Telling Stories

A photograph is never taken, only given. This philosophy is at the core of Erika Larsen’s work, and integral to her process of cultivating the trust and intimacy necessary to construct impactful stories that transcend technique.

Join Erika for a four-day workshop in the culturally rich location of south Florida that challenges you to break free from your comfort zone, in thought and creation. Her workshop explores the diverse approaches to creating impactful stories that transcend technique. It delves into philosophies that extend through various storytelling traditions—from living and working in settings where you make stories in depth to a 15-minute encounter with a stranger. Approaches to working within a given environment to guide your search for light and getting to the core of your story are discussed.

On location, Erika guides each student in a search for the light, color, movement, relationships to the landscape, and emotion that lead to impactful images. She also focuses on ways to develop a personal vision and work through different storytelling sceneries.

In the classroom portion of the workshop, Erika leads discussions on aesthetics and how images can evolve in an emotional context. Other topics include exploring ways to dedicate yourself to the story and the various ways photographers can immerse themselves in a situation to build relationships that ultimately create illuminating imagery. The technical nature of creating a story is addressed. Still, this workshop leans heavily on the emotional core of engaging in the story with a strong emphasis on the photographers’ intentions.