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THE DELTA

THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA: A DOCUMENTARY MASTERCLASS

March 25 — April 2, 2020

September 9 — 17, 2020

DESCRIPTION:

The American South workshop is a photographic exploration of communities in the Deep South and is focused on the Mississippi Delta.

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The Delta lies in the rich lands between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, Memphis to the North and Vicksburg to the South. It should not be confused with the Mississippi River Delta, which is South of New Orleans. The Delta is an extraordinary corner of the Deep South. Its unique landscapes conjure up visions of sharecroppers, plantations and the sound of the Blues. We will photograph the last remaining Juke Joints, visit places where decades ago, blues luminaries like Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson traveled across the South, guitar or harmonica in hand.

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Our journey will be a quintessential road trip with stops at an assortment of towns as we explore the Delta. Each town we visit has a very distinct personality: Clarksdale, MS is the center of the blues with many Juke-Joints to discover. Greenwood, MS is the town where the movie “The Help” was filmed and where we will explore "Baptist Town" (established in 1800 and one of the oldest African American neighborhoods). Greenville, MS is a port town on the Mississippi River founded in 1824. In each place we will also explore the surrounding countryside, small villages, bayou's, cotton plantations, and more.

 

Last but not least we will photograph the city on the northern edge of the Delta: Memphis, TN. Memphis draws music-lovers, like pilgrims they lose themselves to the throb of blues guitar on Beale St. Barbecue connoisseurs descend to stuff themselves on smoky pulled pork and dry-rubbed ribs. Memphis is not just a destination, but a rhythm and a way of life. We will pay our homage to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel, build around the place where Martin Luther King was murdered on April 4, 1968.

 

Magdalena Solé has intimate knowledge of the Delta and a personal connection with its people from years of photographing in the region and teaching workshops there.

 

Her photographs of the Mississippi Delta have been exhibited in many solo shows and have won numerous awards, most recently the prestigious Tokyo International Photography 2016 Competition award.

 

Her book “New Delta Rising," published by the University Press of Mississippi, released in February 2012, has won the Silver Award in 2011 at PX3 Prix de la Photographie, France. The Wall Street Journal called her images: “lushly colorful, formally striking, restless, and electrifying.”

 

“I first visited the Delta in 2009 and, in a sense, I’ve never left,” says Magdalena Solé. Such is the magical spell cast by this slender stretch of fertile land in northwestern Mississippi and the people who live in it. It is a place where lives are shaped by a close attachment to the land, by the unhurried rhythms of the season, and by shared memories of a tortured past. There is something about the Delta people that goes to the heart of what it means to be human. Perhaps nowhere else in America do such extremes in ways of life and emotional history exist so intimately.”

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

This workshop allows advanced and professional photographers alike to capture the communities in the Deep South, and gain a greater understanding of its people. To apply for admission to this workshop, please submit a selection of 10 photographs from a single series in low resolution to msole@mac.com.

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This masterclass will appeal to anyone interested in pushing the limits of their photography. Whether you are a professional fine tuning your vision, a committed amateur or student wanting to learn new techniques and reach your potential, Magdalena's workshops have a reputation for being an intense and transformative learning experience.

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GROUP SIZE

Limited to 5-6 people

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WORKSHOP FORMAT

Prior to the masterclass you will have the opportunity to work by e-mail with Magdalena to develop an idea that you can photograph during the workshop. Your idea can be developed further when the workshop starts.

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During the workshop you will work each day with Magdalena discussing your daily assignments designed to push the development of your technique and style. There will also be talks about photography designed to help you understand and immerse yourselves in the craft of visual storytelling. A special focus will be on photographing the people. One-on-one as well as group reviews of your work will be held.

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PAYMENTS DUE:

Your deposit of $500 is due to reserve a spot.

Please see our cancellation policy.

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NOT INCLUDED:

International and domestic airfare.

Lodging, meals and car rental.

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You will need to secure your car rental and hotel accommodations in advance. Each hotel will have rooms blocked out for our group, some hotels also extend a discount when mentioning our group. You will receive the hotel contact information and a detailed itinerary when you sign up.

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DON'T FORGET:

To reserve a spot you need to send in your deposit of $500 to SolePictures as soon as possible, as this trip could sell out quickly. Please submit the sign-up form and send payment by check or credit card. As we are traveling with a very small group, last minute cancellations are not possible, so please be mindful of our cancellation policy and remember to get travel insurance to cover your investment. 

$3000

TUITION ONLY

Maximum group size 5-6

9
days
March 25 - April 2,2020
September 9 - 17, 2020
September 18 - 26, 2020

SCHEDULE

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March 25 — April 2, 2020:

Day 1 - 2   Memphis, TN

Day 2 - 5   Clarksdale MS

Day 5 - 8   Greenwood, MS

Day 8 - 9   Greenville, MS

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September 9 - 17, 2020:

Day 1 - 2   Memphis, TN

Day 2 - 5   Clarksdale MS

Day 5 - 8   Greenwood, MS

Day 8 - 9   Greenville, MS

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September 18 - 26, 2020:

Day 1 - 4   Clarksdale MS

Day 4 - 5   Greenville, MS

Day 5 - 8   Greenwood, MS

Day 8 - 9   Memphis, TN

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Please note that all three sections of the workshops are now waitlisted.

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Arrival and Departure Airport: Memphis International Airport, TN

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contact: msole@me.com
1.917.273.1742
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