DESCRIPTION:
The American South workshop is a photographic exploration of communities in the Deep South and is focused on the Mississippi Delta.
The Delta lies in the rich lands between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, with Memphis to the North and Vicksburg to the South. It should not be confused with the Mississippi River Delta, which is South of New Orleans. The Delta is an extraordinary corner of the Deep South. Its unique landscapes conjure up visions of sharecroppers, plantations and the sound of the Blues. We will photograph the last remaining Juke Joints, visit places where decades ago, blues luminaries like Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson traveled across the South, guitar or harmonica in hand.
Our journey will be a quintessential road trip starting just south of Memphis in Clarksdale, MS, a historic city in the Delta, known for the Crossroads, its Juke Joints, and home of many Blues music legends including Muddy Waters and Sam Cooke. We continue to Greenwood, MS, the town where the movie “The Help” was filmed and where we will explore "Baptist Town" (established in 1800 and one of the oldest African American neighborhoods). Our next overnight in Leland will give us easy access to essential Delta towns such as Indianola with its Delta Blues Museum, Greenville, a town steeped in history, Further south we will explore the ghost town of Rodney, once a thriving town and the cultural center of the region. Today the town is mostly abandoned and in various states of disrepair due to recurring floods. On the way we will also pay a visit to Windsor Ruins, with 23 standing Corinthian columns of the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion ever built in the state. The mansion stood from 1861 to 1890, when it was destroyed by fire. On the way back to Memphis we will explore the backwaters of the Delta.
Our last stop will be Memphis with its legendary music studios, juke joints and haunted night clubs. Memphis is not just a destination, but a rhythm and a way of life. We will pay our homage to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel, built around the motel where Martin Luther King was murdered on April 4, 1968.
In each place we will explore both the towns as well the surrounding countryside, small villages, bayou's, cotton plantations, and most importantly its people. Magdalena Solé has intimate knowledge of the Delta and a personal connection with its people from years of photographing in the region and teaching workshops there.
Solé’s photographs of the Mississippi Delta have been exhibited in many solo shows and have won numerous awards. Her book “New Delta Rising," published by the University Press of Mississippi, has won the Silver Award at PX3 Prix de la Photographie in France. The Wall Street Journal called her images: “lushly colorful, formally striking, restless, and electrifying.” You can purchase a signed copy HERE.
“I first visited the Delta in 2009 and, in a sense, I’ve never left,” says Solé.
“….such is the magical spell cast by this slender stretch of fertile land in northwestern Mississippi and the people who live in it. It is a place where lives are shaped by a close attachment to the land, by the unhurried rhythms of the season, and by shared memories of a tortured past. There is something about the Delta people that goes to the heart of what it means to be human. Perhaps nowhere else in America do such extremes in ways of life and emotional history exist so intimately.” Rick Bragg
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This workshop allows advanced and professional photographers alike to capture the communities in the Deep South, and gain a greater understanding of its people. To apply to this workshop, please submit a selection of 10 photographs from a single series in low resolution to msole@mac.com. Every new participant is also required to introduce themselves via Zoom.
This masterclass will appeal to anyone interested in pushing the limits of their photography. Whether you are a professional fine tuning your vision, a committed amateur or student wanting to learn new techniques and reach your potential, Magdalena's workshops have a reputation for being an intense and transformative learning experience.
GROUP SIZE
Limited to 5-6 people
WORKSHOP FORMAT
For those who have attended previous workshops in the Delta, you will have the opportunity to discuss via email, what project you might focus on during the workshop.
During the workshop you will work each day with Magdalena discussing your daily progress designed to push the development of your technique and style. There will also be talks about photography designed to help you understand and immerse yourself in the craft of visual storytelling. A special focus will be on photographing the people. Group reviews of your work will be held.
PAYMENTS DUE:
Your non-refundable deposit of $500 is due to reserve a spot.
Please see our cancellation policy.
NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare, lodging, admissions, meals and car rental.
You will need to secure your car rental and hotel accommodations in advance. Each hotel will have rooms blocked out for our group, some hotels also extend a discount when mentioning our group. You will receive the hotel contact information and a detailed itinerary when you sign up.
DON'T FORGET:
To reserve a spot you need to send in your deposit of $500 to SolePictures as soon as possible, as this trip could sell out quickly. Please submit the sign-up form and send payment by check or Zelle. As we are traveling with a very small group, last minute cancellations are not possible, so please be mindful of our cancellation policy and remember to get travel insurance to cover your investment.
Past Workshops:
October 25 - November 3, 2025
October 17 - 26, 2025
November 11 - 18, 2024
October 20 - 28, 2021
September 10 - 18, 2019
September 19 - 27, 2019
May 2 - 10, 2019
March 8 - 16, 2018
March 17 - 25, 2018
March 19 - 27, 2017
September 6 - 14, 2016
June 23 - 30, 2015
June 10 - 17, 2014
October 13 - 20, 2014
October 14 - 24, 2013
October 17 - 24, 2012