In 1976, Mason Resnick took a workshop with Garry Winogrand.

We looked at the portfolio without hearing a word of explanation. Winogrand spoke little. He seemed bored and restless, uncomfortable about being stuck in a classroom. When he did talk, his raspy voice reminded me of a a New York cabdriver’s. A few times, people tried breaking the awkward silence with a question that was answered with barely a monosyllable.

Back to class. After an hour or so of Winogrand’s interminable jokes and more coffee, the whole exercise seemed futile. Suddenly, almost in exasperation, he said, “Aww, let’s go out and take some pictures.”

That’s when the class started.

I return to this essay once a year or so. Winogrand died before I was born, so this is as close as I'm going to get to a workshop with him. I've taken a few workshops so far, mostly with Greg Miller and Andrew McClees, and they've been transformative for me, and I can attest to the discomfort that happens at the beginning. When things really get going, though, the energy and focus in the workshop are transformative, and Resnick really highlights that transition.

Beyond the general benefits of workshops, I really enjoy the insight into Winogrand's process as a photographer. Taking photos superficially like Winogrand (two Leicas, 28mm lens, Tri-X) won't make my photos better, but understanding the mindset of someone who was both very prolific and a very good photographer absolutely will. Plus, any motivation to take more photos will only help!