Challenge old habits and break out of ruts in the Montana landscape.

There are no available registration dates at this time.

Imagine photographing the streets of a classic western ghost town as well as an old mining community – both in the same week! Gold was discovered in 1862 in Bannack, Montana’s first territorial capital, and approximately 3000 people called it home by 1863. As a state park it is an intact, high plains western town containing nineteen buildings, including a saloon, school, Masonic Hall, two hotels, jail and variety of other businesses and houses. Garnet, located today on BLM land and maintained by the Garnet Historic Association, was settled three decades later by the miners and their families working for the mining companies. By then industrial equipment was being used to dig out the hard-rock mines. In its heyday over 1000 people lived in this high mountain area in the Garnet Mountain range. Many of the original buildings are still intact, although to a lesser degree than the ghost town of Bannack. Our third location, Nevada City, is an actively maintained, repaired and staged collection of buildings brought to this location from all over Montana by the Montana Heritage Commission.

This is a location workshop in which we will focus on creating photographs. All camera format, film and digital, are welcome. Large format and film are always welcome in my workshop but be advised that there is no opportunity for processing film. Digital photographers should bring their own laptop to edit for critiques.

Throughout the week we will use the daytime to make images and the evenings for critique. I ask that you share 5 – 10 images per critique. These may be images made during the workshop or from previous work, in print or digital form. In addition, if you would like an individual portfolio review bring a representative portfolio of no more than 30 images, in print or digital format.

My Spirit of Structure workshops focus on photographing in the man-made environment, rather than on the grand landscape. They are designed to increase your skills and to help you challenge old habits and break out of ruts. Your focus during the week is not about making the perfect photograph but in approaching the subjects differently, in taking risks, in shifting your point-of-view. The combination of working in a new environment and being deliberate in your photographing will change the photographs you make long after this workshop is over. 

For all participants: Please bring two images – one of your own and one of a photographer who inspires you (not an original) – to introduce yourself to the group.

The workshop begins on Sunday evening, September 8 at 6 p.m. and ends after dinner on Friday. I would suggest making your departure plans for Saturday, September 14.

Transportation, Lodging: Participants are responsible for lodging, meals and transportation.

Airports:                    Missoula airport (MSO). Workshop will begin in Dillon, MT and end in Missoula.

Rental car:                 A  car is a must for this workshop.

Lodging:                     We will be staying in two different hotels during this workshop. Be sure you have reservations for both locations.

 

            ARRIVAL:                   DEPARTURE:                         LOCATION:              

Sunday (9/8)                         Wednesday (9/11)         3 nights: Dillon, Montana

Fairbridge Inn Express

580 Sinclair St.

Dillon, MT 59725

406-683-3636 – Ask for Christal or mention the “Tillman Crane Photography Workshop” to reserve rooms.  

 

Wednesday (9/11)     Saturday (9/14)         3 nights: Missoula, Montana

Wingate by Wyndham

5252 Airway Blvd

Missoula, MT 59808

406-541-8000 – Ask for Alicia Jones or mention the “Tillman Crane Photography Workshop” to reserve rooms.

 

All image credit ©Tillman Crane

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Instructor: Tillman Crane

Tillman Crane’s distinctive platinum photographs combine 19th century materials with a 21st century aesthetic.  From photojournalist to teacher and artist he has honed his technique and mastered his craft over the past 35 years. He made his first platinum print in 1987 and since 2001 his work has been exclusively shown as platinum prints. He works with 5x7, 8x10 and 5x12 view cameras.Today’s images focus on the unique sense of place he finds in the ordinary, everyday locations where he lives and teaches. He has published four limited edition books: Tillman Crane/Structure (2001), Touchstones (2005), Odin Stone(2008), and A Walk Along the Jordan (2009). For the discriminating collector, Tillman collaborates using images of your choice to create one-of-a-kind handmade books of platinum prints.

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