Tillman Crane was a photo instructor for ten years at Maine Photographic Workshops. He writes articles regularly for View Camera magazine. He has a new book out, STRUCTURE, and it is worth purchasing. He runs the Mammoth Camera Workshop at the Waterford Institute in Sandy, Utah during the last week of June. He is head of the photo program at the Waterford School, a private arts institute in Sandy, Utah. He is moving back to Maine to pursue his photography on a fulltime basis this July.

Where does one start?

The Book.

Tillmans new book, STRUCTURE, is excellent. The reproductions are some of the finest around, the images are the same. Tillmans fascination with the remnants of mankind make for a visual education in this book. There are no mediocre images being drug along by a few strong ones. All belong here and all are excellent. 71 B&W photographs in an oversize 12x10 7/8 inch hardcover book, produced in tritone, printed in Italy. The book may be purchased directly from Tillman by emailing him at tillman@softsolutions.com . Tell him I sent you. I don't get a cut or commission, but it is always nice to know when someone recommends you. Or, go to http://www.tillmancrane.com and get a look at the book in a bit more detail than accompanies this months article.

Or, try CUSTOM & LIMITED EDITIONS, 41 Sutter Street, Suite 1634, San Francisco, California 94104 Phone is (800) 762-0177

Yes, I am pushnig his book. I belive it is one that should be in the library next to those of Weston, Caponigro and others who are great craftsmen and perceptive photographers.

The introduction is by Tillmans good friend Paul Caponigro, one of the icons of photography today. Some of the images reflect the influence of Caponigro. I would be surprised if they did not, after all, after 10 years working together in the darkroom it would be surprising if there were no influence. But Cranes images are not those of another photographer. The influence is there from a number of luminaries of the Photographic art world, but the images are pure Tillman Crane. They reflect his view of the world, not a warmed over version of another photographer.

At any rate, take a look at the images Tillman did that accompany this months article, go to his website & then order the book. Birthdays, holidays or just being good to yourself by getting the work of one of todays masters is excuse enough. If you don't get it you will deprive yourself of a visual feast.

The Mammoth Camera Workshop is being held in Sandy, Utah at the Waterford Institute the last week of June this summer. Tillman Crane set it up. Instructors include Steve Simmons, editor & publisher of View Camera magazine. Michael A. Smith and Paula Chamlee, husband wife team of photographers who both work in the tradition of Edward Weston right down to printing their exquisite negatives on Kodak Azo paper processed in Amidol developer. Lois Connor whose images of China, taken with her Canham 7x17 view camera (she carries it on a bicycle) are beautiful. She teaches at Yale University and her images are as refined as the image of the University would like to be. Tracy Storer will be there with the Calumet Polaroid 20x24 View Camera and all participants get a studio session to photograph with it... worth the week in and of itself. And Tillman, who runs the whole show.

A whole week of Mammoth cameras, from 4x10 to 20x24 inch size. If you go to San Francisco you can rent the 20x24 in the Calumet studio for only $1000 a day, so the workshop is a nice bargain considering all the fringe benefits.

Keith Canham & Ron Wisner will be there again. Fred Newman of The View Camera Store (BTZS products). Jeff Wheeler of Quality Camera in Atlanta, Georgia brings in a number of his special cameras and lenses in these mammoth formats. John Horowy of Bergger paper & film is on hand with both film & paper.

Best of all, you photograph with the cameras, each with its own assistant who carries it for you, helps with setup & then stays out of your way as you work on location with these monsters. The instructors spend time in the field as well as the darkroom and lecture hall. You may be set up and have Paula Chamlee spend 45 minutes with you under the darkcloth exploring the possibilities for expanding your vision.

Demonstrations in the field, the darkroom and the classroom all help. Dick Sullivan of Bostick & Sullivan demonstrates his Ziatype alt process. A great chance to learn from the master himself, and it really is as simple as he makes it look. Paula and Lois take you into the darkroom & show how to develop negatives by inspection under the green safelight. One great testament to the teaching is how many of us go home afterward & find success with this development method.

The hands on aspect of the cameras, on location, gets you using them in real world photo situations. It can crystallize your thinking as to getting one... or solidify the decision to leave the format at the workshop while taking home the experience & working with your old 4x5. Mammoth Cameras aren't for everyone and having the personal experience can be beneficial in keeping you from wasting money on a format you find you don't really enjoy, just as easily as it can help you decide what format you want to move up to an what brand camera might fit your needs.

The makers & sellers of the cameras do not proselyte. They demonstrate & help, and there is a big difference. They aren't there to sell gear, though many participants purchase cameras and lenses from some of them after the workshop. After all, you have formed a bond while working with them and now you know the maker... so why not order it from him?

The week is a good one and worth the investment. And yes, I am on the staff a well, though I spend most of my time documenting the workshop in 35mm, a far cry from my 8x10 Deardorff I use for a lot of field work.

If you need more information, give Tillman a hollar at tillman@softsolutions.com or email Ann Treacy at the Waterford Institute at atreacy@waterford.org and either can help you.

From personal experience, I think the workshop is worth it. If you have ever wanted the experience of photographing with these monster cameras, for whatever reason, this is your chance to do so. The Polaroid 20x24 is a great experience and you get to shoot it as a normal part of the workshop. Then, if you want to do more with it, you only pay for the film...$45 a shot. It isn't cheap, but for most it is a once in a lifetime experience.

And the workshop includes room & board for the whole week.

After this years workshop, Tillman Crane heads back to Maine, where his new, old house is being renovated as I write this. He is pursuing the life of a fine art photographer full time. Considering how few really make a living doing this, it is a gamble. Even with excellent images and an impressive resume of workshops under his belt, it won't be easy. But if anyone can do it, Tillman can. His articles in View Camera are excellent. The images are even better. His teaching skills will be kept sharp as he keeps up the Mammoth Camera Workshop in Sandy each summer as well as consulting and being a guest instructor at various schools, seminars & workshops.

When his new darkroom is completed he will have the space to work at his own pace, turning out some of the finest images made today. His 12x20 inch view camera will see a lot of use and travel in the coming years as he finds more images to delight us with. I look forward to it.

I will miss him here in Utah, where I can just drop in and visit. Maine is a long drive, but now I will have to make it every year or so just to say hi and have him show me where the tripod holes are on the East Coast so I can get some good photos.

Take a good look at the images accompanying the article. Take a look at http://www.tillmancrane.com and get a better feel for what he does. Look at one of the masters today & be inspired. Then go out & photograph. Use the inspiration to push yourself to create ever finer images. And, if the influence of Tillman shows up in your work somewhere, as the influence of the greats does for all of us, remember what Tillman keeps telling me, "If you are going to steal... steal only from the best."