Photography Workshop at
Mission San Antonio de Padua
Our first mission workshop in 4 years was a huge success! We visited Mission San Antonio de Padua in Central California for a two day photographic adventure. It was really nice to be back and to witness all the photographic opportunities that were available for the group. With fine art figure photography being our jam, it was fun to step outside the box and offer a landscape/still life workshop to our following. We had a ton of fun working with a great group of photographers who we all know very well. Everyone had a blast and we can’t wait to share the participants final images!
The Mission Grounds
During out stay at Mission San Antonio de Padua, we had full access to the mission during any time of the day which allowed for maximum creativity. A lot of the times with photography, you are just watching how the light is changing and moving across a scene. We took full advantage of the access and photographed during the early and late hours. With the light low in the sky, it created a unique glow that came across really well in our images.
The mission not only has amazing original architectural structure but surrounding the mission are a few outbuildings and a landscape that make you feel like you are stepping back in time. We had a ton of fun walking around and exploring all the possibilities.
Inside the Mission
It sure was hot during our photo workshop! During the day it got up into the 90s. We decided that photographing inside the missions walls during the day was a smart choice. Traditional adobe style construction meant inside the structures it was in the 60s. There were so many opportunities inside that we could’ve just done a workshop totally indoors! When you really start to look around there are so many small details that you would normally just pass on by. With the sun blaring outside, we were forced to really focus and concentrate on what we were seeing. Photographically it was a great practice.
The participants favorite inside location was the chapel. High ceilings, and colorful adornments proved very inspiring. Even with the sun directly overhead, the inside chapel had a remarkable glow throughout the day.
Workshop Participants Photographing and Showing Work
We worked with a small group which meant we basically all stayed together when photographing. We stress the importance of collaboration when photographing and this was a perfect example of that. We utilized each others’ strengths and creativity to bounce ideas off one another. Everyone sees differently and can pick up on small nuances that their colleague might not see. Once your eyes are open to one simple idea you have the ability to greatly expand your vision.
A really fun practice that our dear friend Martin Vargas spearheaded was night and low light photography sessions. In one of the old wine cellars, we used fabric, and flashlights to create very interesting effects. Participants took turn modeling and playing with the fabric. It is important to be able to think outside the box and approach a situation from all angles. We had so much fun with this!