I just wanted to share a little bit more about the Foundation Workshop. My involvement was such a rewarding experience, which I hope to be able to be a part of again.

On the first day of the workshop I gave a short presentation on how to blend into the scene. As documentary photographers who strive to make storytelling images, our goal is to record reality, not reality as it is affected by our presence. I shared some practical examples of ways to build a trusting relationship with subjects so that they would open up their lives to us as photographers and let us make storytelling images. One of the best ways to do this is to first simply sit down and talk with your subject and share stories, all the while looking for common interests. We feel comfortable with people whom we share common interests with, so the sooner you can establish a bond, the easier it is for them to open up and allow you to document their lives.

A highlight for me was Anna Kuperberg's presentation. She shared some photographs from an ongoing project she's been working on where she has been documenting a neighborhood in St. Louis. Her dedication to this long-term project was inspiring and the photographs she has made show how much her subjects trust her and have let her into their lives. See some of her photos on her fine art website.

My primary responsibility with the workshop was to be a mentor, so I went out into the field every day with some of the workshop attendees and gave them one-on-one feedback and guidance to help them improve their seeing, shooting and storytelling. I saw overnight transformations in how the attendees improved their photography. The workshop was such a powerful experience which focused on growth for everyone involved.

The dates for next year's workshop have recently been announced: February 25-28, 2008. Check out the Foundation Workshop website for more info. And to register, email Huy Nguyen: huy@fworkshop.com.