Jamaica, Two Mann – Metanoia

Two Mann Studios have been an inspiration for us for several years now. When we first came across their work, we couldn’t get enough of it. Is it ok to look at other people’s wedding photos taken by other photographers and get goosebumps from them?!

It seemed like with every photo we were wondering “How the hell did you get this shot???” Soon after, we started seeing other photographers who would draw their inspiration from the same source. I guess that’s what makes you a great photographer – when others try to imitate your style all across the globe.

Up until the morning Two Mann announced new workshop dates, we weren’t even discussing the possibility of going. But once they did, the fear of missing out kicked in. And even though it didn’t make sense logistically or financially at the time, it felt like the right decision for both of us.

It took us a few hours from the time Two Mann announced locations to us desperately emailing Mariya to get our spots. We were trying to pick which location we would like the best; South East Asia seemed exciting, but somewhere in the United States or Canada would be more convenient. Plus, there was the cost to consider. Before we knew it, all workshops were sold out, except for a few spots in Jamaica, so in a sense life made the decision  for us.

We got to Jamaica a few days early to take in the sites. Everyone was telling us how dangerous Jamaica can be, however we found it to be just the opposite. Everyone was incredibly friendly and we felt like we could go anywhere. We booked our accommodations along with another workshop attendee – Ben Graus, all the way from Netherlands. And what do photographers do when they get drunk at night in Jamaica before the workshop? They practice using lights and Magmods they got a few days before 😀  Well, we were practicing. Seasoned photographer Ben was showing these kids the ways… So thank you, Ben, for being a fun travel mate!

We went on a few tours together and made sure to check out a couple of local spot food spots as well.  In order to take tours, you have to rent a van and a private guide which can get a little pricey if you don’t have a big group, but it was worth it. Our host Irina, who immigrated from Ukraine to open a villa in Jamaica, organized the tours for us. And if you’re ever traveling to Jamaica, make sure to check out Calypso Villa. Located right on the beach, it’s got everything you need to get an amazing Jamaican experience – breathtaking views, authentic local food spots nearby, and a wonderful host to organize fun tours for you.

The only slight inconvenience that we noticed is that we would always get charged double the listed price for meals, but hey, that’s the tourist tax. Either way, paying $6 for a meal instead of $3 did not seem like a big deal.

Onto the workshop itself.

Usually in other cities the workshop is hosted in one location and all attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations, but we got a sweeter deal. The Two Mann team has booked a whole villa, along with staff, cooks and what seemed to be an endless supply of rum punches for the whole group to enjoy for 4 days. When we arrived to the villa, we were instantly greeted by Lanny’s warm hug and a drink, and sat down to meet other photographers. The hospitality was probably the nicest we’ve ever experienced.

As others arrived, we sat around on the outdoor patio and got to know one another. We didn’t know what was about to hit us over the next few days. Over the next few days we would laugh, cry, re-evaluate everything we knew about photography and the human experience. It is really hard to describe in a few paragraphs the magnitude of knowledge that was dispensed on our intimate group of 12 photographers from different walks of life.

The Metanoia workshop was divided into 3 sections: Art, Craft, and Industry. Over the 4 days Erika and Lanny were an open book, covering everything from being in the right state of mind to pushing yourself as an artist and performing on a level of a world class athlete, to specific photography techniques, editing and creating a magical client experience. The days began at 8 am with communal breakfasts, followed by a full schedule of lectures, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, critiques, discussions, and ended around 10 pm with dinner and drinks.

There were many opportunities for hands-on training, group critiques and practice photoshoots. It is important to state the the workshop focused on the right mentality and philosophy one needs to have to push the boundaries of art of photography, as well as the specific tools of the craft. If there was one phrase that we could use to to describe the workshop it would be “ruthless honesty”.  

We wrapped up the workshop with the entire group going out to a Luminous Lagoon that was famous for bioluminescent activity. As we shared our company for the last time over a traditional dinner of jerk chicken, we realized that we experienced something very special together. With a small group of like-minded individuals, we went on a journey of self-exploration and the art of photography. We still keep in touch with all the photographers that attended this workshop with us and have joined a larger community that is over 300 members strong of other that have gone through, what we can only imagine, a similarly intense experience.

Thank you Melissa and Kyle, Ashley and Jered, Mackenzie, William, Alex, Tina, Marla and Ben, for sharing this journey with us.

And forever grateful to Erika and Lanny for the indeed transformational experience. At the beginning of the workshop, they told us to “not f*** it up”, so we feel the pressure to oblige. Gotta keep our sticks on ice this year!