My thoughts on my experience at Foundation Workshop aka. FW7, may be a bit scattered and underwhelming.
That is not due to the fact that it wasn’t an amazing experience. It was more than anything I had anticipated.
It’s just been difficult for me to put into words what I went through, what I felt, what I know I’m still growing into.

People keep asking how it went, tell me all about it, did you enjoy it? And a selfish part of me wants to keep it all to myself. Not spill a thing.
It was such a personal journey, words just fail to describe.

The images were not the important thing for me here.
Honestly, I just wanted to learn. Learn how to get out of the way of myself.

My team leader, Tyler Wirken, was such a phenomenal teacher.
His ability to get his point across without making you feel as though you had done something wrong was outstanding.
Ok, well, sure I screwed up, but he never belittled me for it. I could tell that he just wanted me to see. Really see.

My assignment took me to Southfork Ranch, otherwise known as the place where the exterior of the Dallas tv show was filmed.
I met some incredible and fun people, from the workers there to the avid fans of the show.
Many a thank you to you kind folks!

However, it comes back to, for me, taking a chance on myself.
Deciding if I was brave enough to fail. And then, if I had the courage to continue forward and really open my eyes.

It was a crazy good time. It has boggled my brain and heart and the level of understanding I had of myself.
It’s challenged me, which is exactly what I needed. I’m a bit battered and bruised, but not in an unhealthy way.

My heart keeps skipping beats each morning I awake, thinking it’s time to head back out there and shoot. And then be edited again.
And a large part of me is sad when I realize that it’s now up to me to keep that momentum alive.

As much as I was terrified of the whole editing and shooting process, there was comfort in knowing you were surrounded by others in the same boat.
More importantly, surrounded by honest to goodness great teachers who you just knew, felt to the core of your being, that they were invested in you, sometimes more than you may have been in yourself.

Many many thanks to the team members I worked along side: Duncan Kerridge, Dan Shuman, Jerry Yoon, Joseph Allen; the very patient and kind mentors: Mark Adams, Neil Cowley, and Janine McClintock.

Most importantly my heartfelt thanks and praise goes to Tyler Wirken. You. are. awesome.

I’m going to continue forward, and hope I do you all (as well as myself) proud.

ps. If you are a photographer interested in any of these experiences, check out the FWF forum for more info on future FWworkshops.
Also, Tyler and another extraordinarily talented photographer, Brooks Whittington, are holding their own workshop this coming April, check it out!!

With that said, here are a few of my favorites from my time at Southfork Ranch, Allen Texas

Ciao ~ Stacey D