I Will Make You Suffer: Cycle 2

What: The IWMYS Workshop
When: October 22-25, 2012
Where: Brooklyn, NY

Brace yourself! It’s on again. I’m now taking applications for the I Will Make You Suffer Workshop: Cycle 2. This is not your ordinary workshop. You will not see a gaggle of photographers trailing me around with 70-200’s in hand and a model in tow. This is going to be hard, and this is going to be intensely personal. It will push you and prod you, as you shoot throughout. It is designed to crack your eye open. I created it to take what you already have – a vision, a voice, beliefs – and drain every ounce of it out of your body and inject it into your work. This is a workshop designed to get results.

Is it worth it? I think so. Here are a couple of pieces of unsolicited feedback from the last workshop:

So much running though my brain, I can barely sleep because I’m so inspired…I will never stop thanking you for everything you did in those 3.5 days for me not to mention what you are still doing for me. You led that workshop like a pro and are an incredible inspiration to me as a photographer, a teacher, a businessman, and as a creative individual offering honest and refreshing insight about and to the world around you.
-Beth Price

Thank you for providing such an intensive, eye-opening workshop and for pulling together such a great group of people. It was everything I expected and more! This is NOT just about photography – it is much more about the process of creative evolution and human effort. It is for anyone who has ever felt compelled to create anything (and just more proof that Spencer rocks).
-Leslie Jones

Overview
The I Will Make You Suffer Workshop (IWMYS) is an intense 3.5 day workshop from October 22-25 based in New York City designed to break down barriers and move you forward. Think bootcamp. Think cram session in college. Or drugs, partying, and shooting without the drugs and partying.

IWMYS is a period to intensely explore and develop your vision in an environment that will push and encourage you without pulling punches. It will be challenging, but you’ll have the opportunity to dig into your most personal visions in a way day-to-day life doesn’t afford.

Each participant will develop a personal project that will be used as a framework for analysis and development. We’ll talk shop, we’ll talk marketing, and weddings will be used as a context for our discussions, but above all, this is about the love of photography, and you’ll be shooting throughout NYC – one of the best backdrops in the world.

Who is this for
Anyone who cares deeply about the images they create and wants to further explore the inner workings of a photography. For experienced photographers, this is a perfect jolt to the system to push yourself in new directions. For newer photographers, this is a great introduction to the thought-process necessary to build and extend your vision.

The Cost
$575. This is a bargain. Less than one 64 GB Extreme Pro for nearly 4 days of growth. Prices will be going up for future workshops.

Details
The IWMYSW begins at 2:00 PM on Monday, October 22 in my office at 10 Jay Street, Brooklyn (aka mission control, for the next several days). I will work with each participant to develop a project before the first meeting, but assignments will be finalized at that point. Every attendee is expected to shoot and submit images for review during the workshop. It will wrap up around 6:00 on July 26. Three days goes fast, so we’ll be working around the clock to pack in as much as possible. There will be day and evening meetings. I am looking for 5-10 people in total. No more.

OK, sign me up!
Woah! Not so fast! I want to bring together a group that challenges and complements one another. Who comes is as important as what you do. If you want to participate, send me three things by September 22 to spencer@ground-glass.com. Last time, slots were full before the deadline, so earlier is better.

1. Submit 15-25 images that represent who you are. You may also provide a link to a specific photo essay or feature. You may submit any type of photo, but they should show me what you’re after and what you care about.

2. Submit a paragraph or two to tell me what you’re about. This doesn’t need to be an essay. But I want to know a little about what makes you tick, why you want to do this, and where you hope to go.

3. Send a link to your website.

That’s it! Selection criteria is going to be based on a number of factors, but above all, it will focus on creating the best group dynamic possible. Admissions will be closed as soon as I the right group of people.