativity
Artist's on Art - R Mac Holbert
Review - Nash Editions - Photography and the Art of Digital Printing
Technique - High Pass Contrast
Gallery - Antarctica 2007
Artist's Statement - Antarctica 2007
Publication - Antarctica: A Sense of Place
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Creativity
Spend Time With Other Creative People


Seek community with other creative people. You can gain extremely valuable insights into the creative process by spending time with and carefully observing other creative people practicing in any discipline.
Enjoy this process! Simply observe. Your time is better spent observing. Secondarily, you may also observe yourself and note what you tend to react to and how you tend to react.
Resist the temptation to be analytical or critical. Time evaluating the information you collect is best spent later, when you no longer have access to such an information rich environment and when you've had a little time to gain some distance and perspective, letting things sink in.
Without putting others on the spot, it's useful to ask appropriate questions of others. You'll learn even more. It's likely that you'll both learn from what you exchange.
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Workshop
Illuminating Creativity
May 14-18


You're unique. Your creative process should reflect this. You change. Your creative process should reflect this too. That's what this workshop is all about checking in and taking stock of where you are, experimenting and discovering new possibilities, and finding confirmation and empowerment by practicing ways of making your creative process more your own, more authentic, more fulfilling, and more productive. We'll photograph, edit, process, write, sketch and much more. Every day you'll discover / rediscover tools to energize and focus your creative process.
These are the insights and techniques that keep me creatively vital and productive. I find them invaluable. You'll find them valuable too.
15% early registration discount ends 3/16. Space is limited. Register today!

Register today!
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Artist's on Art
R Mac Holbert
Nash Editions


Photographer, master printer, and cofounder of Nash Editions - Mac Holbert offers a valuable perspective on the medium supported by a unique experience as well as countless insights in this illuminating conversation. Read the full text here. Find excerpts and a portfolio of Mac's images in this month's Camera Arts magazine.

Read more...
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Review
Publications
Nash Editions - Photography
and the Art of Digital Printing


This is an important book. It delights the eye; it stimulates thought; it informs us about the state of contemporary photographic printmaking. Read more in this PDF and online at NETheBook.com. Get a signed copy for $50 by emailing info@nasheditions.com.

Read more...
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Technique
Adjustment
High Pass Contrast


During the Epson Print Academy, Mac has been wowing presenters and crowds alike with this technique. Akin to High Pass Sharpening, High Pass Contrast is a type of contrast you need to know about. Find out how to use it in your images with this free PDF. Also, make sure to visit Mac's free downloads at nasheditions.com and at http://homepage.mac.com/mach48 /FileSharing13.html.

Read more...
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Gallery
Antarctica 2007


20 days at sea and 5000 exposures yielded 40 images finished onsite and processed entirely in Adobe's newly released software Adobe Lightroom. See a selection of my new work in this free portable PDF gallery.

View more ...
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Artist's Statement
Antarctica 2007


Read about my most recent trip to Antarctica and the work I produced on location.
Read more ...
Antarctica is a fascinating continent. It's a sensitive indicator of climate, both physically and socially. Get many of the facts here.
Read more ...
This trip was made with many interesting instructors; Michael Reichmann, Jeff Schewe, Seth Resnick, Stephen Johnson, Bill Atkinson, Ian Lyons. Look to their websites in the coming months for more work and impressions by the other instructors - luminous-landscape.com, photoshopnews.com, sjphoto.com sethresnick.com, billatkinson.com, and computer-darkroom.com.
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Antarctica
A Sense of Place


One participant in our 2005 Antarctic expedition used his images and words to produce a 48 page book, available in both electronic and printed forms, that is now being used by the World Wildlife Federation and the International Polar Year 2007-8 organization ( ipy.org is well worth visiting) to raise awareness and funds for important environmental issues. One man can make a difference, in a relatively short time. Go to lulu.com and type in Olaf Willoughby to learn more about this. My hat's off to you Olaf
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Upcoming Events
March
Article
R Mac Holbert
Camera Arts

March/April
Article
Photoshop User
Ink Limit

March 10
Lecture
Reflections
PhotoSPIVA
Kansas City, MO

March 26-30
Workshop
The Fine Digital Print
Artist's Studio, Maine


April 3-7
Seminars
Photoshop World
Boston

April 23-26
Workshop
The Power of Color
Artist's Studio, Maine


May 14-18
Workshop
Illuminating Creativity
Artist's Studio, Maine