By Jillian Pichocki
I participated in a workshop through photoexperience.net during the summer of 2006, and it was a life changing experience. I studied the historical photographic process of the daguerreotype with the contemporary master, Jerry Spagnoli (www.jerryspagnoli.com).
Learning the process in itself was amazing, but to be in such a beautiful environment at the same time was what really made it unique.
It was an awakening occurrence to go to Peru and observe a lifestyle so different than what I have been accustomed to living outside of Washington D.C. where the standard of living is very high. With so much in excess, this trip opened my eyes as to what one really needs to get by with in life.
All the participants were excited to take part in the daily excursions organized by Adam Weintraub. Adam is a freelance photographer who lives and works in Seattle, Washington. His wife and extended family are from Cusco, and he has been traveling to and from both cities for over ten years. Words cannot really express how someone as knowledgeable as Adam made the whole transition of settling in to the new environment easy and enjoyable. Adam was always available to provide an insider’s scoop as to what to see and what to bring to the various locales. The website for the bed and breakfast is: http://www.panzadelartista.com/ The majority of the time was spent exploring, but it was a great release to come back to the house and have the privacy to process the experiences from that day and to bond with fellow participants.
As I said, this trip opened my eyes to a different culture and was a good reality check for my life back in the states. I began to see the world differently and appreciate the simpler things in life. I also got a chance to meet some amazing people. We all had different interests in photography and not all were working in that field, but we enjoyed learning and being a part of something incredible. When I look back at my other travels around the world, none are as significant as my trip to Peru. It was the personal growth and exploration that helped me develop a better sense of purpose and to continue to inspire my photographic interests.
The workshop series is growing and each year they have an amazing assortment of photographers that lead a different topic. This summer they have Keith Carter (who is one of my favorite photographers), Bruce Barnbaum, and Stella Johnson.
Link: http://www.photoexperience.net
Jillian Pichocki is a freelance/fine art photographer living in the Washington DC area. She received an MFA in Art and Visual Technology, with an emphasis in photography, from George Mason University in 2007. Her work has been shown in the Metropolitan galleries such as: Transformer Gallery, Touchstone Gallery, the Fraser Gallery, and the Ellipse Art Center.
For over eight years, her interest in the history of photography has led her to experiment with different processes and seek out the possibilities of this medium. Covering a wide range of formats from plastic and Polaroid cameras to large format, she uses analog photography as the foundation of her work.
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