Overview

Without question, maritime Maine is the most ruggedly beautiful stretch of the United States east coast. It’s one of those special places that hooks you, and keeps calling you back. Most of us fortunate enough to visit here do so in summer or autumn, though the Maine coast in winter – serene and free of summer’s crowds – yields remarkably intimate and evocative photographs, making a compelling case that this sublime landscape, and the charming Down East culture that inhabits it, are well worth experiencing during the colder months.

Originally from Alabama, fine art photographer and master platinum printmaker Tillman Crane could have chosen to settle anywhere, but he chose the idyllic seaside town of Camden on Penobscot Bay for his home and gallery. Camden and its surroundings offer the creative photographer a diverse array of compelling subject matter and photographic opportunities, including coastal scenes, icy rivers and lakes, boreal forest, rustic architecture, boats, lighthouses, and other maritime subjects. A coating of snow simplifies the landscape, encouraging minimalist compositions, and the ice itself can yield endless elegant designs.

Tillman now uses digital medium format cameras though he still instructs on the handling of large format film and cameras. His love for the depth and rich tone of platinum prints keeps him hard at work in the darkroom, making his large, 1/1 editions by hand in the darkroom. He will be giving a tour of his studio and nearby gallery as well.  Tillman’s co-instructor for this workshop will be Visionary Wild founder Justin Black, who was inspired to offer this workshop after our long-time friend and Visionary Wild client, Ed Kenney informed us that in May 2021, his book The Winter Coast of Maine will be published by Seapoint Books. A gifted photographer in his own right, Ed resides just down the coast from Camden in nearby Owl’s Head, and he graciously offered to let us reproduce several of his wonderful images from the book in the gallery below. We wish him the best of luck with the book launch!

Our base of operations for this workshop will be the Lord Camden Inn, on Main Street in the heart of Camden, steps from great restaurants and shops, and a stone’s throw from the harbor. We have booked up all of the Inn’s Deluxe Fireplace Rooms (plus one Full Harbor View room without a fireplace) to accommodate our guests. Our classroom will be the Lord Camden’s spacious conference room, where we will host projected instructive presentations and two constructive group image critique sessions featuring your work produced during the workshop.

The workshop includes eight field sessions, lectures on composition, seeing, and technique, and ample hands-on instruction and critiques. Group meals will provide an informal setting to socialize and address specific interests that may not be covered during lectures and classroom discussion.

The class size is limited to a small group of ten to ensure that everyone gets the time and attention they need, both in the field and the classroom. All meals, snacks, and beverages are included, including adult beverages with dinner.

Dress warmly, and get ready for some great mid-winter photography. We hope you’ll join us!