VIRGINIA JUNE RETREAT with Deb Schwedhelm
Wednesday, June 17th - Sunday, June 21st
Optional Blue Ridge Mountain excursion | Sunday, June 21st - Tuesday, June 23rd

This one-of-a-kind, photography-and-so-much-more retreat will be held in Williamsburg and Richmond, Virginia
with an optional two-day add-on excursion to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roseland, Virginia.
Details and registration information below. Get ready for something really special!

I am so blessed to have been teaching, guiding, and mentoring for more than 13 years now. My desire, with every retreat that I offer, is to create a memorable creative experience that is unique and special. This retreat happens to be in my home state and I couldn’t be more excited to share my house and favorite surrounding spaces with you. My retreat-goal is to have to you learn new photography-related information and techniques, while also inspiring you creatively, challenging you to think outside the box, providing you with opportunities for discussion and brainstorming, and fueling your confidence as an artist.

RETREAT SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, 17 June | Williamsburg
Guest arrival in Williamsburg, Virginia
7 PM welcome celebration at Deb’s house

Thursday, 18 June | Williamsburg
Morning hike to fossil beach
Photo transfer / collage making on canvas with Ann Madden (see below)
Portfolio or project presentations with optional review/feedback
Evening photo session at Chickahominy Riverfront

Friday, 19 June | Williamsburg
Chlorophyll printing on leaves instruction and demonstration with Greg Banks (see below)
All participants will make their own chlorophyll prints
Wet-plate collodion introduction and demonstration with Addison Brown (see below)
Make your own 5x7 tin-type portrait (additional $50 fee)
Photography instruction, discussion, and photographing in Deb’s backyard and neighborhood (topics TBD based on desires of attendees)

Saturday, 20 June | Richmond
Drive to Richmond
Three-hour food tour in Richmond Art District
Evening of exploring, swimming, and photographing along the James River

Sunday, 21 June | Departures home OR Blue Ridge Mountains/Wintergreen Resort add-on
Morning farewell breakfast hors d’oeurves at Deb’s house
Departures home for those not doing add-on trip
Afternoon drive to Roseland for add-on participants
Evening of relaxing, hiking, exploring, discussion, photographing, etc.

Monday, 22 June | Blue Ridge Mountains/Wintergreen Resort add-on excursion
Sunrise hike and photography in the Blue Ridge Mountains guided by Becky Venteicher (see below)
Afternoon exploring the surrounding area of the Wintergreen Resort
Sunset hike and photographing the night sky

Tuesday, 23 June | Departures home
Optional sunrise hike for those on an afternoon flight
Departures home

* If inclement weather, schedule will be modified as necessary. You can opt out of any hikes that you do not wish to go on.

Note: While some aspects of technique may be discussed over our time together, this retreat is not centered around learning the basics of camera technique or image processing. It is best that you already have an understanding of the use of your camera, although honestly, if you just want to be around other creatives, I’m totally cool with that too. If you have any questions as to whether this retreat is the right fit for you, please email me at deb@debsphotographs.com.

LOCATION: Williamsburg and Richmond with Wintergreen Resort, Roseland, VA optional add-on

AIRPORTS for your consideration:
Newport News (PHF), Richmond (RIC), Norfolk (ORF)
All three airports are within a 45-minute drive from Williamsburg.
Note: If doing the add-on days, the drive from Charlottesville to Richmond is 1 hour-20 minutes, Newport News is 2 hours-10 minutes, and Norolk is 2 hours-30 minutes.

TUITION: Your tuition includes:

MAIN RETREAT: $1650 USD
3-1/2 days of information, instruction, photography, inspiration and discussion with Deb Schwehdelm and guest presenters
Instruction by Deb Schwedhelm, Ann Dinwiddie Madden, Greg Banks, and Addison Brown
Image transfer collage class
Chlorophyll printing on foliage class
Wet-plate collodion introduction class
Portfolio or project presentation with optional review/feedback
Three nights lodging in Williamsburg with two persons per room
One night lodging in Richmond with two persons per room
Richmond Art District 3-hour food tour
All materials and supplies needed for image transfer and chlorophyll printing classes
Breakfast included with hotel
All lunches and dinners while at retreat
And of course, one awesome swag bag

TWO DAY ADD-ON EXCURSION: Additional $525 USD
Two nights lodging in Roseland, VA at the Wintergreen Resort
All meals while in Roseland
Guided hikes and landscape, mountain, and night sky photography instruction with Becky Venteicher

Not included: Transportation (airfare and rental car), snacks, and alcoholic drinks. If interested, you will be connected in advance with other participants wishing to share a rental car.

WHAT TO BRING:
casual clothes, comfortable shoes for walking, flip-flops
hiking gear: clothes, shoes, water bottle, head lamp
toiletries
snacks for dietary restrictions
swim suit + beach towel
camera and lenses
8x10 prints for photography presentation/review

TO REGISTER:
1. Choose your registration payment option and make your payment HERE.
2. Complete THIS FORM.

Receive a 10% discount if paying in full at time of registration.
If not paying in full at time of registration, a $650 deposit is required to hold your seat and reminder emails will be sent for the following payments:
Feb 15th: $525, if selecting to do the add-on excursion
April 1st: $500
May 15th: $500

* Please note that all payments are due within 24 hours (of registration and payment emails) and are non-refundable. Refer to registration terms and conditions for additional information.

QUESTIONS: Feel free to CONTACT ME with any questions you may have.

GUEST PRESENTERS:

ANN DINWIDDIE MADDEN clings to the element of chance by mixing digital and analog into her mixed media image transfers. She learned this transfer process in her backyard from Kim Turner Smith in 2015 (during Deb’s first MS workshop) and immediately fell in love. It was the following year that she started to look at her digital photographs as just the beginning of the process. Ann creates her mixed media image transfers by first photographing digitally, processing the image, printing on emulsion coated acetate, and then transferring to a work surface. Ann works on instinct and lets each art piece tell her what it needs — almost always some colored paper, handwriting; sometimes paint, hand stitching, confetti, sheet music, etc.

Ann will be teaching all participants this image transfer process at the reterat. All supplies will be provided; however, participants will need to make a self-portrait against light or white background in advance and send the high-res file to Ann ( Dropbox link will be provided) prior to the retreat. These self-portrait images will be printed ahead of time on emulsion coated acetate and be the focus image for each participant’s image transfer.

GREG BANKS is a photo-based artist and instructor at Appalachian State University. He received his MFA in photography at East Carolina University in May 2017. Greg combines everything from IPhone images to historic 19th-century processes, gelatin silver printing, painting, and digital printing. His current creative practice investigates family, folklore, memories, Appalachia, as well as history and religion.

Greg began doing chlorophyll prints last summer with a group of artist friends in Georgia and then taught the process to his alternative process students last fall. In Greg's workshop, participants will use digital negatives (printed ahead of the workshop) and contact print chlorophyll prints. The leaf you choose will be up to you. Once printed, a process will be completed to increase the permanence.

ADDISON BROWN is a photography-based artist currently living in Huntsville, Alabama. He received his BA in photography at the University of Alabama Huntsville in 2012 and a MFA in photography at East Carolina University in 2017. His interests in history, photography and cinema often blend together with the use of historic photographic processes concerned with dramatic narrative, identity and confrontation. His work takes the form of one-of-a-kind, unique photographic objects that typically employ techniques in woodcraft and metalsmithing. A variation of the wet collodion process is frequently used throughout his work.

A demonstration of making collodion positives on aluminum will be offered with an opportunity to make your own for a small additional fee.

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BECKY VENTEICHER is a fine art photographer who spends much of her days parenting and her two children are often the subjects and inspiration for her photography. Midwest natives, Becky and her family enjoy exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains near their home in Charlottesville, Virginia. There is a certain feeling to these mountains and Becky enjoys capturing that through color and varied layers that evoke feelings of calmness, tranquility, energy, and an appreciation for something greater than ourselves. Becky also enjoys being out under the night sky photographing the stars. Becky shares, “there is so much more light than we can see and sometimes the greatest amount of light is only seen when we get comfortable with the darkness”. Becky feels that photography can serve as a beautiful metaphor as it emboldens the viewer to take a closer look.

In Becky's class, she will demonstrate how she photographs and captures the feeling of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as providing tips on the art of night sky photography.

IMAGES FROM PAST DEB SCHWEDHELM RETREATS:

TESTIMONIALS:

I can't thank you enough for my weekend at the Tampa workshop. It came at a time when I needed to pause and reflect on life and photography; to connect with others about art and our common journey. Finally getting to meet you in person and give you a big hug was also so important. We spend so much time in this digital age limited in our ability to connect in a truly human way. Getting to see you work, to look at your work in person, and to shoot beside you and the other super talented participants was such a highlight. And wrapping up the weekend with the portfolio review still resonates with me. Sitting with you and the others discussing my work was a first and I learned so much from that experience. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Jen C. (Florida workshop)

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Dear Deb, Shortly after our workshop, our family packed up and headed to the cottage for a couple of weeks. It was complete chaos and I didn't end up getting the time I needed to honestly reflect on what you gave to me at the workshop. I knew I had walked away refreshed, motivated, and inspired, but also knew that something deeper had happened in those two days.
I am home now and the kids are asleep. I can finally sit down, think, and write.
I can't thank you enough for your honesty and for presenting yourself as a "real" person. Until the workshop, you were some famous photographer that I worshiped. After the workshop you were Deb. Deb who had a dream, worked her ass off and is now one of the most talented photographers I know. You weren't handed your gift on a silver platter. I needed to see this more than you know. I needed to see that an everyday mommy like me, could be great at this art.
You took the time to explain things and teach things that I am sure are very second nature to you. I felt safe those two days knowing that I was there to learn and you were there to teach. No stupid questions could be asked.
An inside look into your work and how you approach a shoot and editing was incredible. I can't even begin to tell you how much I learned during that time! You inspired me to keep going with this art and be honest and true on my journey. These words have not left my head. Before I arrived I wasn't sure if I should be doing this or return to teaching. I am now committed to this amazing art and have put teaching on the back burner. I understand I have a long road ahead and that there is no end to the journey. Before you, this would have scared the shit out of me. Now I am excited.
More than anything you have motivated me to KEEP GOING.
Deb, you were incredible those two days. I could have listened to you forever. You add so much value to this art and I respect you more than I can express.
THANK YOU for the opportunity to learn from you and get to know you. I would do this all over again in a heart beat. I hope that we will meet again some day but for now know that you have left a really big awesome mark in my world. So grateful for our time.
Lisa T. (Canada workshop)

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I went into the workshop hoping to learn a whole lot technically to improve my own photography. What I came away with was that and so much more. I saw first hand how it wasn’t magic or luck which got you to where you are – it as a lot of hard work, finding an inspiration and following through with it. Watching your workflow from our discussions on inspiration and visualization, to watching you shoot and post-process. I realized that it is entirely possible that I can follow in your footsteps, put in the effort, and become an amazing artist. I can’t help but feel like I went into the workshop thinking I was a decent photographer and I left feeling like I was blossoming into an artist. I have since found inspiration coming to me so easily and in so many forms. My mind has been opened! I have all these images dancing in my head that I cannot wait to set up and photograph.
There wasn’t a question that was too simple and there was always time for another question. You shared everything that makes you who you are – an amazing photographer and an amazing person. I found inspiration not just in your product but in who you are and the amazing souls that were attracted to you and your workshop. I can’t begin to express how lovely it was that you weren’t just our fearless leader, but also just another friend in our group. I truly feel like I’ve gained a new friend in you!
As terrified as we all were of the portfolio review, I saw a light turn on in each one of us. My fear of discouragement was quickly dispelled as I saw my work in a whole new, positive light. I now feel empowered and excited for this long and amazing journey. I so cherish the time we all spent together and am so excited to now have such amazing people to share in this journey! Thank you!
Carrie C. (Bali workshop)

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Deb, how on earth do I put it into words…. thank you just doesn’t cut it.
I feel so humbled to have been a part of your workshop. This experience is one I will never forget both for my journey as a photographer and also for me personally.
When I found out about your workshop, I just knew in my heart I had to be there and now that I’m home I just want to thank you so much for your beautifully kind heart, and all the experience and knowledge from your own journey that you so generously shared with us all.
I’m so happy to have met all the incredibly talented and special women that I shared this experience with and have made some wonderful new friendships too! It was seriously so much more than a photography workshop!!
So thank you. For bringing us all together, for sharing so much of yourself with us, and for giving me the courage to find my own path and my own vision…
Megan G. (Bali workshop)

Thank you for visiting and I so hope to see you in June! xo