Balloon festival by Bruce Dale, c 2002

October 3 - 9, 2003

This is a special opportunity to spend a week with Bruce photographing some of the more exciting photo events that New Mexico has to offer.We'll be based in a beautiful setting on the Pecos River, just a half-hour from Santa Fe. We've timed this workshop to take advantage of several great autumn opportunities. During the week, we'll photograph the world's largest mass balloon ascension at dawn in Albuquerque. We'll wander at Rancho de los Golondrinas, (I sometimes describe it as the "Williamsburg of the West") during a fall festival where wonderful examples of early hispanic life in New Mexico come to life. We'll journey to Chama, New Mexico where we'll photograph the Cumbres & Toltec narrow gauge steam train both in the the engine yards and in the scenic countryside. After overnighting there, we'll return by way of Taos Pueblo and several historic missions.

Workshop participants will learn to capture fleeting images as Bruce - twice named Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association - shares with them insights and techniques gained during 30 years of photography for National Geographic Magazine. His most recent book, The American Southwest, the result of a year-long odyssey, was published by the National Geographic in 1999.

Workshop Approach: We'll be working exclusively with digital cameras so that work can be critiqued both on site and back at our camp the same evening. Students will experience the challenge of working in situations that, although very photogenic, can be difficult at times. At public events you may be surrounded by people and other photographers. Bruce will explain how he deals with this and how he minimizes this chaos by pre-planning. As Louis Pasteur said, "Chance prefers the prepared mind".

This workshop is for intermediate and advanced student that knows his equipment well. We'll learn tips on photographing people in sensitive situations and spend the evenings discussing the days shoot.

Film and processing: Not included. This is a digital workshop so that we can review images while on the road. For those of you who wish to shoot film, you may get your film processed at an excellent lab in Santa Fe, but it'll be up to you to handle the drop off and pickup.

Scheduling: Course begins on Friday evening with dinner and ends with a student show and dinner on Wednesday. Checkout is on Thursday morning.

Accommodations: Workshops are held at Pecos River Cabins, a rustic retreat among cottonwoods on the banks of the river and within walking distance of the village of Pecos. This private complex, run by gracious hosts, includes a splendid new meeting facility for workshop sessions. Normally, accommodations are in simple cabins with a central bath house and plenty of hot water. There is also a limited number of deluxe accommodations with private baths and kitchens. Since weather in October can be unpredictable, the standard rustic cabins with central warm bath-house may be uncomfortable for some. Therefore, we are encouraging students to share the deluxe units. If single lodging is desired, we may have to accommodate you ½ mile away in nearby Pecos. We'll share a continental breakfast every morning and two gourmet dinners. Other meals are on your own.

Course cost: $985 plus taxes (not including event admissions)

Lodging: Includes 2 dinners, daily continental breakfast, and shared lodging away from Pecos (for single lodging on the road add $45)
Deluxe: $660, Shared Deluxe $580
Standard $495, Shared Standarad $450
plus taxes

Contact: For more information, visit the cabins at http://www.pecosrivercabins.com
Or contact Bruce at badpix@aol.com.

For registration: please
contact Fritz Rothdach at Pecos River Cabins. PO Box 50, Pecos, New Mexico 87552
Phone 505 757-8760 Fax 505 757-6887
prcfritz@cybermesa.com

Student Photos: To see work of the 2000 year's class, please click on the following link.
Student Photos from the 2000 Workshop

Visit Pecos River Cabins
Take a look here for a comprehensive view of the workshop facilities.

Sponsored by
PANASONIC AND EPSON

With additional support from
NIKON, LEXAR, MAXTOR and WACOM