Reading mode: Light Dark

Ken Rockwell Yosemite Workshop:Worth it or not?

Go to last post
... research what other photograhers offer the same kind of tour and choose one who you really like their work. I don't particularly like the Ken Rockwell photographs I've seen so I'd be holding out for some other tour. It's true that you could get something out of it without getting so much information or inspiration from the man, but I'd be figureing that I could get all of that from someone who does work that I consider really fantastic... Surely there have to be lots of folks offering tours like that, no?

--
my flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/128435329@N08/
 
Last edited:
tko said:
Do yourself a favor. Look up his best photos and judge for yourself. I mean, it's hard to take a bad photo in Yosemite, and this one is just plain HORRIBLE.

KEN_4791-half-dome.jpg
Click to expand...
I actually quite like that shot.
 
Dheorl said:
NowHearThis said:
JohnWick4001 said:
I know that Joe Mcnally ,for instance , recently hosted a NYC workshop that cost $2000,which is out of my league.

How about the other big names like Ken Rockwell?He's currently got a Yosemite workshop for only $429.Has anyone here ever attended one of these workshops and felt that it improved their skills?
Click to expand...
Let me point out the obvious that no one here has addressed. IF, Ken knows Yosemite very well, knows the best locations for photography at the right time of day AND you don't, AND you really want to go take photos there, then the answer is YES. $429 is probably worth it.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't a good book and a bit of research on the internet accomplish that at a much lower price?
Click to expand...
A guide would be great, Yosemite is HUGE, with a million places and things. Rockwell has done his Yosemite trips for years so knows what is where.

One thing to check on, I do not think lodging and food is bundled in the price, make sure you know before you go. And bring enough clothes for hot to snow and ice. Yosemite weather is unpredictable and it is raining down in SoCal and up the valley now and projected for the week.

Chuck
 
Well this is an 'interesting' topic. For the last week I have been following another Ken Rockwell post on another website that has proven to be entertaining:

This lead to curiosity and ended up finding some more threads:

Why does everyone hate Ken Rockwell?

Loading…

www.dpreview.com

KEN Rockwell is Dangerous to Photography: FroKnowsPhoto RAWtalk #082


Why Ken Rockwell is bad for Photography

Loading…

anotherangle.eu

There seems to be no shortage of opinions on this guy. These are just a few of the links that I found and read. Frankly not my cup of tea, however we all can come to our own conclusion.

I hope these links help the OP to come to your own educated decision and DO your own research before spending a dime with anyone. Just my 2 cents.
 
NowHearThis said:
JohnWick4001 said:
I know that Joe Mcnally ,for instance , recently hosted a NYC workshop that cost $2000,which is out of my league.

How about the other big names like Ken Rockwell?He's currently got a Yosemite workshop for only $429.Has anyone here ever attended one of these workshops and felt that it improved their skills?
Click to expand...
Let me point out the obvious that no one here has addressed. IF, Ken knows Yosemite very well, knows the best locations for photography at the right time of day AND you don't, AND you really want to go take photos there, then the answer is YES. $429 is probably worth it.

Whether you learn anything or not from him while there, is something else. I consider myself a good photographer, I've taught photography for a number of years, and I know what I am doing. But I don't always know where to go. I've never been to Yosemite, and while I might do a lotof research on the internet for places to shoot, if I knew I had a guide that would take me to places to get fantastic shots with perfect lighting, well then, that's $429 well spent. IMO.

So first find out how good his knowledge of the area is then you can decide after that.

--
NHT
//life motto
if (sad() == true) {
sad().stop();
beAwesome();
}
Click to expand...
I was on one of these trips with Ken 5+ years ago. Ken has his own style but the trip tends to attract other very serious photographers, many with different styles and it will be really hard not to learn something and maybe grab some decent shots.
 
I find it odd that people who know their own minds would get worked up about what Ken writes. He's obviously a good-humored guy who shoots from the hip and doesn't feel the need to be uncontroversial about what he says because he has another real profession that really pays the bills.

There's no way as an experienced photographer I could read his pages thinking I need to take him perfectly seriously as I'm reading Das Kapital or some treatise.

For a real internet personality, the workshop price hardly sounds too much. I agree, see what you can learn from the others in it too.
 
"resolution charts are for measurebaters"

Well, he is right about that.
 
Honestly, the price isn't at all outrageous compared to others I see. While I wouldn't want to get lessons in how to shoot like Ken, if he knows the area well it could be worth it if you think of it as simply paying someone to do the location scouting for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top