It’s been a bit of a challenging year, and my lack of blog posts reflects that challenge. Clearly, I am not the only one with persistent challenges, but I feel compelled to express my deep gratitude to Steve, his assistant Isabelle, and our wonderful group of 10 photographers who just completed a fabulous 3-day workshop, just prior to the thick fog and rain settling in for a few days here on the Cape.

Steve again put his camera aside, instead focusing on bringing out the best in each of us. Our first evening gathering was at Paine’s Creek on the ever-changing Brewster Flats. The following day we met before sunrise at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, each photographer having donned waders to get down in the waves; the undertow forced me to hold on to my tripod so it didn’t topple over. We then returned to the gallery for a great breakfast and time to work on images. Steve has the rare ability to be extremely supportive to each photographer, while at the same time offering very specific and useful critique to improve each image. One key learning, for me, was the importance of looking at every single part of the image to bring out the best in service to the entire photograph.

That evening, we met at Skaket Beach, a different part of the Brewster Flats, to see one of the absolutely most spectacular sunsets I’ve had the good fortune to witness. Amazing light. Then at dawn, we again gathered at Nauset Beach in Orleans, with a very different kind of light. We then all came together for breakfast, and another round of exceptional feedback.

Steve likes to emphasize the importance of “mindfulness” when creating images: emotional, compositional, and only then technical mindfulness. I’ve been to many photography workshops around the country, many of them great, but none of them as exceptional as this.

Steve sums it up very well: “Arrive empty of expectations…. Leave filled with gratitude.” A great way to capture images. A great way to live.

Another Fall Retreat on Cape Cod with Steve!

Retirement Transitions

Fall Retreat on Cape Cod with Steve Koppel