Feedback from Jo Ruffin

Hobart Food Photography Workshop

After attending Ewen and Shellie's Daylesford Workshop in 2016, it was a no brainer for me to attend the Hobart Workshop as well. I knew it was going to be amazing, but it exceeded my expectations in every way.

Hobart is a truly special place and was the perfect backdrop for the 4 day workshop. Ewen and Shellie have maticulously thought out every detail of the workshop to showcase the fabulous surroundings, the abundance of incredible food and wine and meeting the makers and growers of the region. The best part is how they bring together people from all over the world, who have a love and passion for food and want to take their photography to the next level. The knowledge, support and encouragment from Ewen and Shellie and the friendships you make along the way make this workshop so special and truly one of a kind.

Ewen and Shellie are two of the nicest most generous people you will ever meet. You are greeted with big smiles and open arms and you immediately feel comfortable around them. No question goes unanswered, no matter how silly you think it is, the wealth of knowlege and expertise is dished out in abundance and the support and encouragement allows you to have creative freedom and to step outside your comfort zone.

After the Daylesford Workshop and the support of you both I started my photography business, a year in I was feeling flat and unmotivated. I didnt want to just photograph for other people, I wanted to photograph for me. I had fallen out of love with my camera and needed to get my mojo back. Within the first hour of the Hobart Workshop I was feeling positive and motivated and I knew I was in for an incredible few days. I was surrounded by creative, talented and passionate people and was inspired by everyone and everything and now I have never felt so sure and excited about my love for photography. So a massive thank you to the both of you for that.

I couldnt fault any part of the workshop. The Agrarian Kitchen was stunning, it was full of incredible light and inspiration was around every corner! Waking up each morning to the view of the water and the mountains was blissful, being able to visit the wonderful Ben and Peta at Ridgeline Pottery was pure joy and of course the food, the wonderfully, amazing food. Eating out and visiting the local culinary delights and devouring Shellie's AMAZING food!! Shellie, you are insanely talented!! You went above and beyond to make the most stunningly delicious food which you styled to perfection. I will remember each dish for years to come... dat flat bread and dat LAMB!! Haha

I am incredibly proud and happy with the work I produced over the course of the workshop, I thank you both for the honest feedback and for pushing us to get better and better each day. And thank you for allowing us to print a few photos each day, it was so helpful and so amazing to see how each one of us interpreted what we were photographing. I love my prints and they are such a beautiful memento to take away from such a fabulous weekend.

Thank you, Ewen and Shellie from the bottom of my heart for a truly amazing weekend. Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for you both. You are a one of a kind duo and I feel so blessed to have been able to participate in not one, but two of your fabulous workshops. (I plan on attending many many more!!) Thank you, Ewen for being so generous with your time, knowledge and expertise. You are a gentle, kind soul and such an inspiration and I admire the heck out of you! Thank you for your support, your honesty and for encouraging me to keep doing what I'm doing. And thank you, Shellie... You are such a beautiful, inspiring woman and you are so incredibly talented and I hope one day to be as talented as you are! Thank you for your constant support and for your friendship, I will treasure it forever.

You have both given me another experience of a lifetime and for that, I am forever grateful.

In the words of Heidi Klum, Auf Wiedersehen

XOXO