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Eddie Adams *answered* Every year around this time, I start getting emails from folks asking what they need to do to get into the Eddie Adams Workshop. My answer is usually short and sweet: But the reality is there's a friend of mine much more in the know. Someone that puts her heart into making that workshop run as smoothly and fabulously as it does every year. Here's her advice: The deadline for Barnstorm applications is quickly approaching! For those who haven't seen the website, the Deadline has been extended- all applications must now be postmarked by Monday, May 23, 2005. (*** quick note: If you sent your application in towards the beginning of April, and it came back to you as "undeliverable", please resend it, to the same address. Long story short, the woman at the post office who receives PO Box mail thought it was strange that so much mail was coming in, and rather than checking on it, sent it all back. If this affected you, I apologize, but the problem is fixed now.) For those with questions- we'll try to clear things up a little bit. If the following doesn't cover your questions, please feel free to send me an email at producer@eddieadamsworkshop.com, and I'll answer as quickly as possible. The way it works: Portfolios are sent in, and go out to one of about 30 photo editors for initial critiques. They are ranked and sent back, and the top 75-85% go on to the final review. The Final Review is an all-day event, where between 20 and 40 editors, Barnstorm Faculty, and Board of Directors members come and sit through a slide show of each student's work. Each of these people votes In or Out for each student, and at the end of the day, the votes are tallied, and the top 50 students and 50 professionals are invited to attend Barnstorm. The initial review is essentially to weed out applicants who are just not at all ready for Barnstorm. We get many applications each year from various kinds of shooters whose work just isn't of the quality or potential to benefit from the Workshop. Applicants are also taken out at this point if their work is heavily manipulated, they don't fit the eligibility requirements, or if they send in non-photo submissions, like pictures of their paintings (yes, it happens). The vast majority of the portfolios are continued on to the Final Review, so that everyone has a chance to see and decide on the students. Unless all of your pictures are of your puppy or your nude clay sculptures, you don't need to be afraid of this round. At the Final Review, the editors and photographers judging the work come from all spectrums- sports, journalism, entertainment, magazines, newspapers, stock agencies, weddings, fashion, portraits, fine art, etc. While Barnstorm is primarily a photojournalism based workshop, we know that part of the beauty of "photojournalism" is that it can encompass so much. There is no one right or wrong way to document your world. They are not looking for any particular style of shooting, any specific mix of images. They are looking for a vision, for potential, for passion. These are people who see hundreds and thousands of images a day- show them your strongest work. Don't send in sports images if you're not an exceptional sports shooter- the guys from SI will know the difference. Don't send in lit portraits if you don't know how to use your lights- we will help you learn the skills you need, but the portfolio is not the right time to showcase your flaws. Don't send in mediocre pictures of bloody accidents just to have some "spot news" value- these editors see way too much of that every day, gore doesn't shock them anymore. It is often heard during the judging- "that portfolio would have been great if they'd just left that last image out!". You may submit UP TO 20 single images, but you don't have to submit that many. Students who only send 10 images, all of them portfolio-worthy, have a much better chance than someone who sends 15 amazing images and 5 duds. Things to remember: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! Just because you're not accepted, doesn't mean you aren't going to be a successful shooter (ask Ben Lowy, or David Holloway, or Ruth Fremson, or tons of other people who applied and did not get in for various reasons). And just because you get in, doesn't mean you're going to win a Pulitzer in the next few years. Every year, we have several wonderful photographers, who come to Barnstorm, and leave saying "I really realized this weekend that I don't have the passion and dedication to continue this career path." Every workshop you go to will affect you differently- go to as many as you can! Good luck! Hope to see you in October! Jessica Stuart 
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