A recent Travel Photography Workshop, hosted by Please Go Away™ Vacations and co-sponsored by The American Eagle Club of American State Bank, was a winner. It was presented by award winning photographer, and intrepid world traveler with Please Go Away™ Vacations, Ernie Lowden who, along with his wife Frances, traveled from Olathe to present the workshop.
In addition to attendees from throughout Barton and adjacent counties, participants also traveled to Great Bend from as far away as Plainville, Pratt, Grainfield, Colby, Garden City and Lenora to attend.
The workshop consisted of three segments. The first was a presentation on how to maximize one’s enjoyment and results of photos taken while traveling. Utilizing photos he had taken around the world to illustrate his points and using special photo framing devices provided to each attendee, Lowden covered such things as photo composition, leading lines, the Rule of Thirds and more as he emphasized that outstanding photos can be taken with any type camera because the camera itself is nothing more than a tool. The real photo taking device, according to Lowden, is the mind combining with the eyes, to serve as the true lens.
The second segment was an actual photo taking exercise, where participants utilized their own cameras to photograph the abundance of statuary and metal art, building murals, historical structures, and the whimsical birdhouses of Downtown Great Bend
The last segment was a critique by the presenter of selected photos of those individual efforts.
All participants attending were also provided descriptive materials of Great Bend’s many attractions, the information being provided by the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Persons that had already traveled with Please Go Away™ Vacations in 2013, or who were reserved on future group or individual travels in 2013 or 2014, were entitled to free admission. Others attending paid an admission fee, the total proceeds of which are to be donated to the cancer concerned charity - Kans for Kids - in the name of Lowden.
The benefits of the workshop were reflected in the comments of attendee Melvin Stoss, “Where could you spend a better Sunday afternoon that cost us nothing, and allowed us to learn something?”