Vancouver Photo Workshops proudly presents a series of 6 exclusive seminars and workshops, internationally acclaimed photographer Joe McNally.

Joe will be in Vancouver from February 13 to February 22nd, 2014. This is a rare opportunity to catch one of the most sought after photographers, lecturers and teachers in your home town!!

In 2012, we sold out all events in a matter of days, so if you're interested to see Joe this time then don't delay.

All of the events VPW will be hosting with Joe McNally are listed on this page. Please use the drop-down navigation below to read more details about each event.

When you have made your choice, you can register online for any one (or multiple) events using the links provided at the bottom of this page.

“SO, YOU JUST GOT THIS FLASH” THREE-HOUR FLASH INTRO SEMINAR -- $59


Geared towards advanced beginners to mid-range photo enthusiasts.

You just got this new flash and you make a picture with it ... and the picture is, well, awful.

Not to worry, you have lots and lots of company in this regard.

After your first few flash attempts, ones where your subjects all end up looking like candidates for a police lineup, you slip this battery operated box of light back into your gear bag, shift your ISO ever higher, and deal only with light you can see. You never open that flash box again, 'cause when you do, just like the board game in Jumanji, bad stuff happens.

How to manage what effectively amounts to an explosion of light?

How to wrangle reproducible results?

How do you make your flash invisible?

Or look like it's supposed to be there, right alongside the natural light?

How does the portrait subject at hand, and the terrain of their face and personality, determine what light shaper, what mood, or even what color of light to apply?

In a fast paced three-hour session, we take one, two, (okay, maybe three) lights, and couple them up with simple light shaping tools to create portraits.

Subjects are drawn from the audience. In highly caffeinated, colorful dialogue, each portrait session is discussed and shot live, with every frame popping up on the screens for all to see. Mistakes, saves, re- directs, and shifts in direction, light and strategy are all part of path to a good portrait, and it will all be done onstage.

We will do as many portrait sessions as possible, using different qualities of light, expressed by different types of light shaping tools, from the most simple to the more advanced.

In addition to the images shot live, there will be pictures and examples of light and light theory shown, ongoing Q&A throughout, and stories, tips, tricks and survival strategies derived from 35 years of shooting sprinkled throughout the three hours.


More Event Details:

Tickets are only $59 each. Additional Tickets can be purchased for the discounted price of $49. For volume purchase of 10 or more tickets, please contact VPW for details. Our office can be reached @ 778.898.5256 or via email.

This event will be held at the Ironworks Studios in Gastown, Vancouver.

The exact address is:

The Ironworks
235 Alexander St,
Vancouver, BC V6A 1C2

Doors open: 6pm

Event begins: 6:30pm

Event ends: 9:30pm

“JOE-PALOOZA” ONE-DAY LIGHTING SEMINAR -- $99

Geared towards mid-range photo enthusiasts to working pros.

Join Joe McNally, internationally acclaimed American photographer, long-time photojournalist, and author of the ground-breaking smash best-selling book (The Moment it Clicks) for the only photography lighting seminar tour of its kind.

This program is lots of lighting, for lots of folks, at once, and is geared towards mid-range photo enthusiasts to working pros.

The day generally divides into 5 one hour blocks, each building on each other in terms of accelerated skills and techniques.

Working with models, Joe starts small, using hot shoe flash in its’ most basic modes, and then rapidly moves into off camera flash, multiple wireless flash, portrait strategies, and advanced techniques.

If it is of interest to the audience, Joe can devote the last of the hours to “big flash” and introduce the possibilities of larger studio lights. (Or, if desired, the last hour can simply proceed with small flash demonstrations.)

One of Joe’s proven abilities is to grab and keep the attention of audiences large and small.

A constant refrain heard, after these seminars, is that people felt they were at a hands-on workshop, instead of a member of a large group in a huge room.

The day is packed with a lot of energy, information, and live demo. At the end of the seminar, the lighting skill set of all in attendance has moved forward dramatically.

This is your chance to learn the secrets of one of the world’s most respected and admired photographers!


More Event Details:

Tickets are only $99 each. Additional Tickets can be purchased for the discounted price of $89. For volume purchase of 10 or more tickets, please contact VPW for details. Our office can be reached @ 778.898.5256 or via email.

This event will be held at the Ironworks Studios in Gastown, Vancouver.

The exact address is:

The Ironworks
235 Alexander St,
Vancouver, BC V6A 1C2

Doors: 9:30am

Event begins: 10am

Lunch Break: 1pm - 2pm

Event ends: 5pm

“BIG LIGHT FROM SMALL FLASHES” ONE-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP

Geared towards mid-range photo enthusiasts to working professionals.
Limited to only 15 students maximum!!
This workshop is offered twice, on Feb 21st as well as on Feb 22nd. Pick your date when you register.

An intense, turbocharged day of small flash tactics and techniques.

After a brief slide show, the morning is devoted to creating the building blocks of sophisticated flash use, starting with one light, on the camera.

We investigate small light shaping tools, using soft boxes, fill boards, diffusers, found objects, someone wearing a white T-shirt, etc. The emphasis is on moving fast, traveling light.

After lunch, we launch into multi-flash setups and advanced techniques.

Color, quality and direction of light are emphasized.

Joe leads the day, shooting examples, but there is a two-hour period where students break into teams, each with a model, and everyone creates their own images.

This is an accelerated exercise in on the fly solutions, similar to what photographers on a paying job are asked to do.

At the end of the shoot, each participant shows one image that represents success, possible failure, or a problem of execution to everyone.

While not a full-blown critique, it does offer folks a chance to see other's work and benefit from discussion of how the photograph was executed.


More Event Details:

This workshop event is limited to 15 students only.

This event will be held at the VPW Studios.

The exact address is:

14 West 7th Avenue (@Ontario)
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 1L6

Doors: 9:30am

Event begins: 10am

Lunch Break: 1pm - 2pm

Event ends: 5pm

“FAST FLASH - A QUICK COURSE IN SPEEDLIGHTS” EVENING EVENT

Geared towards mid-range photo enthusiasts to working professional

In this highly concentrated, jam packed, three-hour period Joe McNally will start with basic one light approaches on the camera and quickly move through a series of scenarios, developing more sophisticated, off camera small flash setups using multiple speed lights.

McNally uses the Nikon Speed Light system, or CLS, but the main concentration of effort will be about how to use the light, not so much buttons and dials, so the lessons of light should apply to all camera systems.

Emphasis will be placed on moving fast, and using the intuitive capabilities of TTL wireless flash photography to create portraiture and beautifully lit scenes.

Up for discussion will be the issues of managing light well, diffusing it, bouncing it, and also creating drama and shadows.

The three main areas of using light are color, quality and direction, and all three will be shown and talked about during this class.

There will be a model, but McNally also reaches into the crowd to pull subjects, which always results in lively exchanges.

In addition to the images shot live, there will be pictures and examples of light and light theory shown, ongoing Q&A throughout, and stories, tips, tricks and survival strategies derived from 35 years of shooting sprinkled throughout the three hours.

More Event Details:

Tickets are only $59 each. Additional Tickets can be purchased for the discounted price of $49. For volume purchase of 10 or more tickets, please contact VPW for details. Our office can be reached @ 778.898.5256 or via email.


This event will be held at the Ironworks Studios in Gastown, Vancouver.

The exact address is:

The Ironworks
235 Alexander St,
Vancouver, BC V6A 1C2

Doors open: 6pm

Event begins: 6:30pm

Event ends: 9:30pm

“THE LOGIC OF LIGHT” TWO-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP

Geared towards mid-range photo enthusiasts to working professional
Limited to only 15 students maximum!!

It's rare to catch Joe McNally in an intimate workshop setting such as this - he usually teaches to crowds of several hundred people at the same time. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to catch Joe in a small workshop setting such as this.

Day one starts with a slide show, very brief, describing the basics of light.

Using light well is the mandate for the program, so it will not be camera specific.

Joe emphasizes the whole deal is about managing light, not managing buttons and dials. Using one light well.

The program starts with straight flash, and strategies for producing a good light from a single hot shoe flash. Discussion centers on the levers of control available--f-stops and shutter speed, volume and closeness of light source, reflectors, hard light, soft light.

Working with models, we explore the nature of different light for different people. We take a look at extremely mobile solutions. Working a crowd, using depth of field to your advantage, and crafting light with things you can carry easily.

Day two starts with small, wake up sound sync program.

By the close of the first day, we will have dipped our toe into the murky waters known as multiple off camera wireless flash.

Now the concentration is with multiple flash, used well. Direction, color and quality of light are the keys. Multiple flashes are not a ticket to over lighting, but a way of ramping up the sophistication of one's lighting grid, with beneficial results. Also shown and demonstrated are examples of big light from small flashes--i.e, using a number of speed lights through one big source.

Additionally tackled are hi speed sync, gels and the power of color, and the look and feel of light. Hard, edgy light can produce a tough looking, moody portrait, inappropriate for, say, a corporate annual. Softer, more forgiving light strikes a different mood, and speaks a different language.


More Event Details:

This workshop event is limited to 15 students only.

This event will be held at the Ironworks Studios in Gastown, Vancouver.

The exact address is:

The Ironworks
235 Alexander St,
Vancouver, BC V6A 1C2

Doors: 9:30am

Event begins: 10am

Lunch Break: 1pm - 2pm

Event ends: 5pm

Joe McNally is a sought after lecturer and teacher at scores of international seminars. Joe was described by American Photo magazine as "perhaps the most versatile photojournalist working today" and was listed as one of the 100 most important people in photography.

Joe McNally shoots assignments for magazines, ad agencies, & graphic design firms.

Clients include Sports Illustrated , ESPN Magazine , National Geographic, Life, Time, Fortune, New York Magazine, GEO, Golf Digest , Discover , Men’s Journal , New York Stock Exchange, Target, Sony, GE, Nikon, Lehman Brothers, & PNC Bank.

In addition to having been a recipient of the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for outstanding magazine photography, McNally has been honored numerous times by several of the following: Communication Arts, Applied Arts, Photo District News, Pictures of the Year, The World Press Photo Foundation, The Art Director' Club, American Photo, and Graphis.

Joe’s teaching credentials include: the Eddie Adams Workshop, the National Geographic Masters of Contemporary Photography, the Santa Fe Workshops, the Smithsonian Institute Masters of Photography, Rochester Institute of Technology, Maine Photo Workshops, Department of Defense Worldwide Military Workshops, and the Disney Institute.

He has also worked on numerous "Day in the Life" projects. One of McNally’s most notable large scale projects, "Faces of Ground Zero - Giant Polaroid Collection", has become known as one of the most primary and significant artistic responses to the tragedy at the World Trade Center.

Visit McNally's website for more information and to see his iconic photography:

www.joemcnally.com


Take a look at this video featuring Joe McNally climbing and photographing the tallest building in the world:


VPW -- Refund and Cancellation Policy:

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our Local Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops valued at or under $100, VPW is unable to provide a cash refund. Transfers are limited to one transfer to either the same event at a later date, or a different event of equal value. VPW requires 48 hours written notice in order to make such a transfer (email notice is acceptable). The event you are transferring to must occur within 6 months of the original event you registered for. A $15 fee will be applied to all transfers.

For our Local Workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 4 to 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 30 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

For our Master Photographer Series workshops, 1 to 5 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

For our Photo Tours (both in Canada and abroad), 1 to 10 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Transfers (for all events over $100): If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date, VPW requires a minimum of 30 days written (email) notice. All transfers are based on availaibility, and subject to approval by VPW staff. For courses/workshops with tuition above $101, the transfer fee is $35.

Transfer Fees as based on event pricing:
Tuition of $100 and below, the transfer fee is $15
Tuition of $101 and above, the transfer fee is $35

VPW can give no refunds:

If you registered for any event valued at or under $100
If you do not show up for your registered course.
If you register for a course beyond or below your skill or ability level.

Refunds for all events valued at $101 and above (excluding Master Series Workshops):
If a student wishes to cancel their registration for any of VPW's events, and has provided written notice within the appropriate timeframe, a refund less a $50 administration fee will be provided.

Course Cancellation:

Occasionally, we may have to cancel a course due to low enrollment. In this case, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid to VPW up to that time.

Read complete refund and liability policy

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Class Start Date Time Discount Offer: Location Fee: Registration
'Fast Flash' Evening Seminar February 13th 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Buy 2nd Ticket for $49 Ironworks Studio in Gastown $59 Click Here to Register
The Logic of Light 2 Day Workshop Feb. 14th + 15th 10am - 5pm First 3 registrations get $50 discount off regular tuition Ironworks Studio in Gastown $1250 Click Here to Register
'Joe Palooza' 1 Day Seminar February 16th 10am - 5pm Buy 2nd Ticket for $89 Ironworks Studio in Gastown $99 Click Here to Register
'So You Just Got This Flash' Evening Seminar February 20th 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Buy 2nd Ticket for $49 Ironworks Studio in Gastown $59 Click Here to Register
'Big Light from Small Flashes' 1 Day Workshop February 21st 10am - 5pm First 3 registrations get $50 discount off regular tuition VPW Studios $650 Click Here to Register
'Big Light from Small Flashes' 1 Day Workshop February 22nd 10am - 5pm First 3 registrations get $50 discount off regular tuition VPW Studios $650 Click Here to Register
Waiting List           Click Here for Wait List