Nick Merrick, Ryan Gobuty + Tom Harris in Santa Barbara County

Architectural Photography Almanac is proud to host two workshops at Presqu’ile Winery in Santa Barbara County. The first session will be led by Nick Merrick and Ryan Gobuty. The second session will be led by Ryan Gobuty and Tom Harris.

Dates

Group 1 – Nick + Ryan: September 24th, 2024 – September 27th, 2024

Group 2 – Ryan + Tom: September 27th, 2024 – September 30th, 2024

Price

$2750. The itinerary below details what is and is not included for each day of the workshop.

About Presqu’ile and the Santa Maria Valley

Presqu’ile is a family-owned winery in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Maria County. We are delighted to have the opportunity to photograph Presqu’ile during their annual harvest at which time vines are at their most lush ensuring a stunning backdrop for making photos. 

Presqu’ile was designed by Taylor Lombardo Architects and what sets it apart from other wineries in California is its modern architecture featuring cantilevered awnings, butterfly roofs, big window walls, a garden labyrinth, bocce ball court and terraces overlooking the stunning Santa Maria Valley – the home of many locations used for Alexander Payne’s 2004 film, Sideways.

We have reserved rooms at The Alamo Motel located in the town of Los Alamos, which is approximately 15 minutes from Presqu’ile. The Alamo was recently bought and renovated (don’t be alarmed by the outdated photos on the Google Listing) by Shelter Social Club – a boutique hotel group based in California with hotels in Ojai, Los Alamos, Solvang and Santa Barbara.

During the day, you’ll partake in group instruction from along with periods of private instruction for every attendee, group activities (but NOT the corporate team-building kind!), the opportunity to create photographs for yourself. 

One of the great things about California’s Central Coast is its abundant agriculture, which makes for great dining and we’re excited to provide you with fresh, substantial lunches each day along with a farewell dinner on night two.

After dinner, relax in your cozy room or enjoy the fire pits and the communal space. The property also features a winery on site, bicycles for use and complimentary parking.

Tentative Workshop Itinerary

Day 1 (Workshop 1: September 24th and Workshop 2: September 27th)

• Activity: Check in to The Alamo Motel
• Included: The price of the hotel
• Not included: Transportation to hotel and meals

Day 2 (Workshop 1: September 25th and Workshop 2: September 28th)

• Activity:
  • Enjoy breakfast in town at your leisure
  • Drive to Presqu’ile winery
  • Workshop day 1 will commence
  • Enjoy a picnic lunch featuring farm-to-table items designed by Executive Chef, Julie Simon
  • Resume workshop day 1 activities
• What’s included: Lodging, lunch 
• What’s not included: Breakfast, transportation, dinner, extra snacks

Day 3 (Workshop 1: September 26th and Workshop 2: September 29th)

• Activity:
  • Enjoy breakfast in town at your leisure
  • Drive to Presqu’ile winery
  • Workshop day 2 will commence
  • Break for lunch courtesy of Norman – a local restaurant
  • Resume workshop day 2 activities
  • Farewell dinner at Pico, which is next door to The Alamo Motel
• What’s included: Lodging, lunch, family-style dinner + two glasses of wine.
• What’s not included: Breakfast, transportation, extra snacks

Day 4 (Workshop 1: September 27th and Workshop 2: September 30th)

• Depart Los Alamos

Frequently Asked Questions

How will we get to the workshop? All attendees are responsible for their own transportation. We’ll connect you with other attendees ahead of time in case anyone would like to carpool.

Which airport do we fly into? The nearest airport is Santa Barbara (SBA)

How do we get from the airport to The Alamo Motel? All attendees will be responsible for their own transportation to the hotel.

What is included in the price? Instruction, lodging at The Alamo Motel, two lunches, and one dinner. Please refer to the itinerary for a day-by-day explanation of what is included.

When is the full tuition due? Tuition is due in full upon reserving your spot. Tuition is non-refundable but is transferable. If you can’t make it, you’re welcome to give your spot to a friend — just let us know beforehand. You can also pay in installments using PayPal.

Can I bring my significant other, a friend or family?

• Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guests beyond the workshop participants. All hotel and meal reservations have been made to account for only the number of attendees + instructors and coordinators.

What equipment should I bring?

• Gear
  • Please note that the instructors’ gear will not be available to borrow.
  • Mandatory
    • Camera
    • Lenses
      • We recommend bringing the lenses that you feel most comfortable with and that will help you take the photos you want to take.
    • Tripod
    • Blank memory card
    • Card reader
    • Laptop
    • Any/all cables for your gear
  • Nice to Have:
    • Since this is an architecture photography workshop, we do recommend bringing a tilt shift lens, but it’s not mandatory.
    • Rain cover
• Clothing:
  • Pack layers
  • Rain jacket
  • Waterproof shoes
• Food:
  • You are welcome to bring your own snacks and each hotel room is equipped with a mini fridge.
• Medication:
  • If you have any allergies, please let us know and also bring an EpiPen, and/or any other medication required to treat an allergic reaction.

About the instructors

Nick Merrick

Nick Merrick gained notoriety as a long-time senior photographer and principal at the renowned photography studio Hedrich Blessing. Over his career, Nick has established long collaborative relationships with clients and takes great pride in becoming a part of their team. His work has ranged from photographing the world’s tallest building, The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, to performance halls, research labs, corporate headquarters, hotels and residences worldwide. Considered among the leading photographers in architecture and design, you can find his photography in the collections of the Library of Congress, the Chicago History Museum, the Art

Institute of Chicago, and the George Eastman House as well as published in prestigious design journals and firm monographs. Nick is a highly respected workshop instructor and holds an MFA from the School of theArt Institute of Chicago and a BFA from the University of Michigan. When not out on assignment, he lives with his wife Shaun in Galisteo, New Mexico in an adobe under the cottonwood trees next to the Arroyo de Los Angeles.

Ryan Gobuty

Ryan Gobuty is a Los Angeles-based photographer who for nearly twenty years served as the photographer and photography manager for six Gensler offices. Over his tenure at Gensler, Ryan photographed over 600 built projects, producing and delivering over 20,000 finished photographs from all corners of the globe.

He graduated with an architectural degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2002, and befriending and spending time with Julius Shulman in the process. In 2008, while at Gensler, he transitioned from an architectural designer to a photographer, working alongside the storied firm Hedrich Blessing on assignments and teaching workshops. A formal approach to photography, inclusive of knowledge of the history of the profession, and working with hundreds of designers and architects through the years has established the foundation for his approach to the profession.

Tom Harris

Tom Harris began his career as an Architectural Photographer in 2009 immediately after graduating with a BFA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He started as an apprentice at Hedrich Blessing Photographers where he became a staff photographer in 2013, he left to begin his own practice in 2016 and has been commissioned to photograph around 100 architectural projects a year since then.

From small practices to international firms, Tom enjoys collaborating with a wide range of clients including, Studio Gang Architects, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Gensler, Perkins+Will, John Ronan Architects, HKS, Populous, and many more.

Tom views every shoot as a chance to collaborate with other creative professionals. The photography shoot is a discussion between designer and photographer and the finished photographs are stronger as a result of this teamwork. He has also invested thousands of hours in apprenticeship of the next generation of architectural photographers. He mentors his apprentices in person and many dozens of others through various teaching methods both in person and virtually.

Tom’s photographs have been widely published internationally and can be seen in recent issues of Metropolis Magazine, Interior Design Magazine, Architectural Record, and The Architect’s Newspaper.  His photographs can also be found in periodicals such as The New York Times, The LA Times, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and Vogue.