John Sexton.com - 2023 Workshop Schedule

“As John Sexton Photography Workshops celebrates a silver anniversary, its reputation as the pinnacle of black-and-white printing education only continues to grow. Sexton and his small but dedicated team have helped over 1,200 students on their quest to make better black-and-white photography,” –American Photo magazine

Saturday, February 15, 1975–exactly fifty years ago–my friend and fellow Cypress College photography major, John Charles Woods, and I taught our first photography workshop. Below, I've included a scan of the original flyer for that workshop.

Looking at the announcement now, I'm reminded of the effort that went into creating it. I carefully typed the text, going through multiple drafts until I got it kind of just right. I also painstakingly applied each Letraset press-type letter for the title and date. The three-day workshop took advantage of the Presidents' Day weekend, and with a tuition of just twenty bucks, it felt like a real moneymaker for Woods and me—we joked that it was practically like printing money! That fee even included a follow-up print critique session the following month. Our classmate, Jim Trochowski, joined us as an assistant instructor, making it a true team effort.

The flyer mentions that enrollment was limited, and we ended up with nine participants—more than we had anticipated! But, in reality, the "maximum" number was probably just however many people applied. All nine attendees were fellow photography students at Cypress. Woods and I had attended Ansel Adams' 1973 Yosemite workshop, and we returned inspired, eager to share what we had learned with our peers. Perhaps we were a little too enthusiastic, as one of our instructors, Marshall LaCour, eventually asked us to stop discussing the Zone System in class. His approach relied on an incident light meter, which worked beautifully in the studio, while the Zone System was based on a reflected light meter. Concerned that we might confuse his students, he asked us to keep our discussions elsewhere. We weren't happy about it, but thankfully, another instructor, David F. Drake, wholeheartedly supported the exchange of ideas. His encouragement, along with the interest from our classmates, led us to offer the workshop.

You might notice that the workshop was hosted by the Monterey Center for Photographic Studies—an organization you've likely never heard of. That's because it never truly existed! It was a somewhat naive, aspirational idea that Woods and I dreamed up while living in Southern California, hoping it might someday become a reality. In the end, this workshop was its only offering. Evidently, I appointed myself Associate Director of the center, though there was no actual director or other staff that I could associate with! However, both Woods and I ultimately fulfilled our dreams of moving to the Monterey Peninsula. He relocated about a year later, and in 1979, I followed when Ansel unexpected invited me to move to the area and work for him as his Technical and Photographic Assistant.

We planned the workshop carefully, mapping out an intense schedule. Each day started with a 6:00 AM sunrise session and wrapped up late at night with discussions around the campfire. Reviewing the printed schedule now, I noticed something unique—this was the first and only workshop I've ever taught where we had a scheduled 6:00 AM pre-dawn Brew Up session at Zabriskie Point. What better way to start a day of photography than with a cold beer? The group photo below shows our rag tag group at the end of that morning's session. You'll find Trochowski, Woods, and me kneeling in the front row, left to right.

All twelve of us—nine participants and three instructors—camped throughout the workshop. At the time, the camping fee in Death Valley was a whopping $1 per space per night! As I recall we crammed as many vehicles as possible into a few campsites to save money. I suspect those camped nearby were not pleased by our boisterous enthusiasm during the evening sessions. The participants were eager, dedicated, and excited. We all knew each other, and the experience was as fun as it was educational. Woods, Trochowski, and I learned a lot about teaching, and I continue to learn from workshop students every time I teach.

Anne and I are looking forward to our upcoming Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra: Exploring Autumn Light workshop this October (which, thankfully, is already full with a long waiting list). Over the past five decades, I've taught hundreds of workshops and had the privilege of sharing my love for photography with thousands of students. Many of my closest friends today are people I met while teaching workshops.

John Sharing Ideas with Workshop Participant
2024 Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra: Exploring Autumn Light Workshop

Looking back, I had no idea that this first workshop would mark the beginning of my lifelong journey as a photographic educator. Teaching photography has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. When someone entrusts me with their learning, I take that responsibility seriously. Seeing students grow, improve, and find success over the years has been incredibly rewarding. Some have even shared that attending one of my workshops was a life-changing experience—a sentiment I understand well, as my own life was forever changed when Woods and I attended Ansel Adams' 1973 workshop in Yosemite.

MONO LAKE AND THE EASTERN SIERRA: EXPLORING AUTUMN LIGHT
JOHN SEXTON AND ANNE LARSEN OCTOBER 13–17, 2025

We are pleased to offer this extremely popular workshop for the 15th time! The Mono Basin and Eastern Sierra have some of the most exciting photographic opportunities imaginable. Late autumn light will add to the magic and wonder of this area. This field workshop will allow you to explore the spectacular photographic possibilities of this amazing landscape under the leadership of two skilled and talented photographers, Anne Larsen and John Sexton, and is open to dedicated photographers working with either traditional or digital tools. The most important thing is to arrive with an open mind and a desire to work hard at improving your photography.

If you are interested in attending this workshop please send your application soon. There is a strong possibility 2025 may be the final time we offer this particular workshop. It is very likely that the session will be over subscribed. Please note that this is NOT a first come, first served, workshop enrollment process. We will carefully considering each applicant with the goal of assembling a cohesive group of serious photographers with a variety of different photographic interests and experience levels. Over the years we have found this provides the most worthwhile experience for all involved. If you are not enrolled in the workshop, you will receive a full refund of all workshop fees paid. If you have any questions about the workshop, please feel free to contact us via email.

The group will be visiting a number of exciting locations during the five FULL days of the workshop. We will be photographing late and early light on the unique tufa formations on field sessions at Mono Lake, as well as exploring nearby beautiful Sierra canyons and the spectacular Yosemite high country. Sexton and Larsen will be available to assist participants in the field and will be offering numerous indoor instruction sessions. We will utilize a large, comfortable classroom facility in Lee Vining, just a few hundred yards from the shore of Mono Lake, and within walking distance of our motel. Along with instructor presentations and demonstrations, an essential aspect of the workshop will be constructive portfolio reviews of prints that participants bring to the workshop. It will be a time of great scenery, photography, and camaraderie.
Included in the workshop fee are two catered lunches in the field, along with a 100+ page handout booklet by John. Lodging, additional meals, and transportation costs are the responsibility of each participant. This workshop is limited to nine people, and no guests are allowed. Early enrollment is advised. The workshop begins on Monday morning, and ends late Friday evening. Participation iin the full workshop is required.>
Fee: $2,195 (Includes all park entrance and permit fees)

To apply for the workshop, please download the full workshop brochure or our policies and procedures along with the application form.

JOHN AND ANNE ANNOUNCE A TWO-PERSON EXHIBITION OF THEIR WORK
JUNE 7, – AUGUST 3, 2025
CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC ART
CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

Anne and I are excited to announce that we have finalized the dates for a large two-person exhibition at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California, next June. The exhibition, featuring approximately 50 prints, will run from June 7 to August 3, 2025. We will kick things off with an opening reception on Saturday afternoon, June 7, at the CPA. Before the reception, there will be a lecture on our work, and we'll both be available afterward to answer questions. If you're nearby, or will be in the area, please put the date in your calendar.

JOHN TO PRESENT NEW IN-PERSON LECTURE
PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA
A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024
CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC ART
CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

I hope readers in the area will join me for what I hope will be an educational, informative, and entertaining audio-visual presentation. During this in-person event I will be sharing my personal memories and insights from my photographic career which spans more than five decades. In this new presentation—offered to the public for the first time at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California—I will discuss the life-changing inspiration I received in 1973 when I attended the photographic exhibition Master Photographers: Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, and Edward Weston. I will detail the profound impact these three icons of photography had on my work.

Little did I know that six years later, I would move to the Monterey Peninsula at the invitation of Ansel Adams to become his Photographic and Technical Assistant. I discovered a vibrant and welcoming photographic community, forming close personal and professional relationships with many local photographers. I have chosen to discuss the personalities and provide 'behind-the-scenes' insights into the work of my closest friends at the time: Ansel Adams, Robert Byers, Henry Gilpin, Morley Baer, Richard Garrod, Al Weber, and Brett Weston.

In this lively presentation—guaranteed to make you laugh more than once!—I will share images and anecdotes that illuminate the unique energy of the talented and influential photographic community of the late 1970s and early 1980s. This legacy continues to thrive on the Monterey Peninsula, having evolved over the decades.

I hope that attendees will gain both information and inspiration from this presentation.

Following the presentation and Q&A, the Center for Photographic Art will welcome attendees to a reception in the CPA gallery. This will be wonderful opportunity to enjoy CPA's annual 8x10 Fundraising Exhibition, showcasing prints by 120 photographers, including Anne and me

Tickets can be purchased online through the Center for Photographic Art web site. The event is free for CPA members, and the cost is $10 for non-members. This might be an excellent time to become a member of the Center for Photographic Art!

Center for Photographic Art
Carpenter Hall, Sunset Center
Carmel, California

Saturday, September 28, 2024
3:00 PM 4:30 PM

Ansel Adams and John Sexton at Point Lobos