Ellis Island Workshops

It’s been a while, given the pandemic, and the general craziness of the world, but on September 22nd and 23rd, we will once again be conducting back to back, one day, Ellis Island Photo Workshops.

The deserted old hospital wing on the southern end of the island remains a hauntingly beautiful place, evocative of the days during which Ellis was the main portal for entry into America. It is filled with ghosts you can feel. The rooms, lit only by window light, beckon the camera.

It is a rare opportunity we have, to roam these halls, working with the Save Ellis Island Foundation, who are wonderful folks, committed to preserving the important history of this revered place. Ari Espay and I will lead the group, along with Liza Politi. During the day there will be snacks and lunch, a short class in the use of flash, and the ability to photograph the buildings and rooms, along with stunning views of NYC. We arrive on the early morning employee ferry from lower Manhattan, gaining access to the island during the sunrise hours. The workshop officially ends at 3:00pm and all participants are welcome to walk over and enjoy the museum in the later part of the day until catching a ferry ride back to Manhattan.

It is a place of profound beauty and memory.

What has been impressed, I’m sure, on all of us, especially those who travel, is that the world is a very uncertain place. We are back to Ellis this September, and there’s no telling when this opportunity will come around again. I’m anxious to go, as the place has special memory for me. It was the site of my first sizable story for the National Geographic. I remain as compelled today as I was then, in 1988, by the beauty and emotional resonance of this small island in the middle of the New York harbor.

Hope to see you there. Workshop registration and information here.

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