The human figure has long been a favorite subject of artists in every medium, including photography. The elements of form, gesture, line, texture, light and shadow, and artistic intention all play vital roles in creating successful figure studies. By placing the human figure into a unique and inspiring landscape, we add the additional element of nature and open up countless new opportunities for exploring these elements.

Developing a personal vision and point of view is a goal of this workshop. In daily field sessions, we learn how to work with models in a professional manner and learn to establish a rhythm to the session that encourages artistic feedback and active participation from the model. Classroom time is devoted to discussions, critiques of the previous day’s images, and one-on-one reviews.

Individual attention to each participant is a driving concept behind the workshop. Participants are grouped into teams of three, and work with one model at a time. During each cycle, Allen spends time with individual photographers, answering questions, and making suggestions. In addition to onsite input, there are critiques each day for fine-tuning your vision.

Allen covers how to get proper exposures outdoors, how to create dynamic compositions, and how to balance message and aesthetics in one image. Importantly, he also shares his insights on establishing a strong working relationship with models and creating the environment of trust, mutual respect, and collaboration that allows great figure studies to emerge.