At the encouragement of an old colleague, Val, and my wife, Jenny, I made the last minute decision to fly to the East Coast last week to attend Walter van Dusen’s Mystic 5 Workshop. I had had an amazing experience at last year’s workshop, but I didn’t know if I was up for flying out New Year’s Day on a red eye to make the workshop. I am so grateful that my wife encouraged me to go (I think her words were, “I’d rather have you out of the house for a week than be around here kicking yourself for not going.” I love her.).
Imagine 250+ wedding photographers descending on the small town of Mystic, Connecticut, throw in some of the most renown wedding photographers in the world, and a bar with free karaoke for three days and three nights, and you begin to get an idea of the kinds of shenanigans that transpired.
But more than that, I had the opportunity to reflect on my career and learn from some legends of the wedding photography world. Intimate and inspiring, there is nothing else in my experience like the Mystic Workshop. I encourage my fellow photographers to check it out next year if you can make it. David Williams‘ and Jerry Ghionis‘ presentations in particular will stay with me for a long time. I left knowing that I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing with my life.
Check out this video from last year’s Mystic 4, shot by my friend Vlad — if you look closely, you’ll see a 2 second cameo by yours truly at around 2:33.
Mystic 4 from Vladimir Chaloupka on Vimeo.
I made some amazing friends while I was there, and I’ll certainly be going again next year. Enough from me. I’ll let some photos do the rest of the talking.
Dave Cheung of DQ Studios and Walter.
Vlad Chaloupka and Sherry Pickerell.
Shira Weinberger and Sabastian Happy-Face.
Vlad, my old friend Val Vechnyak, Sherry and Tom, George Weir’s son.
Syvester I’m-not-even-gonna-try-to-spell-his-last-name.
Vlad going for it, Stacey Doyle with Cody, and Tom messing with Vlad’s 5D Mark II.
Sabastian stumbling, Vlad and Sylvester drinking their iPhones (I don’t know.), and Jennifer Braga of Studio 1923.
Yes, that is vodka going into a pitcher.
The remarkable Jerry Ghionis.
by romin
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