Phoot Camp 2010 © Michael O'Neal
Phoot is the brainchild of the talented Laura Brunow Miner, the founder of gorgeous Pictory (which we love to dawdle over on Monday mornings) and a former editor-in-chief at JPG Magazine. Inspired by the philosophy: Life is about doing great work with our friends, Laura has been pulling off Phoot camps for the last four years, first in the backwoods of northern California, near her home in San Francisco, then in LA and Texas, and now in upstate New York.
For each Phoot Camp she reaches out to 35 of the best and brightest photographers around the world (for a who’s-who of attendees, take a peak here), and asks them to join her for a weekend of photo walks, portrait challenges, slideshows and general creative collaboration. Twenty places at the camp are usually taken by veteran phooters, while 15 places are always held open for fresh talent. It’s an amazing, and fun, opportunity.
Remembering the very first phootcamp, Laura reminisces: They brought scuba gear, fog machines, ladders, 30-food monopods, and other sensible equipment for the photographer-on-the-go. I still don’t understand why the park ranger didn’t kick us out for the incessant ‘phoot lighting’ of flash bulbs rippling up the trees or the ‘phoot snakes’ of extension cords tracing out from the bathroom outlets. Probably because his stern warnings couldn’t hide the fact that he was having fun. We all were. And even better, we’ve stayed in touch. A number of friendships, creative collaborations, professional gigs, and even a few road trips have resulted from that weekend in the woods.
Phoot campers in the California back woods © Ryan Schude
This year’s Phoot Camp is the biggest and best yet. Taking place June 14-18 in upstate New York it coincides with the first ever Photoville NYC, a two-week long event during which local galleries and international collaborators aim to create a complete photographic village in shipping containers right in the heart of Brooklyn Bridge Park along the waterfront. With a mixture of exhibitions, workshops, nighttime projections, photo dog run and a summer beer garden it promises to be a photographic destination like no other.
So this year’s phoot campers have their work cut out for them, as they’ll need to have an exhibition-ready photo by the end of the camp to exhibit in the Phoot Gallery at Photoville. It opens on the 22nd June, just four days after the camp, and will be open to the general public for two glorious weeks.
Applicants for Phoot Camp need to apply by 30th April. Photography lovers just need to book their flight to New York in time for Photoville on 22nd June.
Phoot Camp: 14-18 June
Deadline for applications: 30th April 2012
Price: $20 Application fee, accommodation, food & photo adventure FREE if you’re invited to attend
Photoville: 22nd June to 1st July
Location: Brooklyn Waterfront
