A Nine-Day Photography Workshop
in the Chiapas Highlands
 Host: Cisco Craig DietzWhen: Year round Length of experience: Nine days Fee charged: $1000 USD for nine days. This includes, once the experience begins in San Cristóbal, all transportation, meals, and lodging. Lodging is in Cisco's own home, where, according to Cisco, "the courtyards are filled with rare wild orchids (my second passion), herb gardens and fruit trees. The guest rooms, with their lofty colonial ceilings, house art and objects collected during many trips to the far corners of the world. Most of all, guests are made warmly welcome, with many lessons ending in good conversation around the fireplace in the evening." Note: Cisco sets a minimum number of five participants for his workshops. If you wish to receive Cisco's full attention during your nine-day experience, be sure to make your desire clear to Cisco before arriving.
"In my workshop program one of the primary concerns that I have is respect for the people and land of Mexico. this is not just a point and shoot experience this is a total immersion program where the students learn the value of a good photograph as well as the respect for the cultures and mores of the people and a general program to encourage respect for this land and to take this awareness home to where the students live. I share my knowledge of the animal, bird and plant life that abounds in Chiapas and the need to protect and preserve areas that are rapidly being destroyed to supply more and more milpas to feed the increasing population of Chiapas."
"My art has been a continuum in my life for 30 plus years. I am currently working on three projects. One, a panoramic exploration of portraiture of Chiapanecos. The people of Chiapas are varied and different from others in Mexico, with many groups of indigenous people. This project deals with compression of time, several second exposures, which allows considerable movement on the fringes of the central subject. Those on the edge have no idea that they are included in the frame, voyeurism, yes. Two, a series taken in Bars and restaurant dealing with table images which in succinct form express a time of change in my life. Third, my metal sculptures are taking on a new and refined symbolism influenced by the photographic work of Karl Blossfeldt, who worked and lived in Italy and Germany from the late 1800's and until his death in 1932, combined with my own graphic interpretation of the flora of Chiapas." "The workshop is a wonderful experience in that the structure is totally open. The students select the nature of the class depending on their needs and goals. The class is limited to FIVE students, thus each student is afforded an opportunity for very directed instruction. We go to several small indigenous villages, visit friends in the countryside, ruins and a wonderful 19th-century hacienda. Darkroom time is up to you; there is a fully equipped B/W darkroom on the premises, which is open to all 24 hours a day." APPENDIXES
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Program
description
"Chiapas is an ideal location for many types of photography,
from fantastic vistas and panoramas, from birds to butterflies, from wonderful faces of
the indigenous people, there are seven main groups, to the architecture of Colonial
Mexico. It is all here in an area the size of Wyoming. Diversity, intrigue, spontaneity,
and an environment clean and pure are hallmarks of the Chiapas world, all ideal for
photographers to capture the illusive image. The political situation that plagued Chiapas
a few years back have evaporated and they are no longer the number one issue concerning
Chiapas. Chiapas is a safe and hospitable location to explore and photograph." 