festival of the photograph

 

The 3rd annual Festival of the Photograph comes to Charlottesville, VA June 12-14. The town will be awash in photographs and photographers with exhibits, displays, lectures, critique sessions, workshops, and more. This year I'll attempt to make the scene. I'm registered for the William Allard workshop, which includes a festival pass after the workshop concludes. If anyone out there wants to meet in C'ville, let me know.

I'm already somewhat concerned about how I'll make out for the week. The description of the workshops says they "promise to be one of the most comprehensive and exciting learning opportunities for digital photographers today." Does this leave me out, being someone irretrievably stuck in the film realm? I continue to believe that the decision to utilize film as a recording media is a way to limit my options - in a positive manner. Instead of being able to do anything anywhere, my capabilities are noticeably limited. What is difficult to answer is whether my limited choices seriously affect what I see to photograph. Is it true that we only see what we are technically capable of recording, in the sense that my choice of using 4x5 cameras makes sports, war, street, and any spontaneous photography as nearly impossible for me to consider as it is to technically achieve? There is little doubt that it's simpler to stick with the tried and true, what I know works for me. I have a distinct comfort zone around architecture and landscapes. Perhaps this workshop will help me expand a little - if I am capable of permitting myself to do so.