If you like camping, hiking, and large format photography, this is the workshop for you. The group will be guided by Nick Brandreth and Mark Osterman to make their own silver bromide gelatin emulsion in the darkroom at the George Eastman Museum. Then, each participant will coat pieces of 4x5″ glass to produce a stock of negative plates. On the second day, we’ll travel to Letchworth State Park, known as the Grand Canyon of the East, and set up camp in rustic cabins in the woods.
For the next three days, we’ll hike the wooded trails and along the Genesee River gorge to shoot plates using a 4x5″ view camera. The group will return to camp at the end of each shooting session to develop the plates one-on-one with the instructors in a portable darkroom tent.
All meals and park lodging are included on the camping days. The relaxed atmosphere around the evening campfire makes this a truly unique experience. Mark will bring along a banjo, guitar, and washtub bass. Musicians are encouraged to bring their own instruments. On the last day, we’ll return to the museum, where all negatives will be scanned and digitally inverted to “proof” the images. This workshop also includes a visit to the George Eastman Museum photography collection to view vintage landscape prints made by Ansel Adams, Gustave Le Gray, Eadweard Muybridge, Carleton Watkins, and many more.
Participants receive a complete manual with all formulas and instructions written by Mark Osterman and additional readings on the making and evolution of early gelatin emulsions.
Tuition: $1,500/$1,400 members, plus $200 materials fee
Audience: Limited to six, this is an outdoor workshop that involves some hiking over rough terrain. Only those who are confident of their fitness should consider attending. No prior photography experience necessary.
Cancellation Policy: Withdrawal from the workshop 30 days before the session start date will receive a refund, minus a $100 processing fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 30 days before a workshop start date. If the workshop is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class will be fully refunded. The George Eastman Museum is not responsible for airline ticket cancellation costs or fees. The museum may take and use images, still or video, for educational and promotional purposes.
Location and Scheduling: Daily sessions begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. The first day of the workshop is held at the George Eastman Museum—directions can be found here. The rest of the workshop takes place at Letchworth State Park.
Lodging: Lodging for the first night (in Rochester) is not included in the workshop tuition. Participants must make their own arrangements. The host hotel for workshops held at the George Eastman Museum is the East Avenue Inn & Suites, eastaveinn.com. This hotel is within walking distance of the museum. Room rates begin at $119 per night. The East Avenue Inn & Suites also provides transportation to and from the airport. Reservations can be made by calling (800) 559-8039. When calling to make a reservation, please mention you are taking a workshop at the George Eastman Museum to get this special rate. All meals and park lodging are included on the camping days.