BTS Joe McNally unplugged

What a workshop, what an adventure! To be honest I was a little bit nervous when I was on my way to the 25hours Hotel here in Vienna. Just one hour to go before I will meet him. One of the most important people of photography in the world: Joe McNally.

First come together with Joe McNally

Talking with Joe McNally for the first time is always special. But he is such an easy going human being, that it is just fun to spend your time with this famous photographer. I was also a little bit astonished that I was the only German speaking guy in this room. A bunch of very nice people from UK and US came the whole way down to Vienna for being part of this fabulous workshop.

After a brief getting to know, we enjoyed our first dinner at the Museumsquartier in Vienna. The next day we first visited the Stephansdom and the Graben for taking some pictures. We had critique class every day for some hours after we took our pictures. A very efficient way to grow with the quality of your picture. And Joe McNally is very honest with his critique…most of the time  .

Bad weather? Doesn’t matter as a photojournalist

On Monday it started to rain very hard when we visited the Naschmarkt. On Tuesday we were in my neighborhood Schönbrunn and later in the Prater. It was my first ride with the “Riesenrad”. At the prater we also began with the first flash-exercises for Portaits together with available light.

Lets go to Prague – for the first time in my life

Wednesday morning we left to Prague. With a short stop in “Telc” – a very nice town in Czechia. On Thursday we stood up very early for a sunrise-shoot on the famous “Charles Bridge”of Prague. After the critique-session we also visited “Castle Quarter” in the Afternoon. In the evening it was time for another great flash-sunset lesson with Joe.

From the Jewish Museum to the old town

On Friday we visited the Jewish Museum in the morning. Afterwards it was again time for some class with Joe. In this class he teached us some more interesting points about flash and how he did his great pictures for “National Geographic” and so on. I was very impressed how simple it could be sometimes to make an amazing picture. Joe knows all about the tricks. He showed us everything from the beginning to setting the last flash for his pictures. Wonderful.

Time to say goodbye

On Saturday we visited the new town of Prague and in the afternoon is was time for our last class with Joe. On our last evening we first watched our slideshow with the “Best of”-Pictures from all participants of the week and went for a great dinner at the Danube afterwards.

Wrap up

It was a great week with wonderful people. On the top were of course Joe McNally and his wonderful wife Anne. I also really enjoyed all the tipps and tricks from his great first assistant Cali. A great guy who enjoys to share his knowledge. Overall it was the best organized workshop where I have ever been. I learned a lot about seeing and trying to make pictures with a story. Dealing with flash and gels was one of the most interesting things for me during this week. I think and hope that there will be a second workshop with all these great people in the near future.

Output of the workshop