SPOTLIGHT
A Personal Recollection
ELIOT PORTER
Thirty-five years ago this July, I was accepted to participate in a master landscape workshop with Eliot Porter
at the Maine Photographic Workshops (now Maine Media Workshops) in Rockport, Maine. I was twenty-six
years old. To say that the experience was a turning point for me as an artist would be an understatement.
I first become aware of Eliot's superb artistry with the camera fifteen years before after receiving a copy of
his book, In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World, as a gift. Though I had been involved with photography
pretty much all of my life up until then, I had never seen the full potential of what the medium could convey
about a subject such as nature. Little did I know that I would eventually meet and study with the artist and that
he would sign my copy of his book. While I treasure that book to this day, what I value most was meeting,
learning and being inspired by the man who created it.
While driving from my home in Delaware to Maine in my 1974 Mercury Capri, I began to experience self-
doubts about participating in a workshop led by such an accomplished artist. Had I bitten off more than I
could chew? Was I out of my league? Even though I had passed the portfolio review process, the feeling
that I wasn't good enough as an artist continued to grow within me. Upon arriving, I even considered bailing
out and going home before everyone discovered that a great mistake had been made in accepting me.
For some reason, I stayed.
During the first group critique, my fears were put to rest when Eliot commented that he couldn't see how one
of my images (shown below) could be improved. I may be paraphrasing slightly, but that's pretty close to
what he actually said. Talk about a confidence booster!
Maybe that's what all artists need from time to time. Encouragement and a pat on the back. While a sincere
compliment doesn't provide the money needed to fill a food pantry, it most assuredly fills the pantry of our
fragile artists' egos.
at the Maine Photographic Workshops (now Maine Media Workshops) in Rockport, Maine. I was twenty-six
years old. To say that the experience was a turning point for me as an artist would be an understatement.
I first become aware of Eliot's superb artistry with the camera fifteen years before after receiving a copy of
his book, In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World, as a gift. Though I had been involved with photography
pretty much all of my life up until then, I had never seen the full potential of what the medium could convey
about a subject such as nature. Little did I know that I would eventually meet and study with the artist and that
he would sign my copy of his book. While I treasure that book to this day, what I value most was meeting,
learning and being inspired by the man who created it.
While driving from my home in Delaware to Maine in my 1974 Mercury Capri, I began to experience self-
doubts about participating in a workshop led by such an accomplished artist. Had I bitten off more than I
could chew? Was I out of my league? Even though I had passed the portfolio review process, the feeling
that I wasn't good enough as an artist continued to grow within me. Upon arriving, I even considered bailing
out and going home before everyone discovered that a great mistake had been made in accepting me.
For some reason, I stayed.
During the first group critique, my fears were put to rest when Eliot commented that he couldn't see how one
of my images (shown below) could be improved. I may be paraphrasing slightly, but that's pretty close to
what he actually said. Talk about a confidence booster!
Maybe that's what all artists need from time to time. Encouragement and a pat on the back. While a sincere
compliment doesn't provide the money needed to fill a food pantry, it most assuredly fills the pantry of our
fragile artists' egos.
Even though the workshop only lasted a week, it seemed much longer. That's because our days began
early and lasted late into the evening. Field sessions, reviews, and conversation during travels and meals
created an environment for a young artist such as I that far surpassed my expectations.
I have a wealth of memories of Eliot that include his discussions about his family's island in Penobscot
Bay, as well as stories about other artists that he knew including Ansel Adams. I absorbed all the
experiences like a sponge and they have lasted to this very day.
The workshop experience with Eliot most definitely encouraged me to pursue my goals as an artist.
It also inspired me to lead nature photography workshops of my own which brought my future wife, Karen,
and I together, and for that I will be eternally grateful. While Eliot's path as an artist and that of my own are
unique, we share a common bond that connects all artists to one-another like the links in a creative chain.
Six years after participating in the workshop, I heard the sad news on television that Eliot had passed on
at the age of 88. Not only did I know that the world had lost a great artist, I felt like I had lost a friend as well.
I dedicated the following session of a workshop that I was leading at the time in his memory, though doing
so seemed inadequate.
Eliot Porter once said, "A true work of art is the creation of love, love for the subject first and for the
medium second." How true. As artists, we sometimes get so wrapped up in technology that we loose sight
of the subject that first attracted us. I firmly believe that a work of art celebrating nature can be created using
a ten-thousand dollar camera or a simple homemade, cardboard box camera. What matters is not the
equipment we use, but rather our creative vision. This applies to all subjects and artistic mediums.
For me, 1984 was much more than the title of a classic book. It was also the year that I had the opportunity
to meet and learn from a master artist...an experience that would dramatically change my life!
Thank you, Eliot.
early and lasted late into the evening. Field sessions, reviews, and conversation during travels and meals
created an environment for a young artist such as I that far surpassed my expectations.
I have a wealth of memories of Eliot that include his discussions about his family's island in Penobscot
Bay, as well as stories about other artists that he knew including Ansel Adams. I absorbed all the
experiences like a sponge and they have lasted to this very day.
The workshop experience with Eliot most definitely encouraged me to pursue my goals as an artist.
It also inspired me to lead nature photography workshops of my own which brought my future wife, Karen,
and I together, and for that I will be eternally grateful. While Eliot's path as an artist and that of my own are
unique, we share a common bond that connects all artists to one-another like the links in a creative chain.
Six years after participating in the workshop, I heard the sad news on television that Eliot had passed on
at the age of 88. Not only did I know that the world had lost a great artist, I felt like I had lost a friend as well.
I dedicated the following session of a workshop that I was leading at the time in his memory, though doing
so seemed inadequate.
Eliot Porter once said, "A true work of art is the creation of love, love for the subject first and for the
medium second." How true. As artists, we sometimes get so wrapped up in technology that we loose sight
of the subject that first attracted us. I firmly believe that a work of art celebrating nature can be created using
a ten-thousand dollar camera or a simple homemade, cardboard box camera. What matters is not the
equipment we use, but rather our creative vision. This applies to all subjects and artistic mediums.
For me, 1984 was much more than the title of a classic book. It was also the year that I had the opportunity
to meet and learn from a master artist...an experience that would dramatically change my life!
Thank you, Eliot.
See more of Douglas Schwartz's photography at SchwartzNaturePhotography.com.
Artwork featured in this SPOTLIGHT © copyright Douglas Schwartz. All rights reserved.
By Douglas Schwartz
Mosquito Harbor, Maine
Eliot Porter and a much younger yours truly, Port Clyde, Maine
JULY/AUGUST 2019 ISSUE
