p.1 #1 · Visionary Wild Workshops - are they worth it?
I have been getting their emails for years and many of their tours sound wonderful and their team of trip leaders is impressive
That being said said, I have never pulled the trigger and signed up for a tour, because their prices are so much higher than any other companies I have researched.
If you have been on one or more of their trips, I'd appreciate hearing your opinion
p.1 #2 · Visionary Wild Workshops - are they worth it?
I started attending workshops from VW this year, and am about to do my third one next month. Justin runs a class act organization with first class accommodations and very experienced guides that get you to places you would never get to. I've done many with Meunch Workshops as well and they are in a similar league. None of the first class companies are cheap, but they are wonderful. You are taken care of very well.
p.1 #3 · Visionary Wild Workshops - are they worth it?
It all depends on what is your objective from attending one.
All of the photo related info is available online from how to operate a camera to where the scenic, photogenic (you name it) places are, how to get there and what is the "best" season to take a photo of a particular view...
Practice makes it perfect
p.1 #4 · Visionary Wild Workshops - are they worth it?
SergeyT wrote:
It all depends on what is your objective from attending one.
All of the photo related info is available online from how to operate a camera to where the scenic, photogenic (you name it) places are, how to get there and what is the "best" season to take a photo of a particular view...
Practice makes it perfect
There can be so much more to them than that. I've been photographing a long time and began studying photography seriously twenty years after I started with a real camera (mid 70's). After my initial years of study and field classes and workshops (1995 to around 2005) I stopped group and private study and just needed a lot of time to apply and use all I had learned and to continue to develop my personal vision. I began traveling solo more and working toward professional levels of accomplishment. I did join a few photo tours to Africa, Cuba and British Columbia during that time and in 2021 I started taking the more current style of 'photo workshops' that we see a lot of today. My main reason was that I needed access to places that I would never discover or have permission to visit on my own and that's what the new wave of photo tours offered.. That made a huge differences in my portfolio and in my enthusiasm and excitement of creating meaningful images. The 'tour' companies would also do all the logistics of the trip such as nice hotels and meals and transportation. There is always a bit of time for learning field technique and post processing (image reviews) but I felt confident about that already and mostly wanted more exotic subject matter. Of course I always learned something new regardless. So I still do workshops for the access opportunities and because, as a somewhat older person now, I enjoy being taken care of well and driven around while I can concentrate on my creativity. I also meet many like minded people. I still do a good number of solo trips throughout the year between these tours.
p.1 #5 · Visionary Wild Workshops - are they worth it?
I have never been on a Visionary Wild workshop. (I’m not a workshop-taking kind of photographer at this point.)
However…
The list of photographers associated with them is actually quite amazing. This is not your usual “some guy/gal” (who may well be a great teacher… or not) “teaching a workshop” kind of thing. In fact, I know three of them personally, and they are among the most knowledgeable, dedicated, outstanding photographers doing landscape photography today, and they are also truly excellent teachers. (I was long part of a print review group at our home with one of them, and I photograph a particular subject annually with another, a person with whom I’ve spent significant time in the field. His photographic knowledge — technique, esthetics, subjects — and ability to explain them is extraordinary.)
These are not your “how to operate your camera” kinds of folks, FWIW.
