A Jose Villa Mexico Workshop {November 2008}

If you are in need of a little inspiration, encouragement, a kick in the photography-business-pants with a twist of vacation and a whole lotta fun; then go to Jose Villa’s next Mexico Workshop! I can’t begin to describe just how powerful it is when almost 20 photographers get together to learn, grow, and shoot. Jose is a world class photographer and really pours his heart and his brain out so that everyone can soak up bits and pieces of his amazingness and make it their own. I have been changed as a photographer and a person just by watching him; the way he shoots, the way he directs, and especially the way he cares for people.

I was so honored to be invited as one of the guest speakers this year! I shared my work, my story, and my heart for what I do. There were so many others involved to make the workshop possible and a gigantic success! Karina Puenta is a talented artist that spoke and led the group in some be-ing exercises. We stayed at the Hacienda Del Carmen. Their staff is so warm and loving; my maid hugged me because she remembered me from our trip in September! Mar Romero did a fabulous job with the Citro Modelos hair and makeup. Joel Serrato documented the workshop with Super 8 film. It is going to be gorgeous! We also had some bonus guests; Gene Higa and Ann Hamilton who generously shared their greatness with the class.

Be prepared for lots of images!!!


After Jose shot with the couple for about 15 minutes I demonstrated my Ingalls Photography style for 5 minutes. I talked about my favorite backdrop ever; sunlight! Each student had 3 minutes to work with the models. The next day we showed a slideshow of everyone’s favorite 2 images. It was amazing to see the different talent and perspective that was represented in the workshop.


I shared my story and some words of encouragement on the first day.

One of my favorite parts of the workshop was the individual time I got to have with each student. I learned so much from everyone and hopefully was able to pass a little bit of love on to each person as well. The mornings started out with one-on-one sessions for about 20 minutes where Jose, Karina and I would review portfolios, answer questions and talk about whatever it was the student needed to discuss. Some amazingly inspired conversations happened!

Here I am hanging out with my new Columbian friend, George Moreno.

The grand finale came when we took a field trip to another Hacienda for the bridal shoot. Jose took a couple and 7 students while I had another couple and the other half of the class. After we demonstrated and allowed the students time to shoot the models individually, we switched the groups.








Here are some shots of the students in action taking their turns to shoot the models.

Ken Kienow, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Natalie Williams, San Diego, CA.

Ronnie Ruiz, Billings, MT.

Paula Luna, San Diego, CA.

Gene Higa, San Francisco, CA. Here he is rocking his fashion-red Holga.


All of my amazing new friends!

Guadalajara With Jose Villa {Hasselblad Film}

This is my last photo installment of my September Guadalajara trip with fine art film photographer, Jose Villa. These shots were taken with a Hassleblad (120 film) camera. (It has been almost 4 years since I've worked with film!) Anna and I leave today out of L.A.X and we will have the whole 24 room Hacienda to ourselves for one night! I am excited to meet the 15 photographers that are attending the workshop and we are looking forward to partnering with Jose to encourage them in their unique gifting for wedding photography.




Not exactly sure if these pictures of Jose’s grandma are mine or his. Either way, they capture her everyday world in beautiful light.


Yo soy un cocinero.

Ingalls loves corn!


Jose took these next couple of images. I just love the crispness and attitude. Like I said before, it was such an inspiration to watch Jose interact with people and the environment. After he asked this moto-cowboy to take off his sunglasses he circled the bike to get the rearview mirror shot, all the while directing the man to accomplish the composition that fit his vision.



After I took my only B&W photography class in college I became obsessed with photographing in different cemeteries throughout my travels in Europe and Mexico. I was fascinated with the various depictions I found of the cross. Everyone portrays the life and death of Jesus so differently through this one little symbol. I love it here -broken and smashed, but still speaking a message of love and memory at someone’s grave.

This is pretty cool… So, I was shooting with my digital and Hasselblad. At one point I set the Hasselblad down on a grave only to look back a couple minutes later and see this image through the view finder staring up at me, begging to be clicked. It was such an serendipitous moment, that I wanted to show what I saw just so people would believe that I didn’t find this shot, it found me.




Just a couple shots from the Holga came out. I was having technical difficulties with the film not winding tightly.


Check out my other 2 digital posts from my time in Mexico: Mexico with Jose Villa and Mucho Mas Photos. And… check out Jose’s Holga images; they are amazing!

Mucho Mas Photos de Mexico

Translation: Much more photographs of my really amazing trip to Guadalajara Mexico with Jose Villa.

All week I have been just beaming with inspiration since my return home. If I didn’t have so much catch up to do, I would have posted this next little series right away.

So about the heavy tilt-shift usage. I actually brought 3 different cameras and 2 lenses for my digital SLR. Jose on the other hand just brought his cheap plastic… Holga. I felt like I was Mr. P.O. (Mr. Photographer Overkill). Well, my Holga wasn’t winding the film tight, so I gave up on it. I left my digital camera bag containing my 24mm at some dressmakers house in some town down the road which basically left me with 2 cameras and no lens change options. Which was all for the good because it forced me to make the most out of what I had. That’s why everything is tilt-shift mania and I like it that way thank you very much. ;) When I get my film back from the Hasselblad, I will be able to share something completely different. Until then… enjoy!

This is the amazingly beautiful Hacienda that we will be staying at in November for Jose’s Mexico workshop. It is over and above my expectations. I just can’t wait to return and take Anna with me!



This man was amazing… We were driving along looking for beauty to capture with our camera shaped nets when Jose saw this guy sitting in front of a church. He was strumming his 5 string guitar with a plastic disposable spoon. It was all he could do to wrap his hand around the neck. He wasn’t actually forming chords with his left hand just kinda muting the outer strings in time. After the man was finished with his song he silently put his guitar in a clear plastic bag and walked into the church. Jose and I stared in amazement as he picked up a broom and swept each row of pews slowly one by one.

As we continued to watch a lady shared with Jose his story. She said that every morning at the same time the man plays for an entire hour. After that he sweeps the whole church. After that he pick up trash around the church and waters the flowers. Then he proceeds to pick up trash around the neighborhood. She said that some people believe he has the closest connection to God of anyone they know. It was truly a powerful experience watching him perform actions of love that spoke louder than words.


I have this obsession with cemeteries; especially Mexican ones. I love the various depictions of the cross, the mausoleums that house the rich people’s caskets, the old and the new, the contrast of death and life. It’s been years since I have photographed in a cemetery and I found the experience exciting and inspiring! Here are a couple of artsy shots Jose took of me.


I set the Hasselblad down after taking a shot of Jose. I fiddled with my digital camera and looked down to pick up Hassy and saw this image which took my breathe away. The stillness of the cemetery was interrupted only by the soft breeze-blown silk petals.

Here is the shot from my digital camera. I had to take it in color because I had a roll of B&W in the Hasselblad. It will be fun to see the difference between the formats when I get my film in.



Jose and I wandered into a random doorway and found a classroom of sculptors. This is the Maestro.

These ruins were discovered something like only 15 years ago. They look like pyramids, but don’t have anything in them. Surrounding the big one were little square plots of rock bordered grass where families or tribes would sit to watch the soccer-like games that ended usually in human sacrifice. It was a little creepy, but also really beautiful.

Holga Face!


It was a beautiful thing watching Jose shoot. He is truly a master photographer! I was amazed to see the way he interacted with his subjects; live or still. He directed and arranged and rearranged to create an image that matched the vision inside his head. To watch his vision take shape was so intriguing to me.


Jose’s grandmother adopted this little girl named Carmelita 16 years ago. She has grown up to be the beautiful town princess. Since we were going to miss the town parade in which she is the featured star Jose’s abuela asked us to go and shoot her trying on her dress. Since she is technically Jose’s adopted aunt I nick-named her Tia Princesa. Jose and I took turns photographing her. His is the last shot.



If anyone is thinking or dreaming of taking a Jose Villa Workshop, I recommend to DO IT! It will be the experience of a lifetime; especially the Mexico workshop.

Mexico with Jose Villa

It’s pouring buckets of rain outside of the cozy hacienda where we will sleep soundly tonight. Jose and I are here just a couple hours away from Guadalajara Mexico to finalize preparation for his November workshop. We spent a day and a half at his grandmothers house resting, hanging out and talking with the occasional meal (which she insists that I eat more than I am able). Yesterday we shucked freshly picked corn and roasted it over the BBQ. I was amazed at how delicious something so natural and pure could taste.

We came to Guadalajara, Mexico on Tuesday after Jose’s one day workshop in San Francisco with Gene Higa. The reason we are here is to prepare for His Mexico week workshop this November. We will be scouting locations and picking out models tomorrow.

This afternoon we arrived to the Hacienda (where we will conduct the workshop) which we have all to ourselves; all 26 rooms! We cruised through the nearby town snapping pictures of the local people hanging outside their homes. I brought a Hasselblad that a friend lent me and Jose is working it with his Holga. The pictures you see here were taken with my digital from both Jose and I. The rain started to pour after we finished our bottle of red following dinner. I stood in the downpour for awhile to remind myself of how real this whole experience has been.








Jose shot this image of his grandmother with my camera. He commented just how much he loved the light. It has been exciting switching off between shooting film and digital for the both of us.

















These last 2 shots are by Jose.
Amazing the way he sees the world and directs people and arranges objects. I have learned so much from exploring Mexico with our cameras in just these past couple of days. I think everybody in the world should take his Mexico workshop! I cannot wait to return in November. The Hacienda is gorgeous and when I arrived I felt like I went back in time or walked onto a movie set. We will photograph more today but I don’t think I will be able to post until I get home because we will be leaving our internet connection behind.