“I turned forty years old a few months ago, and out of nowhere, someone just showed me how to find the passion I had when I was fourteen. What the hell, Penny? It’s a tremendous gift, and maybe I deserve it, maybe I don’t. But if I fail to do anything with it, then I would have answered that question.
Someone just took me by the shoulders, looked me in the eye, and laid out the simple truth: “If you’re not doing what you love, why not?” I have no answer for you, but that was the point, wasn’t it? There’s just no acceptable answer.
The last three days—and most especially the final hour of those three days—I heard my muse give me the ultimatum. And I don’t care that I’m forty; this fire within feels ageless.
I’m not going to say that you showed me the career I always wanted, because I’m not looking for a new career. What you showed me is much more than that: you showed me who I was, who I’ve always been. I never realized how much I needed to see myself again. I’ve lost so much recently, and I’m still listing the things I’ve lost in an endless parade of spreadsheets. But no one makes you list the dreams you’ve lost, the hopes you’ve abandoned, the passions you’ve pushed into the background.
So thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart—a heart much larger now because my muse has finally reclaimed her rightful space in it”
Penny, I honestly don’t know where to begin. I want to write a novel about this past weekend, but this little box isn’t the place. Just know that it was your kindess and honesty as much as your skills that made this past weekend truly a life-changing experience for me. I have my ticket to the Big Summer Potluck in July and I hope to give you that hug we all wanted to give you Sunday afternoon.
That email is truly beautiful and I can see how she wrote it. This weekend was positive, informative, and inspiring and every photographer I know that saw it was so appreciative. It was much more than I thought it would be and really has made a very high bar for creativeLIVE, though all of their teaching is good. Again, thank you for the great experience.
Again, Penny, thank you for being a giver. You imparted a bit if yourself to all if us who participated in the workshop. I blogged about a portion of my take aways at my blog. We sat at your table and were well fed. Thank you for your willingness to share.
It was really incredible. You are amazing! Watching just a couple hours of it already inspired me and made me go out to photograph…. fun! Thanks Penny. For your energy, for sharing your knowledge, for being so kind. Thank you!
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I watched your workshop on Creativelive and was pulled into your world. I tried to blog about it but I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. What you presented was so much more than food photography, or even photography, for that matter.
Someone once told me there are only two questions we need to answer in life. “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” The last part of your workshop on day 3 touched on that. If we’re very lucky, we have the chance to ask and answer those questions over and over.
Dear Penny,
I would like to add my voice to all those you’ve already heard. I started taking photos as a teen and continued throughout my twenties, right up until I went to Culinary school. I gave up a lot for that, a secure job, living in my own place, photography, singing and writing. I had no time for the things I not only loved, but really feel to me like air. I lost my passion for food as the years passed because I couldn’t see what I was looking for.
I started up again this past holiday season thanks to my mother generously buying me a point & shoot. Not every photo is good, but when they are good, I feel really proud that I’m doing, not just thinking about it. When you talked about seeing, really looking and staying with your subject, I thought about that, about how I have spent the last year reclaiming parts of myself and how brilliant and amazing that feels. Because I have been taking the time to look and see, a true metaphor for life.
You shared so much with this weekend, not the least of which was your heart and your soul. You laid bare some deep pieces of yourself, and that was as much a treasure as your teaching. I’m not sure if you know this, but watching you photograph tells such a story.
I, like many people who attended your class this weekend, am not sure where all this will lead, though it can only benefit in the long run. I sincerely and deeply thank you though, for taking the time to tell your story and share your gift.
Luna
P.S. I can’t get a photo from day 1 out of my head, a lovely girl in red and gold. You really do have a fantastic eye!
Penny,
I do not envy the pile of emails and comments and tweets you’ll be going through in the coming days overflowing with all the gratitude and inspiration that so many folks feel for what you shared this weekend.
I dropped by the studio this afternoon to pick up my blue chair I lent to the shoot yesterday afternoon and Celeste and I chatted for a bit about how awesome this weekend has been, and what a unique and lovely person you are. It hit me last night that I’ve been so fortunate thus far in my very young career to have worked with and for several photographers that I really admire and have inspired me. I’ve learned a ton about the business and the attitude and the thick skin that perhaps we need to succeed but YOU have shown us this certain gentleness, openness, and humor towards your work that you’re so passionate about and take so seriously that has inspired me in this whole new way. How to be purely human, compassionate, and curious. With those tools, how could you not succeed?
It transcended the act of framing a shot, getting the light, all of that. This indeed was a metaphor for much, much more. Today I gave a one hour talk, the same one I’ve been giving monthly for the last 18 months. I’ve been using a crappy PowerPoint presentation and merely reading it off the screen. The speech is about being sensitive to other cultures while we are caring for patients in the hospital (here in Los Angeles). This morning I slapped the computer shut and flipped the projector off and painted a picture for them of a fresh tossed salad, where each of the flavors was bright and contributed to the beauty of being in that bowl together. That somehow the sum was greater than its parts. Sound familiar?It was the very best talk I’d ever given and I didn’t realize it was inspired by you until I saw someone else’s comment who teaches the same thing on the college level who felt you had touched her life and her work as well.
How about that?
It’s fairly overwhelming and I’m getting choked up all over again.
It really was a wonderful experience that changed so many people in such a positive way. I know that I was inspired to try harder and live my passion. I was honestly on the brink of walking away from my blog, say goodbye to food photography, ultimately I was giving up and giving in. Hell no I thought after just a few hours of the workshop.
Hi Penny,
Having watched all three days I am not surprised by the reaction. This weekend event was about everyone’s greatest desire – to express oneself in a way that is meaningful. That expression can take many, many forms and it transcends all boundaries – and it is that desire that binds us all together. You spoke so eloquently about our highest value – to live an authentic life and to connect with one another. That, I think is the message that resonated with everyone who watched and with everyone who heard about the workshop. For you it is is to illuminate the human experience through food into incredibly beautiful and moving images that draw in the viewer and reminds us that what we share is far greater and more powerful than what separates us. For others that expression will take another form – but in the end, it is the same thing – the need, the desire to communicate and connect with each other in ways that transcend everything that divides us.
It is a message that was sorely needed at this point in time – so thank you – for your words, your
insights and your honesty.
I too don’t know where what I learned from this workshop will take me. But I do know that it will all be good… and authentic. Thank you for helping me to focus on what it is that I love and what I have to contribute to this journey we all are on.. and to continue to practice “seeing”.
hopefully you’ve not grown tired of encouraging emails.
i am not a photographer. i do take pictures of food. i don’t know why – i love food and i want to capture the emotion of the moment when i’m looking at a fantastic plate. anyway, i follow pioneer woman’s blog and she mentioned your class and it was raining here all weekend and i thought what the heck. so i plugged in. and i just have 2 words.
life. changing.
i am not going to take up photography, but much of what you said applies to writing – establishing shot, sense of place, details, portraits. waiting. oh the waiting for the something to happen. while you are waiting you are building a (photograph) essay. waiting for the hero (shot) sentence. finding the light. the most important person is the one on the other side of the (camera) piece i am writing.
so blown away and surprised that a food photography seminar rejuvenated my love for words. thank you. and thank you for putting yourself out there and opening a vein so the rest of us could get our blood flowing again.
The email was written by one person but really is for so many more. Lives have been changed, I know mine has. Thank you. Thank you for your time and thank you for sharing with those of us who needed to be reminded of why not!
Thank YOU Penny! For sharing your true self through this creative live experience. Something changed for me this weekend too. For real. Your authenticity has helped to bring out my own authenticity. I have fallen in love with food + photography all over again – in so many ways. And I will forever remember this… “What if I am?”
Beautiful! What a beautiful message after such an intense weekend!! I truly enjoyed the experience of your workshop as well!!
Your question
“If you’re not doing what you love, why not?”
is still haunting me. I have come up will all kinds of answers. All just seem so materialistic. Just trying to figure out a way out of what I do for a living, so I can do what I love. Damn that need for a steady paycheck! I will try not to be discouraged, and never give up.
I’m so glad to hear that this weekend was as meaningful to you as it was to your students. You taught them with an open heart and received something unexpected in return. The greatest gift one could hope for.
Penny,
Didn’t manage to say more to you than goodbye and thank you for all when I left last night because all of the students were continually voicing my thoughts and feelings so I thought I would just be an echo. I was honored to have been part of your workshop and touched by much that you shared. I’m glad to have met you and again thank you for your generous spirit and for being a guiding light for so many (including me!).
Penny-
I had stumbled across your twitter page a while back, before all this and had fallen in love with the images on your site, which I always go back and look at. I’m still a beginner in photography, and as a food blogger I sit for hours frustrated trying to get my images right. And then more hours. Then anger sets in, and frustration. Its frustration that I’m not doing it right, that I don’t have the knowledge necessary, even though I read alot trying to get it. I get mad at myself. Mediocrity kills me, and my photos unfortunately are that right now. Anyways, I was thinking the other day, I wish I could just watch someone professional do this. Why do the photos look effortless and perfect even after hours of work? How do they do it? And there you came, via my screen, just doing your thing but really showing me how it needs to be done! I’m not going to see I’m this amazing photographer after 3 days, but, you have got me thinking about it in a different light, you have me plating differently. I was always frustrated with my props and backgrounds, now I see the process and it makes more sense! Thank you!! I really appreciate the time you took out of your life to help us out, and share the knowledge that has taken you many years and hours to accumulate! Many hugs! Lots of good karma points from this weekend
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Hi Penny,
My only regret is that I didn’t sit and watch every second of the live webcast. What I did see, though, changed my entire perspective on food photography. My typical shot is the “quick shoot it so I can eat it” shot. Nothing well thought out with composition and light consideration. Seeing you work has inspired me to be a better photographer and to take my time to get the right shot not the “right now” shot. Thank you so much!!!
Heather at Farmgirl Gourmet
“If you’re not doing what you love, why not?”
Your words are still echoing in my head. I, too, am chained to my paycheck, which is what keeps me from doing what I love. From what makes me truly happy. Making pictures. And, by the way, I LOVE using the word ‘making’. We are making art, so why not state it?
Thank you for sharing your world with us. It was deeply, and profoundly, touching.
THANK YOU a MILLION times over!
Yes, yes and yes. Penny, you’ve got a tremendous gift. The words that came into my mind this morning, in trying to wrap my head around the weekend, were this: Sea change.
Penny, I cannot thank you enough for the sessions, more than anything else I learnt to be open to ideas , to be open to failures and to be open to adverse conditions. You class has been a tremendous learning experience and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The last time I cried in a photography class was in college. It was when I fell in love with photography for the first time. Life got in the way and I continued to put something which I loved to do on the back burner over and over again. Your class reaffirmed I was initially on the right track and reminded me that self assigning your dream assignment in order to feed your soul is something which I should have never stopped doing. You somehow managed to gather all these thoughts, hopes and dreams I’ve had swirling in my head from time to time about documenting life back in to perspective and put them right in front of me in a way I can no longer ignore. Thank you SO very much
.
Thank You Penny for the wonderful and inspiring workshop with a break the rule kind of approach to food photography and thanks to creativelive for bringing this to us
Penny,
Sometimes we are blessed in our lives to encounter someone who teaches us a lesson that resonates to the depths of our hearts and souls. It may not be a lesson we sought, a lesson we expected, or even a lesson we ever thought we needed–but need it we did. And when a teacher comes along and gives us the gift of that lesson, it’s a gift that will stay with us for life and will change our lives.
I count myself lucky to have had that teacher and that lesson come into my life this least weekend. While I love food and photography, your gift goes beyond that – it resonates with me in a soul-deep way I am still trying to process.
This was not what I expected but you have nourished my soul and given me the insight to keep feeding it. I don’t know yet what will come from this life-changing time with you but please know this – I appreciate the gift you have given me and will seek to pass it on to others whenever I can in the hopes that I can touch another the way you have touched me.
I thank you. My soul thanks you.
Dear Penny,
Thank you is such small words to convey my enormous gratitude to you and the creativelive team. It was a very special weekend and a privilege to have met you albeit over the internet. Your words, actions and attitude to life and those around you inspired me. Thank you!
Forever changed because of you Penny. I love photography. I love life. Thank you. xo
Hi Penny,
Lots of love from Chennai.I could not sleep a wink Monday night.The last few words that you entrusted us left me speechless.You said do what you love.It felt like you were speaking to my soul.You are an awesome person.I really wish you could come down to Chennai India to click the food scene here.Its really beyond the tandoori chicken.Even though I have not met you in person, the workshop blew me away.Hugs to you.Your radiance has touched my very soul in Chennai.
Thank you Penny.
Well, it’s been echoed again and again yet is still worth stating: you’ve given us all a true gift — beyond photography, beyond creativity, beyond art. The simple fact that you bared your own soul has compelled me to search my own. As I live within a 10-month stretch of unemployment from a series of office jobs that do not constitute a career, I’m feeling regret for not exploring the dreams I’ve had throughout my life. In the final hour of the workshop, as you spoke plainly about your journey and your family and your own dreams, I realized that it’s not a career I lack (or even seek) but rather a dream that I need to (re)capture. I’ve actually forgotten what my dreams once were, but your heartfelt nudgings have inspired me to excavate them and make it happen. For the first time in my life I’m ready to stuff down the pride and find any kind of work at all to pay the bills just so I have the freedom to CREATE without pressure. I now understand that, for me, my day job doesn’t have to supplant my creative spirit, and I’m not any less of a person because I choose whatever pays the bills in order to put my passions into play in every other area of life. I’m not sure when I lost sight of this, but I’m so grateful for three days with you that allowed me to see all the ways I’ve been stifling my spirit and limiting my own future. It’s truly been a gift beyond measure.
Penny, who could have thought food photography would have impacted so many peoples lives. But wait, it’s not so much the food photography as it was the food photographer. You truly were awesome this weekend. Your insight and how you opened up to all of was was fantastic. I hope CL has you back for more classes, I will not miss it if they do. I will be following you on your blog and web site to see what other opportunities you have in your life. Thanks for sharing
Gracias Penny,un fin de semana maravilloso.
You have such a wonderful gift Penny! I learned so much this past weekend watching you – not just about photography but about LIFE! Like many, I too am in transition in my life. At 43 my children are almost grown and don’t need me as much anymore – I’m finding myself at a crossroads wondering what to do, where to go and how to get there. It’s time to take some chances, some risks – some steps of faith. You’ve inspired me tremendously this weekend. I’m so glad to have had the time to watch your workshop. I hope you come back for more classes.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! You are such an inspiration to all!
Shari in Virginia
Penny, you made a comment during your show that I have to disagree with and I wish that you would re-think. You said, “I’m just a photographer.” Obviously, you are wrong. You are so much more! You are a inspiration, a motivation, a teacher, a muse and now, a friend – a very close friend, to thousands. Thank you.
As I go through my own personal journey I am struck with the same awe as you. I am reading so many other accounts of people I don’t know writing the same accounts. Isn’t that amazing? I think there is an opportunity here for more of this kind of workshop. It will be something to see how elevated food photography becomes after this. What is also interesting is analyzing the need for connection through food and photography right now. Is this something new, changing, and expanding? What is happening in this world to create such thirst for beauty and moments captured?
There is a knot in my throat and chills prickling all of my skin. Yes to that letter. Yes to everything you gave us this weekend. Yes to being changed.
Even when you are spending your time doing working on something that you love, it can be too easy to get stuck in the act of it. In the doing. Penny, you softened something inside me. I’ve been feeling so damned stuck lately, wondering if it was this city, aching to move away and have a new space that would finally inspire me. You reminded me that not only do you need to work your ass off, but you need to continue to make your own inspiration, that passion is rooted within. And what really moved me is that you didn’t just say it. We could all see it inside of you, bubbling up from the tips of your toes, exploding through your heart. You’re a force, Penny–and one of the most beautiful parts of the whole thing is that you don’t even realize it.
I can thank you for the experience and opportunity, but I don’t even know how to begin to thank you for shaking up my insides and making them move again. I’m breathing deeper and I’m finally feeling that creative pull that has been lying dormant in me for far too long now. What if–really and truly–I am?
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This weekend’s workshop was incredible and beyond what I could’ve imagined. CreativeLive is such an amazing educational tool and I’m so happy that you chose to be a part of it. It was incredible to be able to watch you move and educate, and share a bit of what makes you an amazing person and incredible photographer. I would’ve loved to have been there in person and look forward to the day when our paths cross again.
You all are inspiring me with these incredible comments. Thank you so much!
Penny, this Creative Live is probably the most successful because it showed so many people more than how to pose or how to light. It was insightful, interesting and inspiring, I’m sure to photographers and non-photographers alike. For me personally, it really made me feel confident in my abilities and experience as a food photographer for magazines as well. I have the experience, but last year we decided to move back to Texas (Austin!) and it’s the business of freelance photography that is totally new to me as I was a staff photographer in Birmingham before. It made me feel good when someone from CL told me I was asking great questions and I found myself thinking through each shot just as I would if I was holding the camera and it really made me remember, yes, I can do this! This is what I do! It’s scary to start fresh in a new place but I need to just keep pushing forward and just keep trying!
You share your view of the world through your images…thank you for sharing yourself with the world!
Penny,
I honestly hadn’t heard of you before, but now I’ll never forget you. I can’t even explain how touched I was by this weekend. When you were talking about why would someone photograph a bowl of strawberries…that really hit me. I needed to see and hear passion, love, and honesty. Thank you!!!
Thank you for being such an inspiration. Thank you for letting us into your thought process and how you create these magical pictures that inspires and drives us to be better. Thank you thank you.
I like photography and I like food. The extent of any food photography I may do is to make someone (who decided not to join us for dinner) jealous over what we are about to eat. I watched more to get an idea about the creative live process but came away fulfilled in other areas. You would make a great motivational speaker, Penny. I am doing what I love – I wake up wanting to go to work; I pass out doing what I love. I think about how to do what I do even better than how I’m doing it. I felt that in you. That message was most inspiring even over the photography and the visual aromas permeating the show. I even stayed up until 3AM to catch the replay of portions I missed. The comment you made, “… but what if you ARE good enough?” was the ultimate show stopper for me (even over those oysters roasting). I will hear you say that many times throughout the rest of my life. Thanks for that. And you are welcome any time you are in the DC area for Thanksgiving (It doesn’t have to be a November Thursday – we’ll celebrate any day).
Penny you saved the very best to the last, your final words at the end of the CreativeLive workshop were so moving, honest and powerful that I feel changed for the better, thank you for laying it out bare, for sharing so much and for being so inspiring! All the very best Tristan.
I could write a novel in response to this, but it’s pretty clear that you simply deserve kudos for the courage to be who you truly are. Everyone else benefits profoundly from that. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Penny, when I made my video to be a part of your CreativeLive class I said, “I know this will be a life changing event for me”, but I could not, at the time, realize how huge of an impact this past weekend was going to make on my life. There is no way that the person standing in that farmer’s market in Brooklyn could have know how profound this experience was going to be. You have inspired me beyond words and for that I will be eternally grateful to you.
Like you, I could not sleep on Sunday night. Scenes from the weekend kept playing over and over in my mind. It was as though my mind was attempting to soak in everything that you said over the course of the workshop.
I feel as though you have taken my hand and led me through that threshold you spoke of, and gently guided me into a new way of life. I am extremely proud and honored to call you my mentor and my friend.
Your passion in photography really came through in the photos you shared, the coaching you offered, and even down to pearls of wisdom you shared. Despite all the technical rules, thank you for reminding us the most important things about this craft: it is a special privilege we have to tell a story, and it is our responsibility to tell the whole story well… Kudos… Hope to see you many more of these workshops!
Nothing like a little love bomb to interrupt your life
I cleared my schedule so I could watch CL live. Bought the session so I can watch as many times as it takes for your wisdom to soak in deep. It’s clear that you’re an amazing teacher. It is also clear that you get tired, and sometimes frustrated by the process, aren’t afraid to be real, adore beautiful light and beautiful food, inspire… What is so interesting about your teaching is that it could apply equally to so many other things. What you taught was how to be excellent in developing your craft and your life.
You joked that you were probably giving away your business by sharing so much. I don’t think you have anything to worry about there. But you know… I think you made thousands of little pockets around the world more beautiful to live in.
Thanks. Peace.
I know this seems impossible, but as a student in the class I can honestly tell you that Penny is even more amazing in real life…
Penny,
You reminded me why I love this work so much. I wish you could understand how much that statement actually means to me. Lately I’ve been wrapped up in the financials and the marketing and trying to come up with a great promo to send agents. Basically, nothing fun for long time. I had lost my spark. I decided to take a break this weekend and watch your seminar. The passion and the heart that you’re able to translate into your work is inspiring. It gave me a completely different perspective, as I know you’ve likely gone through many of the things that I am now.
My favorite photographer is Annie Leibovitz and a while ago in an interview I heard Whoopi Goldberg talking about when you’re photographed by Annie you don’t really have to to do much acting when you model because she’s able to show you who you are. Isn’t that unreal? She can show you who you are.
Your seminar reminded me of who I am.
Thank you.
As one of the fortunate students that was able to reflect back to Penny the emotions she was sharing, I can honestly and openly share with the worldwide audience that what you experienced through your computer screens was every bit as real in person. It honestly felt as if the entire CreativeLIVE studio was affected by Penny’s passion, heart and humility (those last two words purposely “stolen” from Penny herself since they’re so appropriate).
It’s not often in life you meet someone that just instantly makes you not only WANT to be a better person, but BE a better person. And while I can only speak for myself to that truth, I heard enough from fellow students to know I was not alone. Inspirational, educational, heartfelt and just plain REAL. Thank you, Penny. You have changed a life for the better and created a memory that will never disappear.
I loved having you in that live audience with me. It made the difference. Thanks for taking a leap and making a video.
Xxo Rodney!
Thank you! I loved having you there with me. Looking forward to watching all 6 of you grow in what ever ways it happens! Tacos in Austin soon!!!
Xxo Loren
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When I started watching on Friday I kept asking myself, “is this for real?” So many things about photography are so prohibitive. The cost to attend conferences, to attends workshops, can be really prohibitive. I was seriously emotional when I explained to my husband that, this, this amazing quality workshop I was viewing was free. It was so clear that you, creativeLIVE staff, the students that participated, everyone involved gave it their all. Thank you so much. I learned tremendously from you. I learned from the tweets I was following. I learned from the questions that were asked. Thank you so very much. I hope you have a wonderful restful week. And the offer still stands, if you want to come back to Bahia we are moving there for a year this August. We will be living in Itacare.
Kathleen- I’m here for you if you ever want to talk about how to “see it better”.
Thanks for making a video and taking a leap. So proud to know you!!!
YOU ARE!!!
Hi Penny,
When I heard about your free classes, I thought they’d be an hour or two. Then you just kept going and going and I couldn’t stop watching. When I had to go out, I took note of where you were and rewatched the parts I missed.
What an incredibly GENEROUS thing you’ve done!! To give of yourself and your talent that much is, well, extraordinary. You can read all the photography books in the world, but nothing is as good as watching a pro at work. I was soooo inspired and uplifted!
But what got to me the most was your honesty and openness. I can see why people let you into their kitchens and dwellings. You truly spoke from the heart and there wasn’t one nanosecond of “phoning it in.” You must have been exhausted once the adrenaline wore off.
This amateur would like to thank you from the bottom of her heart. I feel like I can do this photography thing now.
I was so sad when I realized I’d be in the woods without internet when you were giving this!! It would have been amazing! And hearing all of these fabulous comments I’m extra bummed to have missed it!
Thanks for making a comment. The workshop is available for download too. There’s a black text box with the words creativeLIVE workshop on the front of my blog. You can link there for information on it.
Hi Penny, those 3 day workshop were amazing. Spending time on the internet with you over the weekend has taught me things that went beyond food photography or being a photographer. Your openness and honestly has shown us that it is possible to keep the passion alive despite so many years in the business.
Thank you again for putting yourself out there. You did not need to do that.. it wasn’t part of the course.. every one of us who watched those workshops got more than we could ever imagine.
And most importantly, your last assignment to us. It is “easy” to hide behind excuses on why you need to hold this stable job, do this thing you do not love to earn a living – until someone challenges you and calls you out on it. Thank you for opening our eyes.
Penny, The next time you announce a workshop – look out! The world will be knocking down your door.
Penny, I too was moved by your work this weekend. I didn’t plan to watch it because the images I most often create are portraits of infants and children, and the thought of spending three days studying food photography did not seem very exciting. But, one of my instructors is a food photographer [http://www.foodconsultants.com/members/clifford/page1.shtml ] and I have learned so much from him, I decided to turn on the computer and give it a shot – Wow! am I glad I did. I was riveted and hated to move away from my monitor. I watched the rerun Friday night and I ran out Saturday morning to try to capture images for the “homework”. All day Saturday and as much as I could Sunday. It was an awesome weekend. I cried right along with you when you said goodbye Sunday evening.
Penny, I just don’t know where to begin. My gratitude, my thanks, and my love have all been stuck in my throat since Sunday night. You gave so much to all of us, and showed us that a big heart can produce some serious talent.
This past weekend you took us on a three day journey that will last a lifetime. I’m not sure yet what it means for me, but I know it’s big and it’s powerful. For the rest of my life I will measure my desires by asking, ‘what if I am?’, and I will never forget your parting words for the six of us. “Just be good to people. Be a good person”.
You are pure light and a gift to everyone. Please don’t ever stop sharing the world through your eyes.
I’m going to keep this brief because to fully express what’s on my mind would take days and much, much more space than allowed here!
So, let me just say THANK YOU, Penny, for what was for me, as well as so many others, a marvelous experience, on so many levels.
God bless you!!
Penny: you are the ripple that creates a wave… one person changing the world one photo at a time. You are incredibly humble and inspirational, tremendously knowledgable, strong and yet vulnerable, a teacher and a learner at the same time, a giver, a “see-er”, a do-er, a good person indeed. Grazie, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your life, career, insights, emotions, skills, and self. I am watching the replay now. Hooked to my laptop, taking it all in, forever grateful.
Hi Penny!!
I don’t know where to begin… I don’t know how this will end…
Penny… I was struck… like some piano lying in a corner catching dust is suddenly struck by a child’s hand. So many notes…so many thoughts, so many memories, emotions flowing out…
It was a chaos inside my mind.
Where do I begin…
I attended your workshop online this weekend( I guess everyone that’s commented has said that). I have been a regular at Creative live. I started out last year after attending John Greengo’s classes.
But I guess… that’s just a part of the story.
My story begins… some time in the mid nineteen nineties. I was a teenager… and hooked to NGC ( National Geographic Channel).
My family had a small Rs. 200 Kodak camera( worth $4)at that time. I’d play around with my Kodak. I knew nothing about composition, light, timing, anything. But I would end up making images my family and friends would love. I was proud of my little achievements like any youngster would be.
Then… I started harboring a million dollar dream in my eyes. I wanted to be a member of the national geographic team. I didn’t care in what capacity. I just wanted to be there… out in the mountains… deep in the woods… around the world. The NGC had fueled me so much… I’d take extra interest in Biology and Geography. And then… I was told… we cannot afford to send me to a school that teaches Photography. I tried geology… but was rejected. My parents… like a million other parents in India, wanted me to be an engineer. Which I did not become. It was just not me. I became a frustrated adult.
Fast forward to 2010. I have a loving family… and I am a full time stay at home mom. And I love it. But that NGC dream, dormant for all these years… kept raising it’s head and tease me every once in a while.
I picked up my camera again.
After a year… I had just became a better snap-shooter. I was trying to do everything right… and still something was missing. I didn’t know what??
Then… this happened!! http://www.creativelive.com/courses/food-photography-penny-de-los-santos
It was like a bomb blast through the walls of time. I was hooked from day 1… soaking in every word. And that last hour of the last day… it was a moment of … how do I put it in words?? It was… as though 10000 light bulbs were glowing inside… everything made sense… more than sense. They rekindled dreams and thoughts in me… I had thought were dead. Somebody was shaking me up and waking me from a 20 year slumber. I was in tears…
I was reeling in the after effects even three days after that last hour. I didn’t trust myself to compose a single sensible comment. So I am commenting now… after 3 days.
Penny… trying to say thank you to you… would be undermining how much the last weekend meant to me. Words would never suffice to express my gratitude.
You asked for an assignment… I give you a promise. I’ll be back… in a week, a month, a year… I know not. I don’t know whether I’ll ever make it to NGC or not. But I’ll be back. At this very post… and show you… in action through my pictures… what the past weekend meant to me, and all I can say is… I hope I make you proud.
Wow. Where do I start?
Penny, your 3 day workshop was incredible.
I’m a very amateur photographer (if I can even call myself that!) and have had my DSLR (Canon 450D) for barely 10 months.
Before that, I had a Canon Powershot A530 which I used every single day for 4 years straight. The poor little thing is worn out now!
I feel like I’m just really settling in to a beautiful relationship with my camera and how to use it properly.
I never considered doing food photography (birthday cakes don’t count) until a few months ago.
Then a friend introduced me to CreativeLIVE! and I signed up for your workshop almost immediately.
I wasn’t able to view but half of it on Friday but I did catch some of the re-watch and also tuned in on Sat. and Sun.
The more I watched, the more I learned.
The more I learned, the more excited I became!
I love your teaching style, your humility and grace.
Your energy is awesome!
I also fell in love with your 6 students; how awesome that you could “hand-pick” them and they could learn from you.
All 6 are amazing people with amazing futures ahead of them.
I could really identify with Dana Nahai and Kathleen Walsh, your tender-hearts
Penny, you may have just changed my life.
The 3 day journey was wonderful.
I left in happy, grateful tears; wishing I could give you a big hug!
I can’t stop looking at food and food photography now. (My family thinks I’m crazy but who cares)
I see how alive and beautiful it can truly be.
I take photograpy more seriously and yet it’s more fun for me too.
You’ve inspired and encouraged me more than you’ll probably ever know.
I have found a way to express myself again. (no more excuses!)
Thank you.
Samantha R! You’re a tender-heart too I can tell! We need to put together a Penny’s tender-heart’s club so we can all stay in touch and have constant reminders. I wish you could have been there with us! xo for your kind comments! It’s SO awesome to read how Penny’s amazing heart and passion have touched so many thousands of people (including you and me)! I’m having a hard time getting back to real life because you just never want to let an experience like that go, you know?
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Kathleen,
Thank you for the comment! When I saw you there at the studio, I looked your photography website up and loved looking at your shots. You do beautiful work!
My dream job is to be a photographer. A real one. Someday.
I love people, I love nature, and I love food!
Putting together a Penny tender-heart club would be awesome!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/pennybaconchat/
Those of us (tuning in online) put together a little Flickr club called Penny Bacon Chat
But we haven’t used it much yet.
Are you on Flickr?
I know what you mean; I have a hard time getting back to real life too. I just want to keep soaking it all in and experiencing it. I don’t want to lose any of it.
Penny’s passion is inspiring to me. I want to look at life like she does. I want to be a better person and somehow convey that through my photos too. And I want to love what I do. And do what I love!
Thanks again! (and I’d love to see more of your farm table shots from Sunday!)
Penny,
I am certainly not the best at writing how I feel (I’m a photographer, not a writer) but I agree 100% with that email on many levels. I faced the “why not” question over a year ago and decided to just jump into a photography business with both feet. Was it the smartest idea financially? Probably not. Am I so much happier with what I do for a living? Absolutely.
On the technical side of things, I am not a food photographer. However, there is so much to learn from every genre of photography and I took away soooo much from your course. I’m very grateful to have watched you make your art and remind everyone that it’s about light, composition, the story, etc. I look forward to studying more images and really *knowing* what makes them great.
I can’t wait to apply all of the things you shared to my next shoot. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You rock!
Penny you have fundamentally changed the way that I think about food photography – I can’t thank you enough for this weekend’s seminar. I hope there are more to come!
I am discovering the art of photography. That is why I watched this class. I’m tring to learn all I can. I signed up not knowing what I was getting into. First I was proud to watch a latina giving this class. So proud. I thought about my mother so many times this weekend. As we were going up she was the one always wanting to take a picture. On many of our pictures you can see her silhouette holding a camera. Back in the day she only took pictures on special occasions. It cost too much to buy and develope film. Had she had more than a second grade education would she have been another Penny? How many Latinas out there do not see photography as an option? Mmmm… I have been a scrapbooker for many years and only recently have been interested in taking better pictures. You have inspired me to combine my two hobbies. I’m going to make a recipe scrapbook of all my mom’s recipes. Mole, posole, pipian yum, yum give me some.
I only found out about Creative Live a couple of weeks ago when I watched and thoroughly enjoyed Zack Arias’ workshop. Then I saw there was a food workshop on, so I tuned in to check it out and was amazed and fascinated. I just loved it.
I live in Perth in Western Australia and we rarely get the opportunity to have top photographers presenting workshops here. I became a photographer at age 48 (5 years ago) after working in IT for 25 years and I really identify with your career journey. It probably took me 2 years before I could say I was a photographer and not just “playing” with a camera.
In the last 18 months I have started teaching photography and running workshops, so my main reason for watching was to see how other photographers teach. I got so much more and if I get the opportunity to do any food photography I will be jumping at it. Thanks for a wonderful workshop.
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Just reading over the comments alone in this post is moving, breathtaking, wonderful and I want in. Into it all. Living an authentic life, doing what I want to be doing, not being held back, and thank you for helping me see, feel, and know this all again (I needed a reminder!)
Photography truly IS a metaphor for life, isn’t it. And the fact that you are helping so many people…well, it’s just wonderful and thank you for this gift!!