Travel with our mentors and try out all of the latest equipment from Nikon! Including world class digital SLRs, Nikkor lenses and the Coolpix line of Digital Cameras.

Registration was well organized and participants and staff immediately engaged in conversation setting the stage for a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The evening program introduced us to the two professional photographers with whom we would work. Mark Alberhasky was the first to present and wowed us with a slide show of some of his fantastic images and at the same time giving us insight into his background and processing techniques. The second professional to present was Rob Van Petten, who also has a long list of credentials and currently specializes in commercial advertising photographing high fashion models and placing them in fun settings. Immediately, we could see that we would be exposed to two very different perspectives and techniques.

Our shooting locations ranged from a quiet, sunny beach to the misty El Yunque Rainforest, Ponce with its famous black and red fire station, folk dancers in different venues, and last but not least Old San Juan itself with its forts, cathedral, brightly colored and colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and friendly people. Each day we worked specifically with one mentor and then the next day with the other. Each mentor brought their own professional tips and tricks and definitely complimented each other giving us much greater depth and understanding.

The mentors were always available and ready to answer any question. No query was too basic or too complex and all were responded to in a very professional, friendly and informative manner. The Digital Review Sessions were outright learning experiences as well since each participant had images critiqued in an extremely positive manner with suggestions made for improvement. Thus, we learned from each other during those sessions, gathering ideas for different perspectives and possible new venues. We learned to set goals each day focusing on a particular type of subject, story line, or perhaps only using one lens to see how we could utilize its capabilities.

Time was spent discussing the general features and capabilities of Photoshop and all questions on particular features were answered either in group discussion or individually as the situation presented itself. By the time Sunday arrived, we had established many new friendships and exchanged a multitude of ideas. In fact, I believe we were all sorry to see the workshop end. All-in-all, this was a fantastic experience for me, and I hope to have the opportunity to participate in future treks.

Best Regards
Pat Lawrence

“Puerto Rico, You lovely island . . . Island of tropical breezes. . . . ” Leonard Bernstein's music and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics kept swirling through my head during our photo trek in beautiful Puerto Rico. The trek started in the classroom Wednesday night with a warm welcome and helpful tips from our talented mentors, Mark Alberhasky and Rob Van Petten. Armed with their advice to explore new perspectives and to set clear objectives on each shoot, we departed early Thursday morning for Balneario Luquillo, Puerto Rico's most famous beach. During the bus ride, heavy clouds let loose some of the occasional rain that is characteristic of Puerto Rico. By the time we arrived, the rain had stopped, leaving the beach fresh and clean. The only vestiges of the rain were dramatic clouds over the mountainous horizon, adding richness to an already spectacular landscape of palm-lined beach. A multitude of pelicans provided a mesmerizing show for us as they glided over the calm water and dive-bombed for fish.

After lunch, we traveled to El Yunque National Rain Forest while Mark and Rob entertained us with humor and gems of photographic wisdom. Another burst of rain cleared just as we arrived, leaving a misty view of more than 240 species of luscious trees and plants, 26 of which can be found nowhere else. As we headed down the mountain via narrow and slippery trails, we passed a number of small waterfalls amid the rich variety of greenery. As if on cue, a beautiful rainbow appeared over the mountainous landscape as we rode back to Old San Juan. Our first day ended with a delightful sunset boat ride through San Juan Bay. The golden hues of the setting sun gave the architectural treasures of Old San Juan a magical glow. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, a line of palm trees created postcard-perfect silhouettes. Our boat ride ended with Rob's informal guidance in the challenges of photographing disco lights as they danced against the black floor of the boat.

Friday morning we took a walking tour to explore charming Old San Juan with its brightly colored buildings, historic plazas, and old churches. The scenic city was enhanced by the warmth of its people, especially the bright and lively faces of the beautiful children. We spent the afternoon exploring San Juan's largest fortress, Castillo de San Cristóbal. The 150-foot tall structure provided panoramic views of Old and New San Juan. Some of the trekkers daringly photographed the city atop the fortress walls as the strong “tropical” breezes challenged their ability to hold the camera steady. Our day ended with a lively evening performance by Le Lo Lai, a group of Puerto Rican folkloric dancers. We all enjoyed experimenting with the slow-shutter techniques Mark and Rob suggested for capturing the movement of the colorful and full skirts.

Departing in the dark, early Saturday morning, we walked through Old San Juan (passing bars still full of the late-night crowd) toward the base of El Morro, another impressive fortress. As the sky pinkened with the rising sun, we shot images of El Morro and Old Juan Cemetery, which lies just below the fortress. Behind us the sun rose against the silhouette of San Juan. We then took an hour-and-a half bus ride to Ponce, Puerto Rico's second largest city, where we spent the afternoon at the Plaza de las Delicias. With its lovely fountains, Cathedral of Our Lady, warm and welcoming locals, and the famous Parque de Bombas - a hundred-year-old wooden firehouse with a dramatic red and black striped exterior - the Plaza offered endless photographic opportunities. We were treated to a private performance of the brightly colored and ornately masked Vegigantes Dancers. Set against the stark white walls of the Cathedral of Our Lady and the impressive fountains, they posed and danced for us, allowing us to shoot them from all angles.

Our final morning ended with a visit to Old San Juan Cemetery, full of impressive religious sculptures set against the backdrop of the ocean and the towering fortress of El Morro. We then made our way to shoot the interior of the 140-foot tall fortress with 18-foot thick walls. Its four levels provided rich images of tunnels, barracks, dungeons, and ramps as well as the “garitas,” small, circular sentry boxes, which have become a symbol of Puerto Rico. Our intense and fulfilling trek ended where it began, in the classroom, with the third of our review sessions. Our mentors' consistently valuable critiques reflected their different aesthetic sensibilities and were as educational as shooting in the field. The closing slideshow of our best images demonstrated the range of our photographic perspectives, the richness of our subject matter, and all that we had learned.

Sonia M. Suter