From: Jose Rios / May 6^th, 2008

Elliot,

 The Leesburg workshop was outstanding! I truly enjoyed myself. In addition to being blessed with a beautiful day, we also had excellent instructors. Blue Ridge has assembled a great team and their knowledge of the craft was impressive. As a novice photographer I felt very comfortable asking any question. Your explanation on DOF was concise and easy to understand. I learned about the importance of watching how light affects a scene from one moment to the next and that you have to be patient and sometimes come back when the light is better. If I had to choose the most important thing I learned, was to observe carefully and look for the hidden shot.  Sometimes we get caught up in the technical aspects and forget the ascetics. Looking forward to the next workshop.

Thank You

Jose

 SUSAN DAVIS WROTE ON MARCH 15^TH, 2008

Carol and I were VERY pleased with the workshop. You and Mike gave us so many tips that we have to now let it all digest. I just downloaded the pictures and I am impressed with many of them. I need to really look at the ones where I took multiple pictures of the same setting using different camera settings.

We have already discussed longer workshops so we will get the critique

Mike will make a great instructor.  Having a Rebel and "upper" model you knew he was familiar with the equipment at every level. He quietly came up and asked us if we knew settings we had never used. The fact he let me use his macro lens was a thrill because you don't really get to try it at the store.

Thanks you so much for an OUTSTANDING workshop. You will see me again.

Susan Davis

WES NORMAN WROTE:

To: <blueridgews@mac.com>

Date: March 15, 2008 07:36:01 PM EDT

Subject: Comments

Elliot, I must say that I had a great morning joining you and the group

for a photography safari. I really got a lot out of all of the

attention that you, Bill, Ed, and Mike gave us. I also appreciated the

lessons in the use of the filters and reflectors. A truly excellent way

to spend a Saturday morning. I will be looking forward to more work

shops with you, for sure. It was almost like having private tutors. Just an excellent job.

Keep up the great work,

Wes Norman

CAROL CROSS WROTE ON MARCH 15^TH 2008

Hi Elliot,

I just wanted to thank you for an outstanding workshop in Lucketts this past Saturday.  As per your recommendation I switched to using my macro lens (Sigma 105mm 2.8) when we moved to shooting inside the house and my inexperience with that lens is readily apparent.  I have April 5^th at Penn Camera in Fairfax on my calendar, so I can talk to you more about this.  In the meantime, don’t be shy with your critique of my work.  I still consider myself a novice having taken my first slr class about 18 months ago, and I know the only way to learn is through practice.  I found the “instructor in training” , Mike, to be extremely helpful.  It was the first time I’d had Canon knowledgeable instructor help me in the field.  I will definitely be signing up for future workshops.

Thanks,

Carol

 Paul Lysher Wrote:

 March 22, 2008

  Dear Elliot:

Bill was gracious enough to travel here to Fredericksburg to meet with  my wife and I. He is quite a guy with extensive knowledge and experience.It will take me awhile tounderstand and put into practice the information which we discussed.

My wife, Mary, is the computer expert; I was in over my head as to how to implement the various techniques for color and sharpness.I will probably need to take a course if you could recommend one.

Please keep me in mind for the workshops you will have to Sperryville and Chincoteague; they both sound good. I'll definitely be back in touch with you and Bill for another class before I go to Alaska in June.  God bless you, have a blessed Easter

Thank you for your individual attention to my needs. I appreciate it.

Paul Lysher

 WILLY WILLIAM WROTE ON MARCH 23RD 2008

From:    Willy

Sent:     Sunday, March 23, 2008 12:29 PM

To:          ELLIOT STERN

Subject:               Re: Thanks

Hi, Elliot,

     Thanks very much for a very enjoyable workshop.  You obviously put

     a great deal of thought into making a wide variety of material

     available for our use, and the site selected offered quite a

     diversity of subject material as well as lighting challenges.  I

     look forward to future courses as well as workflow package

     instruction. 

Willy Williams

ED CHAMBERS WROTE ON MARCH 23RD 2008

From: Ed Chambers
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 1:25 PM
To: E_STERN@VERIZON.NET
Subject: Fwd: Letter of Thanks

Subject: Letter of Thanks

Elliot Stern
Blue Ridge Photo Workshops

Elliot,

Words can only begin to photograph, or ought I say give you a snapshot, of the feelings from within my soul for the inspiration and positive results you have had on my photography skills to date.  Starting with the excellent initial foundational review and instructional seminar on the D200 and the book end: of the latest Luckets Photo Workshop, my focus and perspective has both been Micro and Macro on what I thought I knew, and what I realized I needed to know, and what I wanted to learn.

Bottom Line: for the rest of my career, my photographs will be better because you have been an excellent teacher.  You have taught me as said in Latin to: Carpe Diem ~ "Seize the Day"  and now seize the photographic possibilities.  One of my other hopes is that I can do as you do, teach others by example as you have taught me by example in real life here on this earth.

Thank You!

Sincerely, I am,

EdChambers

RICHARD LYKES WROTE ABOUT HIS NIKON D80 CLASS ON MARCH 31, 2008

Dear Elliot,

 It is US who is indebted to you.  You are a superb professor and I feel I learned a whole lot more about my Nikon D80 than I could ever have learned in any other way.  Your cheerful willingness to be distracted by numerous questions is just one of those attributes.  Certainly I could not have learned half as much by careful reading of Nikon's Japanese manual!!!  

 I'm not sure that I'll trek all the way to Shaw Road in Sterling again because it is too darn far away and hard to find.  Also, the room was a bit too chilly for an old geezer like me.  But in Sperryville will be a breeze.  As soon as I finish my income taxes, I'll look into which other workshop I'd like to take.

 You are a gentleman and a scholar and I am delighted that what people at Old Rag Photography told me about you is true!

 Cheers and best wishes,

Richard (Lykes)

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­IRIS SALCEWIZ WROTE ABOUT HER NIKON D80 CLASS ON MARCH 31, 2008

Hi Elliot,

 Jim and I learned a lot at the workshop.  We're still learning how to use the camera

so going over each button and menu option was great.

 I know we'll be taking other workshops with you.

 Thanks for you notes!  They will really come in handy for future reference.

Take care,

Iris Salcewiz

Wes wrote about the Greensprings workshop on May 11^th, 2008

What can I say, Elliot, that I haven't already said. I think I and the others are enthusiastic because and your helpers are so enthusiastic. I can't imagine anyone not learning a lot from your work shops as long as they have their eyes and ears open. As usual the, site for photographing couldn't have been better, even though it was a bit chilly, nothing you could have done there, of course. I will certainly look forward to other workshops in the future.

 Thank you and your crew very much for giving us inspiration to continue on with our learning of photography.

My best regards,

Wes

Steve Inguanti – WROTE ABOUT THE GREENSPRINGS WORKSHOP on May 12, 2008

Elliot,

I had a great time at the workshop and learned several things along the way.  All of the instructors including yourself are all just so nice and knowledgeable.  I did just sign up for the Rappahannock workshop and I am being tempted by the lilypons workshop too.  I thought you'd like to know that the lens that took a tumble seems 100% ok.  It auto focuses fine and the image quality seems the same as it ever was across the entire frame when viewed on my computer.   I don't even see a scratch on it! 

 I am working on uploading by favorites to my Picasa account and I will send you a link where you can view them.  I had a blast taking pictures yesterday because I've never done macro work after rain like that with the water droplets so numerous.  You really get some unique looking macro shots when you have conditions like that!

Steve Inguanti

Chuck Heagy wrote on May 12, 2008 about the Greensprings Workshop

Elliot

The Green Spring Farm photographic workshop was an outstanding learning experience!  You have assembled a great team of very knowledgeable instructors. I really enjoyed myself. The ratio of instructors to students was such that I felt I had my own private tutor: every time I had a question or needed help, someone was right there at my side with the answer.  I received many great tips but the most valuable was the reintroduction to my Nikon D300’s Exposure compensation button and when to use it. I am looking forward to attending some of your other workshops.

Again, thanks for a very enjoyable Sunday morning of instruction and for helping me to meet others who have a passion for photography.

Chuck Heagy

Randy Burn – wrote on May 13, 2008 about the Greensprings Workshop

 Elliot,

 Thank you for the great workshop, like your suggestion of underexposing ½ stop to bring out the saturation of the flowers, and Ed’s tip about using the battery grip when shooting in portrait format.  Just my getting hands on (and feet wet) experience was great and to be honest very relaxing.  I did get some Gortex boots and a hat.  I also am planning to check out the Think Tank system at Penn Camera on Saturday after our class.  Just being with other people interested in photography was a rewarding experience.  

Randy