Attending the 26th Eddie Adams Workshop was like stepping into a stadium at bat.  The pitcher was Randy Johnson and you were expected to preform like any of the greats because in the audience master photographers like Jodi Cobb, Gregory Heisler, Howard Schatz and Marco Grob watched on.  Their friends were there, including AP photographer Rodrigo Abd, Afghan photographer Zalmai, young gun Peter Yang and more.  And they brought their friends; Directors of Photography like AP’s Santiago Lyon, Nat Geo’s Photo Editor Elizabeth Grist and Time’s Photo Editor Kira Pollack.  That was just to name a few, and they were there among others, watching, waiting to see you preform your work.

One hundred students were selected from a vast pool of applicants, and these one hundred students were given a free 4-day workshop with the industry’s best of the best.  All we had to do was get there.  So we show up at B+H Photo in New York City with ants in our pants, butterflies in our stomachs.  We’re loaded up in vans and buses and head north into the Catskills of Upstate New York.  We arrive at The Barn, the late and great Eddie Adams’ home away from home.  Teams are selected, we’re divided up.  Myself and nine other students have our work cut out for ourselves:  Our team leader was AP photographer based in Peru, Rodrigo Abd; our team producer was freelance photographer who covered the last elections Eric Thayer; and our team editor was a man larger then his title, AP Director of Photography Santiago Lyon.

Our theme: The Golden Years.  My personal assignment: The Monticello Motor Club.

While we were not shooting, we were listening to speakers, whose particular list resides above.  The inspiration soaked within our blood and bones for the talent and passion within the Barn’s room permeated every living cellular structure.  It was simply awe-striking for everyone attending, participating, facilitating and preforming.  When not listening to speakers, we were sharing our excitement with new young colleagues, and sitting down with the industry’s leaders for portfolio reviews.  Sleep found us at the wee hours in the morning before rising once more an hour or two later for breakfast and departure.

As I said, my team’s theme was The Golden Years, an idea reflecting on our elders, the joy they receive to keep them young, vibrant and passionate.  Below is the produced work, with a link at the end to view the full multimedia slideshow, including audio.

For more please visit the entire multimedia piece at The Monticello Motor Club: A Day’s Race Away