"I know we all said "thank you" in one way or another for the wonderful summer workshop, but I’d like to say a bit more.

I did gain much practical help from the workshop because of your excellent teaching, practical content, and on-the-spot assistance. As a simple cost/benefit matter, the week was high in value I thought - you run a great workshop in the "classical" sense.

But frankly, what made the week a "poetic" experience for me was you two - John and Barbara. As a pastor, I have borne many responsibilities beyond my local church. For a decade I directed summer schools for pastors and spouses, plus other events attended by hundreds. I know the detail work required to bring off a pleasing and productive training event.

Watching you, I was aware of the many things you were attending to, planning for, keeping track of, and deciding on so we could just soak it in and enjoy it. You lavished us with attention, service, guidance, availability, and expertise, and you did it with such relentless good humor, generosity and gentleness! This evoked a deep sense of gratitude and delight in me. You also refreshed and stirred in me impulses for creativity that I haven’t indulged much in recent years.

I’m writing now to let you know how much of a tremendous impact your workshop and seminar have had on my photography, as well as on my future photographic goals, over the past year. Even an entire year later, I very often refer to the extensive notes I took during your programs and our conversations in the field, and I reflect upon the workshop overall as a tremendous experience.

And with shooting in mind, I want to let you know how much I appreciate the excellent gear recommendations you provide in your workshops as well. After viewing your numerous slide presentations last year, I finally coughed up the dough for the Nikon 200mm f4 Micro. Since macro work has always been my forte, this has been an amazing purchase for me. It quickly became my most-used lens. Likewise, I also upgraded to a Gitzo G1340, and I’m very pleased.

Finally, your exposure techniques have increased my exposure accuracy immensely. While I’ve always been pretty good at manually determining exposure, thanks to your workshop I’m now throwing out hardly any slides at all due to exposure problems. I carry in my camera backpack my notes from your exposure presentation and our discussions in the field, and I refer to them frequently. I nail it almost every time!

I know you like to receive feedback from participants in your programs, and for some time I’ve wanted to communicate my continued excitement about your workshop and the steps my participation has led me to take. You both have a tremendous positive impact on the photographers you teach. Your summer workshop, as well as your spring seminar-and the both of you, personally-have been truly inspirational to me, and I thank you.

Dear John & Barb, Jambo!

We cannot thank you enough for making our Kenya trip an experience of a lifetime. It is no secret that we are "real" amateurs, but you made us feel at home. We want to thank you for a well organized Kenya tour with wonderful food, accommodations, and excellent native guides. This trip was first-class! We learned so much from both of you and are anxious to see the results when we get home.