Japanese/Canadian photographer George Nobechi travels to Maine from Japan to bring his highly regarded Japanese Sensibilities in Photographic Practice online class to an in-person setting for the second time in Maine.
In this course, George will teach participants the basics of several Japanese artistic concepts with applications to photography. Among topics discussed will be: “Borrowed” Landscapes, Koh-Itten (Red, One Spot), Mono-no-Aware (The Pathos of Things), Ma (Space), Mujo (Impermanence), Seijaku (Stillness) and Wabi Sabi.
Photo: George Nobechi
In order to prepare you for a week of productive photography, two online sessions will be conducted in advance on Zoom (in July and August of 2025) to introduce a number of concepts to you such that you can begin to apply them in your photographic practice at home.
Once together in Maine, we will dive deeper into the concepts while visiting a variety of locations chosen by hosts Kerry Payne Stailey and Justin Stailey in conjunction with George.
The workshop will consist of group classroom sessions, group excursions, individual free time to photograph and one-on-one feedback sessions with George, Kerry and Justin. Early in the week, we will visit a number of locations together in a group van (you are welcome to drive your own vehicle if you prefer, but you may want to join the van for the conversation), and have a more defined schedule for classroom sessions as well, and later in the week you will have more freedom to revisit locations on your own, or to discover new places.
Several group meals will enhance the bonding experience, again weighted toward the front end of the workshop to allow for more freedom in the second half, as well as a special screening of a Japanese film in the beautiful setting that is Blenheim Park.
The objective of this class is for participants to hone their eye for quiet, deeply meaningful photography, to learn the basics of a number of Japanese concepts that can be used in their artistic practice, and crucially, to be able to use them in settings almost anywhere in the world. George has chosen Maine as the first place to teach this course outside of Japan because of its natural beauty, but also its rich history and the great potential of photography it holds at the intersection of the human and natural conditions. George visited and photographed Maine in 2014 and 2016, and taught this sold-out workshop at Blenheim Park in 2024. He is eager to return.
Requirements and Skills:
This class does not require you to know about Japanese art beforehand, but you will be given an optional reading and moving list to begin your forays.
For the purposes of sharing images in the workshop and receiving feedback on them, you should have a digital camera and some way of file handling, organizing, and sharing images (for example, a tablet or laptop, Lightroom or Capture One, etc).
You are welcome to photograph using an analog film camera, but should also use a digital camera (a smartphone will suffice) along side to sketch, illustrate, and share your vision with the class.
It is advisable to have at least one “wide angle” lens in the 28mm, 35mm, 50mm range with you as Japanese aesthetics tend to emphasize a certain “Ma” (space). Of course, you are welcome to bring longer lenses with you, too, for certain situations that you just don’t want to miss.
WHERE: Blenheim Park, Bremen, Maine. Approximately 1hr north of Portland Maine, 3hrs north of Boston and 7 minutes drive from downtown Damariscotta.
WHEN: September 14-19, 2025 (inclusive) PLUS two online sessions.
YOUR INVESTMENT: $3,750 USD
WHAT’S INCLUDED: Two online sessions, 5.5 in-person sessions (the initial Sunday meet and greet will be a half-day), a welcome dinner, a farewell dinner, refreshments and some lunches. (You have three evenings free on your own in case you have some “must visit” restaurants while you are in Maine. Group excursions with a van and movie night. Location fees where required.
Travel to and from Maine and accommodation are NOT included but wonderful nearby recommendations can be made. Alcohol outside of welcome and farewell dinners, meals not noted in the itinerary, miscellaneous expenses, equipment, insurance not included. Because of our rural setting we do recommend you have a car for the duration of the workshop.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to study with a highly respected artist in a beautiful private lakeside estate setting, in coastal Maine.
Pay in one installment $3,750
or
Secure your place with a $1,000 deposit and second payment of $2,850 due April 1st 2025.
Email Kerry Payne Stailey with questions.
LOCATION: Blenheim Park, Midcoast Maine. Blenheim Park is a private estate and retreat center set on 16 landscaped, lakefront acres. It’s located about 3 hours north of Boston, 1 hour north of Portland, Maine and 7 miles from the charming town of Damariscotta.
ACCOMMODATION is not included, but a range of charming nearby options will be provided.
CANCELLATION and WITHDRAWAL: If you are unable to attend the following cancellation policy applies:
Withdraw 45 days or more prior to the start of your workshop and we will refund all payments made, less processing fees paid to online service providers.
Withdraw less than 45 days, but more than 30 days prior to the start of your workshop and we will refund 50% of your workshop tuition.
Withdraw 30 days or less prior to the start of your workshop, we cannot offer a refund, however you may transfer your place in the program.
Blenheim Park Maine — Your workshop location.
About George Nobechi:
George Nobechi transitioned from a career in Finance to one in photography in 2015 with the encouragement of Sam Abell. Since then, his contemplative works have been exhibited in galleries, festivals and museums in Japan, the United States, Australia, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Germany, etc and have received over 40 international awards. He is a two-time recipient (2017 and 2021) of the Critical Mass Top 50. In addition to his fine art photography, he has contributed to publications including HuffPost, Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, Photo District News and Asahi Camera. Nobechi is also a regular columnist with the Tokyo Shimbun and Fujin Koron in Japan. His work is also in the collections of the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona and the Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography.
In 2017 he founded Nobechi Creative, which produces workshops, exhibitions, charity events and photo tours in Japan, online, and around the world. During the pandemic, he created Evenings with the Masters® an online charity series featuring master photographers such as Pete Souza, Mona Kuhn, Greg Gorman and others that raised $70,000 during the pandemic.
George is also the Creative Director for Karuizawa Foto Fest (KFF), a nascent photo festival in the mountains of Japan where he resides. Since 2022, he has also been featured in various inspirational films produced by Fujifilm Corporation, including “Reflections”
In 2024, George was invited to a 4-month long solo exhibition at the Prince Takamado Gallery by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo to commemorate the 95th anniversary of Canada-Japan relations. He is also part of the Wonder! Mt. Fuji exhibition at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Japan’s most revered photo museum with artists such as Sarah Moon, Antoine d’Agata, Chris Steele-Perkins and Sohei Nishino.
Select Solo Exhibitions:
2024: Yamabiko | Echo | Écho - Prince Takamado Gallery, Embassy of Canada to Japan
2023: The Japan I Had Not Seen - FotoNostrum, Barcelona, Spain
2023: Phoenix Rises - Karuizawa Senju Hiroshi Museum Gallery, Nagano, Japan
2023: Roads to Denali - FUJIFILM SQUARE, Tokyo, Japan
2022: Eastern Light, Western Wind - Frederick Harris Gallery, Tokyo American Club, Japan
2022: Here. Still. - A Smith Gallery, Johnsonville, USA
2020: Here. Still. - Photoville, New York City, USA
2020: Here. Still. - Gastfeld Gallery, Bremen, Germany
2018: Unmoored - Workspace Gallery, Lincoln, USA
2018: Unmoored - Jackson Dinsdale Art Center, Hastings College, USA
2018: Moments of Serenity - Walls of the World Gallery, Penne, Italy