I wholeheartedly recommend Jonathan Canlas’ Film is Not Dead workshop.

There are talented photographers in the world, but an artist does not a teacher make.

There are talented teachers in the world, but a teacher does not an artist make.

Jonathan is just as gifted a teacher as he is an artist, which means everyone walks away from the Film is Not Dead Workshop having learned a shit-ton of stuff.

Helpful stuff.  Rad stuff.  Obscure stuff.  Profitable stuff.  And of course…film stuff.

You’ll be forced to pay attention to both your camera and your business. Jon’s no-bullshit mentality creates an atmosphere of accountability for both your shooting and your business decisions.  (I’ve seen his books, people — and when he tells you about business, sit down.  Shut up.  Take copious notes.  End of discussion.)

You’ll be forced to be in FRONT of a camera, and he’ll show you how that can feel okay. Nice, even!

Photo credit: Jonathan Canlas

You’ll be forced to shoot film, which slows your pace and makes for more definitive shutter pushing.  You’ll be more mindful of each and every portion of the frame when you hear the shutter click.

Jonathan will push you juuuuust far enough to make you learn your brains out without pushing so far that you go homicidal on him. In my case, that equaled standing on a Utah hillside, fumbling at changing a roll of film while Jonathan yelled something like, “Pressure’s on!  Hurry up!  They’re waiting!  Pressure pressure pressure…YOU’RE MISSING MOMENTS!!!!”

I squealed at the top of my lungs like a weenie and…eventually…got the film changed.  Slightly faster than I would have.  Laughing, and thinking about how far I have to go in this world.

Jon makes it okay to ask any and every question that comes up. In the van: “Who’s got questions?”  At breakfast, whilst eating candied bacon: “Who’s got questions?”  A minute of silence during the bathroom break: “Who’s got questions?”

You’re absolutely FORCED to open your brain and let all sorts of information in…it’s a workshop about film, yes.

It’s also a workshop about creating the ideal business for your life, becoming a better artist — and, if Jon has his way — becoming a better human being, too.

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Full disclosure: I get precisely $0 for endorsing Jon’s workshop.  I paid the full $2,000 price to attend.  I get no kickbacks, no happy money, have no plans to go on tour with the man, etc, etc…though I am hoping Jon’s wife, Callie, will send over the recipes for each of the dishes we ate at the workshop.  Because she’s just as great a chef as Jon is a photographer  ::ahem::

Want to read it on the blog? AND NOW, FOR A CHANGE OF PACE.

Can we just be drama-free for a second, while I offer a suggestion?

Let’s stop. Let’s forget mud-slinging and name-calling.  They’re not doing anyone any good.  Being mean and hurtful won’t get anyone’s money back.

Let’s agree to live life with cash — meaning, if that $750+ workshop is awful, it won’t mean more credit card debt.  Just chalking one up to experience.

Let’s stop relying on one person, event, day, or workshop to reveal our own vision to us. You find vision, refine your style, and generally learn more about yourself by stepping into the world with your camera.  Not your camera and a mentor and 22 workshop attendees.   Your vision lives in the part of you that is quiet and still, the part that cannot be denied or manipulated and that does not respond to seeing x or y photographer in person any more or less than it responds to a sunset.

Let’s stop copying one set of post-processing tricks, ideas, or tips to get to a better end product in our photography.

Let’s explore on our own, innovate, and stop consuming blogs like they’re going to make us anything but prone to copy-cat-edness.

Let’s remember that photography is precious and powerful.

For an example, watch this video:

The photography of Jonathan Canlas, the funeral of Natalie Norton‘s baby son, Gavin.  I dare you to be worried about who said what about whom after watching.

Let’s forget the drama and let our work — and our lives — shine.

For the record, I still heart workshops and learning.  I’m attending Jonathan’s Park City workshop in October.  And I paid cash.

Want to read it on the blog? FOR THE RECORD