Nikon Helps Young Photojournalists Share Their Vision With The World At Barnstorm
By Shutterbug Staff October 5, 2007 — From October 5-8, Nikon will sponsor 100 of the worlds most promising young photojournalists who will gather in rural upstate New York for the 20th annual Eddie Adams workshop, also known as “Barnstorm”. These handpicked students will be mentored by seasoned professional photographers and photo editors during the four-day intense workshop. They will learn the skills needed to perfect the art of telling a compelling story with photography and leave with lifelong friends and an unforgettable experience. Students will also have the opportunity to try out Nikon’s new D3 and D300 professional digital SLR cameras and get technical advice from Nikon experts available on-site.

“Nikon has been a proud sponsor of the Eddie Adams Workshop since its inception 20 years ago. This year is a tremendous milestone for the workshop and a true testament to Eddie’s vision for creating an education program that helps promising young photographers become award-winning photojournalists. Nikon is thrilled to play a part in the professional development of these promising photographers,” said Bill Pekala, general manager of Nikon Professional Services, and Eddie Adams Workshop board member. “We are happy to provide attending students with the latest Nikon gear and photo equipment so they are familiar with the latest technologies in digital imaging.”

To prepare for a rapidly changing industry, participants have access to a modern digital photo and multimedia studio with all of the latest technologies to aid these young photographers in learning their craft. Additionally, Nikon will make available the D3 and D300 digital SLR’s allowing these students to be amongst some of the first photographers in the world to shoot with these new cameras. These cameras are engineered to meet the demanding needs of the professional photographer, and the rigors of field work.

These visionary photographers of tomorrow will benefit from the experience and advice of professional mentors such as John White, Bill Epperidge, and Clay Patrick McBride. Other famous photographers represent the top photojournalism publications such as National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Getty Images and The Associated Press.

During the workshop, the student participants are divided into ten teams, and each team is paired with a photographer, an editor and a researcher. Each day consists of hands-on activities such as shooting and editing, as well as speeches and panel discussions. Over the four days, the students are exposed to many types of photography including photojournalism, fine art photography, studio portraiture, underwater work, long-term projects, and conflict photography.

After an overwhelmingly positive response last year, returning for the twentieth anniversary will be the multimedia workshop. As many newspapers and other publications are looking to expand their offerings to include interactive slideshows and audio, the students get a head start in the new media marketplace by receiving access to the top multimedia editors in the country.

In addition to the event sponsorship, this is the fourth year that Nikon will award a $10,000 scholarship to the top student from the Barnstorm XX Workshop. A panel of judges selects students based on the work that he or she presents during the workshop. The scholarship money must be used by the winning student to further their education in the photographic arts field, and will be applied towards their tuition and/or housing at the college of attendance.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the workshop, the past speeches and presentations from industry greats will be compiled into audio presentations for alumni and visitors to the website. This is an excellent way for today’s young and aspiring photographers to hear the advice of photo greats, such as Carl Mydans, Joe Rosenthal, George Tames, Louie Liotta, and of course, Eddie Adams.

"It's not only about the power of the image but the strength of our community,” said Alyssa Adams, executive director, Eddie Adams Workshop. “For two decades some of the most talented people in our business have come to Barnstorm and inspired a generation of photographers. Their passion in-turn will inspire the next."