We have had many conversations through the year — but especially at the year’s end — about how lucky we are to have met and worked with so many interesting people. There are friendships that have come out of these workshops that we treasure. It is also wonderful to see how the groups gel so quickly and to hear of friendship made that last well beyond the workshop experience, just as ours have. We know some keep track of each through e-mails and Facebook. Others plan photo trips together. There are some who get together for a day of photography with Arnie and me perched on each shoulder (this means something to those who have joined us). And on it goes.

We love watching our participants grow as photographers, whether rank beginner or seasoned pro. We enjoy challenging them to go beyond their comfort level. We urge them to seek their own vision and make unusual photographs…

Last time, I wrote about The Passion of Photography. This time, after showing some images from our recent trip to Charleston, SC, I’d like to take that a step further and share a beautiful letter from one of our alumni that speaks to that passion.

For those who don’t know, we just returned from a private workshop in Charleston with three of our alumni, all of whom are passionate about photography. Being December, we didn’t have to get up as early or stay up as late to catch the beautiful light!

In fact, it was raining so hard on Friday, our first day, that cats and dogs were an inappropriate description. It was more like dinosaurs and pterodactyls…

I’ve been following my passion for photography since I was eight and was given my first camera, a Brownie Hawkeye. I’ve had multiple careers, but I’ve never lost sight of my love of making photographs.

It is sometimes hard these days to follow one’s passion for photography. For amateur photographers, there’s the economy, challenges of raising kids or visiting grand kids scattered across the country, busy schedules, and life in general. For professional photographers, there’s all the above and more.

Last April, for example, a photographer received a mere $30 for a Time cover that he sold through a stock agency. Twenty or so years ago, a Time cover would have brought the photographer $1,500-2,000 in creative fees plus expenses.