25th Anniversary Barnstorm Workshop
The Eddie Adams Workshop is an intense four-day gathering of the top
photography professionals, along with 100 carefully selected students.
The photography workshop is
tuition-free, and the 100 students are chosen based on the merit of their portfolios.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Workshop, which was
founded by photographer Eddie Adams, with his wife and our current
director, Alyssa Adams. Over the years, we have built a strong network
of alumni including some of the top photographers and editors in the
field.
Key 2013 Dates
Feb 18: Application Process Opens
May 31: Applications Due
July: Applicant Selection
Oct 11-14: Eddie Adams Workshop
Who is Eddie Adams?
With his signature hat, ponytail and unassuming
disposition, one might not realize that photographer Eddie Adams covered
13 wars, beginning with a stint as a Marine Corps combat photographer
in Korea in the early 1950s and ending in Kuwait in 1991.
He did three tours of Vietnam with the Associated Press and won the
Pulitzer Prize for photography for his shot of a Viet Cong lieutenant
being executed at close range on a Saigon street by a South Vietnamese
general. In his more than five decades as a working photographer, Adams
received more than 500 awards honoring his work, including World Press,
New York Press, National Headliners and Sigma Delta Chi Awards. He said
he likes getting them; that they’re nice. But he didn’t display them. He
didn’t display that famous photo from Vietnam, either. If he’d had his
way, that photo would never be released for publication again.
Adams photographed some of the most celebrated people in the world:
Ronald Reagan, Fidel Castro, whom he liked, and Pope John Paul II; Jerry
Lewis, Clint Eastwood and Bette Davis; Big Bird and Mickey Mouse. All
of them, and many more, have looked into Adams’ lens. He remains one of
the most published photographers in the U.S., with his work gracing the
pages of newspapers and magazines like TIME, VOGUE, VANITY FAIR and
PARADE. His career spanned journalism, corporate, editorial, fashion,
entertainment and advertising photography. He photographed leaders in
all fields, from politics to the superstars of film, television, sports
and high fashion. His portfolio includes one-on-one sessions with seven
U.S. Presidents and sixty-five Heads of State.
“Eddie’s genius is his talent for capturing tension in every photo,
whether it be the still of a murder or the animation in the eyes of a
movie star,” says PARADE Chairman Walter Anderson. “He is eclectic,
incomparable and cantankerous. He is unyielding in the pursuit of
excellence.”
Eddie Adams passed away on September 19, 2004. His legacy continues
in the annual photojournalism workshop, Barnstorm: The Eddie Adams
Workshop, which he created in 1988, and is still running strong today.
Apply
To apply to the Eddie Adams workshop, you must be either a student or a professional with less than 3 years of experience.
The application process is easy. Click
here to submit your application.
Link not working? Copy paste this into your browser:
http://eddieadamsworkshop.wufoo.com/forms/2013-application-for-barnstorm-26/)
Frequently Asked Questions & Tips:
What happens when I submit this form?
As opposed to years past, this year we’re using a single step
application whereby you submit all your information + application fee at
once.
Am I a “student” or am I a “professional?”
A student is someone who is currently enrolled in a college or
university, or has/will graduate in the current calendar year. Graduates
qualify as professionals. No exceptions. A professional is a
photographer who has had 3 years or less experience as a working
photographer (including freelance and internships). If you have been
working as a photographer for more than 3 years, you do not qualify to
apply to the Workshop.
I am a freelance photographer who did not go to school for
photography and have never worked as a professional, though I’m hoping
to become a professional photographer- can I still apply?
The Eddie Adams Workshop is an intense experience, designed for those
intending to work as professional photographers and photojournalists.
That said, as long as you have not been a professional photographer for
more than 3 years, you are eligible to apply.
What kinds of pictures should be in my portfolio?
Your portfolio should reflect your vision as a photographer. This is
primarily a photojournalism-based workshop, so most of our students are
documentary/news/sports/portrait/editorial photographers. We are not
necessarily looking for a typical “news” portfolio (ie: one spot news
photo, one sports, one feature, etc). Our portfolio reviewers are
looking for a combination of talent and potential- we want to see your
strongest work, whatever you feel that may be. Afton Almaraz (Barnstorm
XXI) wrote a blog entry on the
images that helped get him selected.
Do I have to write an essay?
No. But you will need to provide a brief personal statement describing
your photographic experience and educational background. Explain why you
want to attend the Workshop and what you hope to get out of it.
Do I have to send a recommendation? How do I send it?
No. We no longer require a letter of recommendation.
If I am a military photographer can I apply?
Yes. We encourage military photographers to participate in the Workshop.
If I don’t live in the U.S. can I attend the Workshop?
Yes. We accept photographers from all over the world. As long as you
speak English and fit the requirements, you may apply. We accept 100
students total and out of that 100, we accept a maximum of 10 students
globally (non U.S. citizens).
How much does it cost to attend the Workshop?
The Eddie Adams Workshop is a tuition free event. Once you are accepted,
you are responsible for travel expenses, and a flat fee for room and
board ($375) at the Workshop.
How do I get to the Workshop?
The Eddie Adams Workshop takes place in Jeffersonville, NY, about a 2.5
hour drive from New York City. There are 2 ways to get to the Workshop:
1) If you are close enough you can drive. 2) If you live close to New
York City, we provide bus service to and from the event at a low cost
(~$60).
If I am accepted into the Eddie Adams Workshop, who can I show my portfolio to?
There are 150 industry professionals at the Workshop, many of whom are
picture editors and photography directors of national publications such
as
Time, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, and
People.
During the Workshop, there are multiple portfolio review sessions
scheduled where you can get feedback on your work from these editors.
If I have been a student at a previous Workshop, can I apply again?
No. Once you have attended the Workshop as a student, you may not reapply.
Can I include text slides with my images, to separate stories from singles? And can I put captions directly on the pictures?
Do NOT include text slides in your 20 images. Also, do NOT put any text,
including captions, on the images themselves. Images with captions or
other text on them will be disqualified. We no longer accept captions,
so your images should be strong enough visually to not require them.
What is “Barnstorm”? Is that different from the Eddie Adams Workshop?
Barnstorm is a nickname for the Workshop because its held on Eddie Barn in upstate New York. We use the terms interchangeably.
