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.
COVID-19 Update: For all in-person workshops and trips in 2023, Santa Fe Workshops highly recommends that all participants, staff, and instructors attending be up to date with Covid vaccinations (per definition of the CDC).
Working knowledge of digital workflow and manual mode on your digital SLR or mirrorless camera. Participants must be able to download and select images using image editing software for class sessions.
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$1,495 includes instruction, location fees, one group breakfast, and one group dinner on Sunday evening. Does not include other meals, local transportation, or accommodations (if needed).
Erika Larsen is a transdisciplinary storyteller who believes that photography is one of the most important ways to explore our understanding of time. She is fascinated by how we communicate with nature and often focuses on people who maintain strong relationships with the natural world.
Erika’s first monograph, Sami-Walking with Reindeer, a reflection of her time living in the Scandinavian Arctic, was published in 2013. Her second monograph, Materia Prima, a collection of photographs that explores ritual, time, and the process of remembering we are nature, was published in 2021.
She has been a photographer for over 20 years, creating portraits and human-interest stories worldwide. Her work has been included in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, National Geographic Society, Fotografiska Museum, University of Kentucky Art Museum, and the United States Embassy in Oslo. Erika is a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Lima, Peru.
Website: erikalarsenphoto.com
Instagram: @erikalarsen888
