Delta Blues Workshop

The Delta Blues workshop is an unforgettable photographic journey into the heart of the Deep South, centered on the legendary Mississippi Delta. Stretching between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, from Memphis in the north to Vicksburg in the south, this remarkable region offers a rich visual landscape shaped by music, history, and culture.

Throughout the workshop, participants will have the rare opportunity to photograph some of the last authentic Juke Joints and stand in the landscapes once traveled by blues legends such as Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and Sonny Boy Williamson. It is a powerful chance to create images that connect deeply with the origins of American music.

Our adventure begins in Memphis, Tennessee, a city pulsing with musical history, iconic studios, legendary Juke Joints, and storied nightclubs. During our time there, we will experience the energy of one or more of the famous blues clubs on Beale Street, where the spirit of the blues still thrives.

The following day, we travel to Clarksdale, Mississippi, home of the legendary Crossroads where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul for mastery of the blues guitar. Revered for its storied Juke Joints and as the birthplace of blues icons including Muddy Waters and Sam Cooke, Clarksdale offers an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in America.

Using Clarksdale as our home base, we will immerse ourselves in the surrounding countryside, exploring small towns, bayous, cotton plantations, and, most importantly, the people whose lives and stories continue to shape this extraordinary region. Every stop offers new possibilities for meaningful photographs and authentic connection.

Possible destinations include Indianola, birthplace of B.B. King, Greenville, rich with Delta history; and Greenwood, known both for its cinematic legacy and its deep cultural roots. While in Greenwood, we will visit the B.B. King Museum and explore Baptist Town, one of the region’s oldest African American neighborhoods, offering yet another layer of history, character, and photographic inspiration.

Each evening, we will visit a different Juke Joint to photograph and experience live music in its most authentic setting. Midway through the workshop, we will gather to review and discuss your images, helping you refine your vision and strengthen your work. After the workshop, we will reconnect on Zoom to share and celebrate your best photographs, extending the experience beyond the journey itself.