Dear GD,
Thank You for showing me a different India! Even though I'd been there before, I knew that with you I would see it in a more unconventional way.. Mundane activities take on special significance, while the common becomes uncannily particular!
Among other lessons on our learning curve I have understood that:
- Research and Preplanning are vital elements,
- Details can sometimes play a major part in the big picture,
- Patience is not just a virtue - but rather a tool that allows your subject to 'come to you'; and
- Photography is not just about taking the picture, but rather it is about escorting the viewer into the moment..
Above all, I've learnt that Learning with you means learning to learn differently. And that has been the most important lesson for me.
It reminds me of Henry D. Thoreau's wise words: 'When any real progress is made, we unlearn and learn anew what we thought we knew before'; which is precisely the educational overhaul that I underwent throughout the trip.
Thanks for everything GD, for sharing and caring, and for arranging a safe and enjoyable workshop for all of us in Incredibly Chaotic India :) It brought together a group of fun and creative individuals who travelled and worked very well together, forming an exceptional comradeship along the way. Three cheers to the first class photo mob!!! aka Luis, Bebet, Hubert, Joerg, & Tony! *mutual kudos to Richard for the kind words. And while we're at it, a super Namaste to Lil Thapa - a gem of Nepal, fabulous guide and true friend.
Oh and GD, if you hadn't saved me from the Sadhu upon the River Ganga in Varanasi.. AND from that fateful cup of 'Ganges milk tea' - "made from the purified water of the Ganges River".. who knows.. I might've spent the rest of my time in India constructively observing chipped paint peeling off the hospital walls ;)
Till the next adventure then!
Big Hugs,
Jamie - Singapore
p.s.*Apologies for the terribly late note, as I am still on the road after India & Nepal!
I like to share with you this very nice letter I have just received from Richard Cawthra who joined our Photo Workshop in Cambodia last year, read on below:
Hi Gunther,
Hope you are well, have just looked through the images from the class in India and am blown away by some of the images the gang captured. Reading your blog entries on the road seeing all the familiar faces reconvene, I felt like I had almost let you and the rest of the Cambodia class of 09 down by being the only absentee.... alas I was already booked to tour Vietnam.
I think Hubert's pictures show development from those he shot in Cambodia and its hard to find new compliments for Luis' eye for people. In particular I think the "neighbors" shot is an absolute stunner. I like Tony's No 4 &5 (Am i right that this is the guy we met at the lunch stop on Tonle Sap?) and Jamie's sunrise shot is also a winner.
On the tech front, have been playing with a trial of Aperture 3. I do like it and it has now caught up (with presets) and past LR in some areas (brushes i think are now better than LR) but no being able to move the 25K images I have in LR and keeping my edits is a big hurdle to get over. Also LR still has one feature I love - ability to add a graduated filter, know I should not need it but it can be a saviour for big landscape shots.
Well take care and look forward to seeing Joerg's images when he shares them!
All the best
Richard - Hongkong
Hi Gunther,
"India with Gunther Deichmann was certainly a journey through color and time. From the spice markets of Old Delhi to the forts and festivals of Jaipur to the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, Gunther's practiced eye guided our small group through the color and history of Rajasthan India. During the workshop I learned to use color in a more effective way, to isolate and emphasize color to show the essence in an image. Following his mantra of going against the grain, against the crowd, I was able to make more compelling images as Gunther suggested new angles, new viewpoints.
Seeing behind the lens was just one aspect of the workshop. In front of the computer, I learned new strategies for data backup, workflow and initial processing. Whether working in Aperture or Lightroom (I am a LR guy) the lessons were equally helpful. But beyond the camera and computer, Gunther's playfulness during the week added that extra, personal touch that made the workshop a success. Whether careening down the twisted streets of Old Delhi in bicycle rickshaws or hoisting beers while still covered in Holi powder in Jaipur, Gunther helped fuel the group dynamics into a FUN experience for the group.
I also want to thank Gunther for the unseen aspect of the trip -- making sure the whole thing ran as smoothly as possible. India's a chaotic place to begin with. I know there were many details he attended to insure our satisfaction. From accommodations, to transportation, to local guides, to fixing the occasional glitch -- these behind-the-scene logistics made our trip a success.
Thanks again,
Tony Pond
Newport Beach, California, USA"
Hi GD
First and foremost let me thank you for showing me and the rest of the group the colors and ancient history of India, which I personally enjoyed very much.
After the trip I started to edit the photos with the new Aperture 3 (still not finished almost 4000 images).I must say that I have some photos that I am very proud of.
The teaching, tips and handling of the camera and post processing with Aperture we have learned during the Cambodia trip really paid off for me in a big way in India.
There is still a lot to learn and practice to improve my camera works but I’m sure there will be more GD Workshops in the future which I will definitely participate whenever time permits.
Hope to see you soon one of these days.
Hubert Weber
Manila, Philippines
Hi GD
A short note on our workshop in India.
Thus far, I consider Gunther Deichmann's recent Photoworkshop in India, of which I am a participant, as the toughest and roughest of all the workshops I've ever been. I could say that not only for me but to all my colleagues in this workshop. Nonetheless, this is also the best and most rewarding. I'm speaking in terms of the challenges posed not only on the photography skills of the participants but also to their character, experience gained and the knowledge acquired that resulted in the maturity of the photographed images the entire class have made. Worth mentioning as well, is the bond of friendships developed among the participants and cheerful camaraderie of everyone in the workshop. Tough and rough as it was, it's all worth it surely deserving of a second round. I sincerely thank Mr. Gunther Deichmann for a splendid job. Cheers!
Regards,
Luis Martin Harder
Wings Technology Enterprise Inc.
Manila, Philippines
Previous TESTIMONIALS 2009/2007
Just one more...16 10 2009
Richard, thank you very much for your nice letter, much appreciated! It was great having you around too and I am happy that you achieved your goals. Until we meet again, take care
GD
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Gunther,
Apologies for the delay, had some internet issues here in HK and then had to travel back to UK for business last week at short notice and had to travel without laptop.
Thanks for leading me through such an amazing experience on the recent workshop and opening my eyes to the fascinating country that is Cambodia.
Before the workshop i set myself some goals for what i wanted to achieve and gain from the workshop and i can fairly say i achieved them all and more and the experience enriched both by your knowledge and teaching style.
Goals:
1. To broaden my horizons and think outside of landscape subject matter: the rich and vibrant life around the temples and on the Tonle Sap provided a wonderful and diverse choice of subjects and I enjoyed learning to shoot with people as the subject of the shot rather than seeing them as a blot on my landscape.
2. Improve camera technique; the low light session we did in Preah Kahn, was a complete eureka moment for me, suddenly i got it, how to examine and assess light conditions and quickly make exposure decisions. This alone would have seen me return home happy but work on exposing for high contrast subject matter and the motion shooting session were the cherry on the cake.
Whilst I was the "outsider" of the group working with lightroom, I nonetheless picked up some very useful workflow pointers in our computer sessions, particularly data backup strategies and initial workflow tips for importing and review and sorting of images. The aperture vs lightroom feature discussions also provoked me to think about some of the functionality in lightroom and to uncover some features/options I didnt know were tucked away in the corners.
The organisation of the workshop, from collection at the airport until returning there a week later was immaculate and I cannot praise enough the staff at the Heritage who were all so friendly and helpful. I could not have wished for a more perfect place to stay, The Heritage is a gem of a hotel, oozing with character and was a like a home from home for the week. Thanks also to Didier for arranging some special trips/treats for us all and your trusty sidekick Savuth for taking care of all our needs during the workshop.
I deliberately left my third objective for the workshop until the end as it is the most important thing for me with my photography - Have fun - for me the greatest part of the process is in the "seeing" of a picture and then translating what you have in your mind's eye into an image and the workshop delivered 100% all the way. For this the credit not only goes to you but also Luis, Hubert, Joerg and Jamie who were all such good company to go shooting with.
Hopefully will have the chance to do so again in the coming years.
Richard
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This just arrived...
Thank you so very much Jamie for your kind words, participation, friendship and all those amazing giggles...
GD
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Dear GD,
The words 'Thank you' somehow express insufficient appreciation for all the experiences that you have shared with us at the photo workshop in Siem Reap, Cambodia. You have an amazing ability to impart your vast knowledge of photography and other worldly treasures with your eager students through a totally relaxed and funky manner. I have to say that the 6 month anticipation period of the workshop was well worth the nail biting wait!
A word of thanks for..
- not making us live in a tent and shower in a river for a week; instead arranging our stay in total paradise at the Heritage Suites.. the fully deserving 5* accommodation a stone's throw away from 1,000 year old Unesco sites felt like the mystical Elysian Fields. The rooms were so cozy and comfortable that were not for the workshop I would've stayed in relaxing and pampering myself at the spa all day! The staff were perfectly efficient and sociable; the food and wine absolutely excellent
- bringing together an amazing team of cowboys and making a total cowgirl of me: Big hugs to Luis, Joerg, Hubert, Richard, Didier, and Savuth, all of whom were fantastic from day one
- shepherding us like lost cattle on adventures in search of new perspectives and fresh angles
- showing us a whole new visual world; one where light, composition and color will never appear the same way ever again
- introducing us to a Cambodia through your eyes.. noticing the beauty of low light in stunning dilapidated temples, getting the shots on rocky boats, experimenting with different techniques and capturing the essence of human interest photography
- encouraging us to appreciate the good side of bad weather and instilling us with confidence in our photography skills
- showing us the secrets of the photography trade - your patience while working with us fervently on Aperture.. which has not only enhanced my editing skills, but also remodeled the way I store and organize photo files!
- all the adventure that seems to follow you around like a shadow.. freaking me out with the idea of leeches having me for lunch; joyously bumping the wits out of me on the back of an ox-cart; and showing me that trekking through a recently de-mined jungle is nothing more than a stroll in the park!
- ensuring the wake up calls rang precisely at 4 o'clock in the morning making it paradoxically the most exciting boot camp I've ever been through
- giving us countless buckets of giggles and making us go ga-ga
- being the incredibly fun and caring person that you are
- and last but not least, for your wonderful friendship
Once again, thanks a bunch, Gunther.
As one member of staff at the Heritage remarked to me on the last day: it looked as though I didn't want to leave! Well, I didn't, but I'm sure we'll be back on another photography jaunt very soon.
YOU ROCK GD!
See you in Incredible India
The giggle factory,
Jamie Irenaliena Rayer Keet ;)
-------------------- The first Testimonials from the last GD Photo Workshop in Cambodia Sept. 2009
Thank’s to Jamie Irenaliena Keet from Jarkarta, Indonesia, Joerg Schueler from Shanghai, China, Luis Martin Harder from Manila, Philippines, Richard Cawthra from HongKong and Hubert Weber also from Manila, Philippines for their participation in my PhotoWorkshop, Angkor Wat & beyond…you have been a fantastic Group and thank you very much for your kind words, miss you all.
A very special thanks goes out to Didier from Heritage Adventures for the additional insights. (even Didier become for a few days one of my students) I am also grateful to the Management and staff of the Heritage Suite Hotel who made all of this not only possible, but made our stay just so fantastic, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
---------------------
GD
http://www.heritage-adventures.com
http://www.heritage.com.kh
See below the non-edited testimonials from the Photo Workshop Participants,
(however one is in German, so you might have to take some German lessons now)
More to follow soon.
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Hi GD,
Thanks my friend.
I'm one lucky guy who came to be very close with one of the most
important photographer - artist of this generation. As for me I count
you as one of the best not only as a lensman but as a person. Just like
your photographs, each one of them I consider an artwork, you are
colorful with varying characteristics and full of light, you make sense
as your photographs do.
Our Cambodia experience is amazing, I count it as the best from my
experiences as a photographer. Let me line-up the reasons why I boast
that this is best;
1.) The way the organizer put everything in order for the participants
from day 1 to the last. Pick-up from the airport, hotel accommodation,
daily itinerary, transportation, safety, refreshment, travel assistants
and the number of participants - these are just perfect. Very organized.
2.) The Locations, people of Cambodia and experiences. Wow! For 5 days
I'm in every photographer's dreamland. Tong Le Sap, Elephant pool, old
temples, hidden temples, village lake, a conked out boat, forest drive
on a four-wheel drive, forest climbs, caves, monks, light, colors and
experience. The experience made me a kid again with a thousand bucks
DSLR.
3.) Aperture workflow, photography techniques, right equipment, and
passion for the art. These are the stuff you can't get from other
photography workshops. GD, the mentor makes photography fun and easy to
work with.
4.) The company. Jamie, Hubert, Richard, Joerg, Sabuth, Didier and GD.
Cowboys and a cowgirl, everyone is cool. I'm in perfect company. I
enjoyed every minute with these people and I'm looking forward to meet
them again. I missed Didier's English, accent, jokes and laughter. Cool
guy.
5.) Last but not the least the mentor, Mr. Gunther Deichmann. GD's style
of mentoring spells the difference comparing his workshops with the
others. He EDUCATES every serious photography student with skills he
acquired through the years as an experienced photographer, even skills
that are not found in books and he shares these unselfishly, with
sincerity and passion. Speaking of passion, GD is one man who's got tons
when it comes to photography, too much he rubs it in to his students and
I'm thankful I'm one of his. Be it in Cambodia or wherever it may be, at
any given time, be with a camera or not - you learn a lot just standing
by GD.
Thanks a lot, man. I'm looking forward to India.
Cheers!
Luis M Harder
WINGS TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE INC.
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Lieber Gunther,
vielen Dank fuer Dein Mail. Auch mir hat es in Kambodscha super gefallen und meine Lernerwartungen haben sich voll erfuellt. Der Workshop war toll und ich konnte meine Aperture Lernkurve erheblich verkuerzen und steiler gestalten. Eigentlich war das ja der Grund fuer meine Teilnahme.
Diese Uebungen mit eigenen Fotos unter Anleitung eines Profis zu machen war die Kroenung und eine seltene Gelegenheit fuer mich und ich hoffe, dass wir demnaechst eine weitere Moeglichkeit haben werden, gemeinsam zu touren, fotografieren und Aperture zu entdecken bzw. zu ueben.
Im Anschluss war ich gemeinsam mit Hubert noch in Bangkok und wir waren einmal nachts und einmal tagsueber zum Foto Shooting. Es war mein erster
Aufenthalt in Bangkok und war ebenfalls interessant.
Somit bin ich rundherum zufrieden nach Shanghai zurueckgekehrt und plane schon die naechste (Indien-) Tour.
Herzliche Gruesse aus Shanghai
Joerg Schueler
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Dear Gunther,
Why to join a PhotoWorkshop? It’s simple I own a pretty good Camera, a MacBook Pro with Aperture 2.0 Software installed and with this equipment I though I will get some good Photos but ……..!!!! There was definitely something missing in each and every Picture I have made.
I admired Gunther’s work for a long time especially his last Book Journey through Color and Time
When Gunther announced that he is organizing a PhotoWorshop in Cambodia again, inclusive of Hotel, Excursions, Permits, etc., I grabbed the opportunity and immediately joined.
We were billeted at the Heritage Suite Hotel in Siem Reap, a Boutique style hotel not to small and defensibly not to big, the Rooms or Bungalow are awesome, the Staff very friendly and accommodating (which Joerg and I appreciated, we had the bar for ourselves on late nights… or was it early in the morning?)The Food was very good too, which is very important for me!
We started early in the morning and Gunther explained; it doesn’t matter what camera you have, its your eyes and what they see will make a great shot. Of course the basic knowledge how to use your camera how to capture the light and shadows of a scene was part of his teaching too.
The early mornings and the late afternoons were reserved for shooting at different incredible Temples, which surround Siem Reap.
Mid afternoon and late evenings we had the Computer sessions, how to use Aperture 2.0 properly, setup’s such as; adjusting your Raw images, key wording, caption etc., but equally important how to store your photos on external disks etc., and of course the editing of your photos which is actually the hardest part, how to use self critic on your own pictures.
After the Workshop I took time to take it all in what I had learned from Gunther (GD), I must say the quality, the post processing of photos has improved tremendously and they are worlds apart from what they had been before.
I noticed also, that I walk with a different Eye through the City now; I see colors, light, shapes, scenes that I have never noticed before, but they have been there all the time.
So, thank you Gunther and all the great people, which joined the workshop for all you have given me on the way to make better photos and understand the basic of Photography.
Hope to see you guys again soon, for another PhotoWorkshop with Gunther wherever that might be.
Hubert Weber
Workshop Testimonial 2007
WINGS TECHNOLOGIES ENTERPRISES
President
Philippine Center for Creative Imaging
and Co organizer of the GD Photo Workshop
Anli and Eleanor
