Workshops

The 2026 Storyteller’s Workshop is up and running.

October 15 thru 19th, Four Days and Four Nights.

Come join me on a four day shoot as the Red River Valley completes it’s harvest and the autumn light reigns.

I will take up to 6 participants on a hands on journey through inspiration to finished product, a focused photo essay.

Shooting and working alongside you I’ll lead you to find, investigate, photograph, sequence and present your personal narrative.

We’ll take those more experienced on a journey to identify and clear obstacles, clarify their work, inspire and energize their photographic life.

Those just beginning to explore storytelling will ride on a guided visual tour they can use to bring consciousness and intention to photographic narrative.

You will learn to ask questions that lead you to your visual answers. To put “curiosity in action”.

The end result of your long weekend of learning and photographing, thinking and sharing, working and playing, will be a visual essay. The base of a pyramid from which you grow.

Growth is an essential defining asset to any art, mentorship isn’t always easy but I will guide you, inspire you on the path and past current barriers.

Our main venue for two full workshop days will be on location in one of Manitoba’s most visual historical locations. It’s a seemingly quiet yet very unique setting that invites curiosity on many levels a perfect setting to develop your personal storytelling toolbox. 

Neubergthal is a 150 year old Traditional “Single Street Village” centred on the plain of the Red River Valley in Southern Manitoba. 

The village was established on the Manitoba prairies in 1876 by Mennonite immigrants from Europe and Russia.

This settlement is one of the only remaining Mennonite single-street villages in Manitoba or anywhere with original house-barns. Neubergthal has been designated by Parks Canada as a national historic site.

Today the village is home to about 150 residents, many of whom still live in the house-barns but let’s explore the more here together, find out what story you tell immersing yourself in this quiet community, working, exploring with me, and sharing our experience first hand with the community and each other.

I intentionally keep these workshops limited to a half dozen or so participants, this year’s goal is to have three to five (perhaps six with arrangements) of you join me for four days and four nights, Arriving on the afternoon/evening of Thursday October 15th and departing Monday morning October 18th.

Accommodation is included in the price off the workshop and our hosts Margruite and Paul Krahn will bunk us in at their artist residence/retreat The Herdsman’s House. Their home is also a renovated house-barn. We’ll have fresh eggs for breakfasts, a hearty lunch everyday and they will provide the last evenings dinner. We’re welcome to bring food and drink to prepare our own remaining meals and snacks. There’s also the option of driving to Altona for an evening meal. 

Preliminary introductions will be conducted online via email and phone a week or two before the workshop. I’ll want to know a little about you and your experience and expectations and see a few of your images. You’ll want to ask me questions as well.

We’ll meet and share more on the Thursday afternoon and evening of the workshop, then get an early start to catch the Friday morning light, I’ll be walking and shooting with you for the weekend so probe, I’m thrilled to share experience.

I know there’s much more to Neubergthal than the obvious terrain, let’s bring those landscapes, interior and exterior to light.

I’m returning to my roots here. As a young boy I came to consciousness in another Traditional Mennonite Community as an ‘outsider’, their culture was what I grew up in. 

Though I’m counting on your stories to all be different at the end of this experience.

Friday morning we’ll gather early snd start out on our storytelling journey, exploring the village and finding answers to our questions. We all have stories of our own to tell. 

Saturday afternoon we’ll retire to the Herdsman’s House  to review the work done so far before returning in the early evening again to see the location in ‘another light’. 

Sunday we can return to the village early, and then spend the afternoon with me, guiding and refining the editing and post production. Again we’ll gather Herdsman’s House, every day will include lunch while we edit and share our experience.

Workshops for me are as much about travel and fun as they are about photography. Participants not only get a unique visit to a historical location seldom seen, but I’ll also provide photographic guidance, professional coaching and editing skills using all the experience accumulated on my continuing journey as a photojournalist.

Participation is capped at six participants this year to maximize the experience. Keeping the group small allows flexibility and more personal attention.

All skill level’s are welcome, but participants should already have a fundamental understanding of their camera, editing software and some experience using both. We hope to focus on the storytelling and not the technology.

Any level of photographic experience is welcome don’t be shy, we’ll all grow from the experience of working and shooting together.

Are you ready to take the next photographic step…

Requirements:

DSLR or mirrorless camera and interchangeable lenses (if available).

Those with a desire to use their iPhone will be considered. 

I’d even consider a sketch pad and pencils as visual storytelling tools.

Those using cameras also need a laptop or tablet with editing software.

Transportation is not included, but ride sharing may be an option to ask about when registering.

Have an idea for a workshop mentorship? Let’s talk!

Contact me for inquiries.

The Storyteller