Workshop
Testimonials
"A week in
Death Valley at Lynn’s workshop was also like a retreat.
Besides learning from a master photographer with over 50 years
of expertise, I consider his workshops also a retreat, as I
find them very therapeutic. Every artist should go out of their
comfort zone to achieve their best potential. Exploring the
diversity and challenges of DV expands a photographer’s
knowledge in how to shoot in different light settings but also
the awarness that one must have before taking a photograph."
Mari Calai, VA
"I had a
great experience at the March Death Valley 2024 workshop with
Lynn, co-lead Ron Gaut, and the rest of the gang. Spending a
few consecutive days alongside such accomplished and skilled
photographers was hugely educational. Lynn helped me reach a
new level of appreciation for the desert landscape, and a more
contemplative and explorative approach to photography. I look
back on this time as a milestone on my growth journey as a photographer.
Personal highlights were the print review session and any of
the times I got to collaborate with Lynn or Ronn on the ground
glass talking through an image. I would recommend Lynn's workshops
to anyone!" Chris
Cummins, CA
"I came across
Lynn's workshops several years ago in a magazine article about
workshops. What immediately struck me was his philosophy of
teaching how to be present and "see" a location along
with an approach of not rushing through an area. Lynn's generous
sharing of experiences and knowledge has been invaluable to
me." Doug Henry, CA
"In the two
times I have gone on the Death Valley workshop I have been challenged
to examine how and what I photograph. I would shoot big picture
photos and skip the smaller detail shots. I also appreciate
your comments and encouragement. I’m working my way through
my photos and will post some on the website in the near future."
David Henry, CA
"The Lynn
Radeka Death Valley workshop that I attended was the best workshop
I have had the privilege to be a part of. I felt welcomed and
included from the moment I arrived. Lynn is exceedingly knowledgeable
about both Death Valley and photography, both of which are invaluable
for a workshop leader. More importantly, he is caring and attentive.
He is also fun and has a sense of humor. I would highly recommend
any of his workshops. Ron
Gaut was the co-leader of the workshop and added an additional
layer of expertise and helpfulness. He was cheerful, considerate,
and offered good advice." Chris Baird, OR
"I recently
had the opportunity to experience a private workshop in Death
Valley National Park with Lynn Radeka. I have attended photography
workshops with other photographers over the past 5 years but
I must say that this workshop was much different than most.
Upon working together at the workshop I realized that I was
in for more than an opportunity to shoot great images. I realized
that Lynn was all about "vision" as a photographer
and I would need to reorient myself from looking at large panoramic
landscapes and teach myself to look at the landscape in a completely
different way. Textures, patterns, shapes, contrasts, shadows
became dominant themes as we walked among the Death Valley landscape.
We stopped at many of the same spots he would have taken groups
of workshop participants and he encouraged me to look for other
spots to stop where I could grow my creative focus. At each
stop Lynn would show me things or ask what I saw and give me
a chance to compose an image before providing a highly constructive
critique of what I composed. He would make sure that he gave
me his advice and showed me things that I may have missed in
the area we were shooting. I also had the opportunity to follow
him through a landscape and see the things that jumped out at
him. As the days wore on, I found myself getting better at the
compositions and moving away from those cliché images
that all photographers shoot and shooting images of things that
were novel, nuanced and unique in the landscapes. I understood
that I needed to take my time and develop an awareness of the
landscape around me and then isolate and compose images in my
mind (and with the black viewing card he provided at the start
of the workshop). I learned to use all of my senses and then
try and express my feelings and emotions in the photograph based
on how the area made me feel. So, although my photographic vision
still enjoys capturing the grand landscapes that places like
Death Valley are chock full of, I also came away from the workshop
with a better idea of how I could capture things that represented
a new way of seeing that same environment. I now look forward
to continuing to work on the ideas that were introduced to me
by Lynn and hope that his mentorship and encouragement will
allow me to really expand my capabilities as an artist. Lastly,
I would add that spending a week with Lynn is awesome and easy.
I feel like I walked away with a new friend and colleague and
the many hours we spent shooting, talking while we drove, sat
in scenic areas and ate lunch, and just wandered through beautiful
landscapes will be treasured memories for me and my wife. I
look forward to my next workshop experience with Lynn and highly
recommend him to anyone looking to improve their photographic
skills and vision." Robert Buckheit
"I'm thrilled
to have spent the week with Lynn in Death Valley for a one-on-one
workshop. The preparation he did ahead of time understanding
the areas in which I wanted to improve as well as my style and
aesthetic made the workshop so valuable. Not only did I come
out with great images and an insider’s tour of the park,
but most importantly, I improved as a photographer. Both my
composition and my technique were noticeably better from the
images at the start of the workshop to the end. Even in challenging
conditions, Lynn knew exactly where to go. Because there was
no pressure to see every site, we had the flexibility to work
locations until we got the exposure we wanted. Thank you for
your time and your expertise." Mark S.
"I had a
great time at the workshop and appreciated the personal help/assistance/instruction
from both you and Mari. I agree, that for me I would have benefited
from more structured times to discuss ‘seeing’, ‘composing’,
etc. with you/Mari and other participants, particularly as there
were so many experienced photographers in this group."....
Scott Kuehner, WA
"Lynn, I
can't say enough about the great time Tom Carroll and I had
with you on this workshop." Ron Santini
"My partner,
the Great Santini, and I just concluded an excellent, 5-day,
fine-art-photography workshop in Death Valley National Park
with Lynn Radeka. Lynn has been photographing the Western U.S.
for over 50 years and specifically Death Valley. Consequently,
he is hugely qualified to lead a photo workshop in the park.
Lynn took us to little known regions of the park that were not
packed out by the unwashed masses. Moreover, Lynn concentrated
on identifying well-balanced compositions before making a photograph.
Lynn’s workshops have a limited number of participants;
consequently, he has ample time to spend with each participant.
Santini and I look forward to attending another of his many
workshops that he conducts across the Western U.S. The Death
Valley workshop that we attended was every bit as enjoyable
as it was instructive." Tom Carroll
"I thought
the section on the work of Lynn Radeka was especially interesting
with its inclusion of technical info. Many thanks!" Mike
Spencer, regarding a recent Lynn Radeka article in Frames Magazine
"Lynn, I
so very much enjoyed the November 2020 trip to Death Valley.
After my first backpacking trip to Yosemitte, during my first
year of college I was struck with a deeply disorienting feeling.
Returning to college after such an experience was very difficult.
I could not decide where reality was for me, the beauty of nature
I had experienced or my college trek. Where should I spend my
time? This is much the same way I felt after your sharing with
me Death Valley. Additionally, being around others on a similar
mission into learning and delving deeper into photography, being
gently led by you was for me true joy. Seeing your photographic
works and those from others on the trip was another inspiration."
Allen Levin, CA
"This was
the best workshop I've participated in. It was hands on,
in the field, with expert help, tips & guidance. It was
also fun & personal. Lynn's knowledge of the Death Valley
area was essential in locating the many jewels of this desert
world. When the weather changed we just adapted and were taken
to another great spot. Whether it was expansive scenes,
sculpted hillside erosion or the details in the cracked mud,
Lynn gave us the tools (literally) for visualizing & framing
compositions. This and exposure/focus control really gave
me the confidence that I needed. Whether you shoot film or digital,
I highly recommend Lynn's workshops." Daniel Swiger,
CA
"What an
opportunity for me to participate in your workshop. Everything
I was expecting materialized. I must say that your keen sense
and guidance to visualization was precisely the prescription
I needed. This workshop was a very long sought after personal
fullfillment - bucket list level. Lynn so very grateful to you."
Dr. Mordy Dunst, CA
"I wanted
to take a moment to express my appreciation of your generosity.
The longer I'm back from Death Valley, the more I realize how
important a time that was--and that I learned and got some pretty
good shots out of it. While I was there, I was very much in
the "flow" state, and now that I've returned I can
see how engrossed I was. I've been out shooting since, with
a lot of what you said--and Ron, too, and Jerry--hovering in
my mind. I wanted to get some feedback from a master, and that's
exactly what I got. I think you should really understand, too,
that to me, your continued conversation is unique and, frankly,
of inestimable value. I feel like I finally found a teacher,
and I respect you for it. I also really appreciate your comments
on the photos (or the scans, as they are so far), and I'm excited
about using the masking kit. The whole of Death Valley feels
like not only a project, but perhaps a breakthrough, and certainly
a stepping over a threshold into a new way of seeing and, more
importantly, of living. I see the work with my negatives stretching
over the year, and I'm glad for it. I know I'll take the workshop
experience to Capitol Reef, too." Sean Patrick Hill,
KY
"Fantastic
workshop and I managed to get quite a few keepers. If you ever
get a chance to attend one of Lynn's workshops take it - I can't
recommend them enough." Robert McLean, CA
"I really
enjoyed the discussions and photographing with you as well.
I found you very helpful in the field even when I just listened
to your conversations with the others! The way you talk about
composition and the different elements in a photograph gave
me plenty to think about. Now I am truly inspired to clean out
my garage and set up an area to print. (I'll also get some proper
tools to work on my digital images.) I know if I have some good
negatives from this past week, I will want to arrange some time
with you for hands-on learning about the masking techniques."
P. Jeffrey Ungar, CA
"Thank
you Lynn. It has a been great experience attending your recent
workshop in Death Valley. Besides having taken back some wonderful
memories, I have been able to learn about photo in another light."
Ashit Gwalani, Spain
"One of the
best workshops I've ever attended, Lynn is a Master and he has
a profound knowledge of Death Valley. We photographed daily
for nearly 12 hours, sometimes sunrise to sunset, exploring
places such as the Mesquite Dunes, Zabriskie Point and Titus
Canyon. It was absolutely amazing! Everything was perfectly
organized and it was a wonderful introduction to one of the
most beautiful landscapes in the world. All the other participants
were fantastic and the time together around the evening campfires
was simply a dream come true for me. I highly recommend enhancing
your photographic skills and travels in Death Valley with Lynn's
workshops! You won’t regret it!" Paolo Bianchi,
Italy
"I wanted
to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the “Death
Valley” workshop. It was money well spent. The time in
the field with you and Ron Gaut, and the other “workshoppers”,
and the evening gatherings were great. The “four wheel”
trips into the areas we photographed were places I would not
have found, or ventured to on my own. The help and suggestions
that you and Ron made: both in the field and during our evening
print reviews was very helpful and encouraging. Since returning
home, I have told many friends about my enjoyable experiences
at this workshop, and recommended that they consider attending
one in the future. Thanks to you, (and Ron) for a very memorable
time, and maybe some “wallhanger images”!"
Norm Walker, Ontario, Canada
"Lynn, the
carrier system just arrived, in great shape. I’m very impressed
with the quality of your workmanship and it fits perfectly and
firmly into my Saunders LPL enlarger head without any need for
an anchoring system or light blocking tape. I especially appreciate
your taking the time to give me a “one-on-one” workshop
in your darkroom and letting me be involved in the various steps.
Your unique pin-register masking system is going to give me
a powerful tool to expand my ability to make beautiful prints.
I’m looking forward to showing you one soon."
Terry W. Greene – Photographer/Architect,
AZ
"The contrast
masking workshop was worth every penny. I now have a new defentition
of what a fine art print is supposed to look like and a new
methodology to acheive it. Lynn is the expert! He is a great
teacher that made sure we completely understood the process."
Jerry Sheridan, AZ
"I had the
privilege of attending the Death Valley 2013 Workshop with Lynn
and many others. Some shot digital, medium format and large
format. As mostly a large format shooter I did not feel pressured
to hurry and in fact it was just the opposite. That is the magic
of taking a workshop with Lynn. He knows so much about shooting
all formats he intuitively knows your individual needs and makes
sure they are accommodated. I have attended several photography
workshops and none can compare to the friendly yet hard working
experience Lynn provides. He is planning another Workshop in
2014 and I have already cleared my calendar in October."
Jerry Sheridan, AZ
I shot 28 sheets
of 8x10 film, an unprecedented number for me at any time or
outing. We had a fantastic time and will cherish our experience
forever. Your knowledge of Death Valley and photography greatly
enriched our experience.The workshop forum will be a great way
to keep in touch and share some images. We also really enjoyed
the banter around the campfire and made friends for life at
this workshop. You are a great inspiration to me to continue
to refine my craft and look forward to working with you in the
future." Jerry Sheridan, AZ
"The 2013
Death Valley workshop was invaluable to me. I had thought I
was fairly good at making the aesthetic and technical exposure
decisions necessary to make a decent landscape photograph. However
spending several days in a row with Lynn exploring all kinds
of interesting locations, I learned there are finer points to
be learned…and they’re significant. Lynn’s style
is not to lecture but to let you explore the great places he
takes you and then give you as much or as little guidance as
you’d like. Then end the day with some good food around
a campfire and you have a really enjoyable experience with one
of the best and most humble landscape photographers I know of.
I will go again if I get the chance!" Mark Larsen, NY
"I wanted
to reiterate to you all that I had a wonderful time on our workshop.....
I’ve attended a lot of workshops over the years and I must
say that this group clicked better than any before. Thanks to
Lynn for hosting the workshop. And thanks to Jeff and Doug Steinwand...
for your company and hard work. I had a fantastic time with
you and the rest of the gang. The photography experience was
also exceptional. I’m looking forward to working on some
images this weekend. I’ll also upload some to the Death
Valley workshop website. And I look forward to seeing everyone
else’s images posted. Again, thanks for a great week in
Death Valley." Ron Gaut, Orange, CA
"Lynn; Thanks
so much for your hospitality and the terrific workshop. I also
appreciate the time that you and Steve took to critique my prints.
This critique along with the "hands-on" training in
the darkroom has certainly expanded my view of what can be achieved
with the "fine-art" print. I am now looking forward
to getting back to the darkroom and applying the many masking
techniques that you taught me----especially on some of my many
"problem" prints. Finally, please pass on my thanks
to Steve for his contributions to the success of this workshop.
In summary I really enjoyed working with both of you and will
be looking for future opportunities to work with you both again."
Jim Glaze
"I am looking
forwatd to working with the new tools I learned about at your
workshop. I think I learned more new appplicable things in that
weekend than in many years." Eric Wiswell, NM
"I want to
thank you for an incredible weekend. Your workshop has significantly
changed my expectations for my B&W darkroom work, and I
am certain, the direction of my photography in general. The
specific control your techniques lend to the wet darkroom have
been a huge revelation for me. What first sounded like a complex,
time consuming process, has turned out be a very intuitive and
enjoyable way of optimizing the vision of a print. I will recommend
this workshop to anyone interested in creating fine B&W
prints." Steve Hicks, AZ
"Complete,
Concise and Enlightening. Lynn's masking workshop opened up
a whole new world of printing. I left silver printing for platinum
because I could not get the rich tonal qualities from standard
silver printing paper. I needed six hands just to dodge and
burn a single print. Repeatability? Forget it! But now, because
of Lynn's masking kits and techniques, I'm able to print beautiful
silver prints, full of the subtle tonalities and expression
usually only found in the finest platinum prints. Printing from
Zone 2 to Zone 15 on the same negative is no problem. If the
information is on the negative, you can print it with very little
dodging or burning! All, with accurate repeatbility. Now, my
customers get the same print as in the catalogue or on the wall.
Every aspect of the print remains the same, unless you decide
to change it! From rich, full highlights to deep, moody shadows
- precision printing from your traditional darkroom!" David
Milton, CA
"Your love
for photography is pure and true and completely evident even
after all these years of doing. It was great seeing someone
with the mastery you've achieved get that child-like excitement
upon seeing a print evolve. That's what it's all about. Passion!
We're lucky and blessed to have it. The workshop was just what
I thought it would be. A pure time saver. I think anyone serious
about masking is missing the boat by not taking it." Robert
"Bobby" Sandstrom, CA
"I would
like to thank you again for taking the time needed to show all
the types of masks needed for my oak tree photo! I had given
up on that image years ago and now I am looking forward to hanging
it on the wall. By the way, my wife likes it now. You opened
my eyes as to what is possible with the right tools. The information
you gave us is priceless!" Tony Beckesh, AZ
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