Santa Fe: People and Places

What does it mean to create a portrait of Santa Fe, one of the most photographed cities in the world? In this workshop, we explore the idea that to understand the heart of a city means to look upon the faces of those who live there, to hear the stories that bind together people and place. Photographing through a lens of curiosity and openness can result in some of the most memorable images, creating a tapestry of different lives and narratives.

During your week together, investigative photojournalist Nadav Soroker guides you through the colorful world of Santa Fe, rich with unique characters and visual possibilities. This workshop is designed to introduce you to locations and people that highlight the city’s incredible diversity. You have the experience to photograph the folks who make “The City Different” their home and learn firsthand about the inspiring place that it is. Guided by Nadav’s working experience as a photojournalist in New Mexico, you are taught to photograph with flexibility, patience, curiosity, and courage. 

We spend each morning in the classroom reviewing your new images and learning different approaches to photographing a place and the people who live there. We discuss narrative construction, journalistic techniques for navigating changing situations, and explore the work of pioneers and leaders in the field: from W. Eugene Smith and the LIFE photographers, to contemporary photographers working today. 

Then we pound pavement, meeting and photographing the lovely people who make Santa Fe so special, going more in-depth each day. From an initial foray to the Santa Fe Plaza to break the ice with locals, to visits with Santa Fe residents in their studios, kitchens, stores, and homes, you build the skills necessary for engaging with people and turning that engagement into a photographic opportunity. For your final assignment, you create a profile of a local resident, artisan, or business owner, weaving in your knowledge of their city to tell a compelling story.

Join Nadav for five days of photographic fun and exploration throughout Santa Fe: making connections beyond the frame, holding space for stories you won’t forget, and developing the skills to create successful visual narratives in any community: here, at home, or on the road wherever life takes you.