ANDREW PIELAGE WAS ALL SMILES AS WE BEGAN SESSION 1 OF HIS WORKSHOP ON THE AFTERNOON OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026.

Doing the Wright Thing —  A Taliesin West Photography Workshop


Prologue…


I was introduced to photographer Andrew Pielage during my first visit to Taliesin West on October 23, 2022.  His exhibit entitled “Sacred Spaces” was on display in the dining room, and I was immediately drawn to the beauty, talent, and insights of his work.  I became a member of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and through their newsletters and emails became aware that Andrew Pielage had an ongoing endeavor to photograph all of the Wright structures that remain standing, called the “500FLLW PROJECT”.  I also learned that Andrew Pielage conducted workshops, often held at iconic FLLW venues.  So while I began to think about attending one of his workshops,  I had also began working on my photography skills and shooting RAW with my Nikon D500.  I also started to acquire some good lenses that would be appropriate to use in photograping architechture.  Truth be told, when I first learned of Andrew Pielage and his workshops, I did not posess the experience required to enroll in any of his intermediate workshops.  Fast forward to 2025, and I finally got the nerve to sign up for his Taliesin Weekend Workshop Scheduled for December 5 -7, 2025.  Unfortunately I had to cancel that workshop due to illness, but Wes Ford of Taliesin West and Andrew allowed me to transfer my registration to the workshop scheduled for February 6-8, 2026.  I was quite excited to be able to experience Taliesin West in a workshop environment, and began to make sure I had all of the equipment I needed for the event.  So, early on the morning of February 5, 2026.  I left McQueeney and headed for Phoenix.


Photography Workshop Day One, Friday, February 6, 2026…


After spending the night near Tucson, I headed for Taliesin West.  The workshop included a complimentary Audio Tour of Taliesin West so when I arrived at the campus a little after 11:00 a.m. I presented my voucher and set out on the tour.  It was a picture perfect day as I joined a throng of visitors who were also taking tours that early afternoon.  I took my time, and enjoyed  getting reacquainted with the “Historic Core” of  Taliesin West.   

I WAS ABLE TO DOWNLOAD An AUDIO TOUR APP AND USE MY OWN HEADPHONES. HERE I AM, DURING MY TOUR.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PATRONS AT TALIESIN WEST THAT AFTERNOON, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE I TOOK IN THE MAIN DRAFTING STUDIO.

After my leisurely audio tour, I met up with Wes Ford in the Entry Court. Wes is the Events and Hospitality Coordinator at Taliesin West, and he got me checked into my room.  I would be staying at the Crescent, designed by Wes Peters, who was a key apprentice to FLLW and later, after Wright’s death, chief architect for Taliesin Associated Architects. The Crescent is a curved structure that hugs a hillside and is a short (5 minute) walk from the Entry Court, but can’t be seen from ground level of the Historic Core.  The Crescent consists of five self-contained apartments, arranged along a curved arc, providing private views and direct access to the outdoors.  I was assigned to Unit #4, and found it to be quite spacious, comfortable, and inviting —  consisting of a large living area, bedroom area, kitchen, and bathroom.  

THE CRESCENT IS SET INTO A HILLSIDE AND FEATURES TWO CANTILEVERED PROWS AT EACH END OF THE STRUCTURE. NOTE THE DOUBLE ROOF DESIGN, INSPIRED BY THE ROOF ANGLES ON FLLW'S ORIGINAL DRAFTING STUDIO AND OFFICE.
THE ENTRY DOOR TO CRESCENT #4, WHERE I STAYED DURING MY VISIT TO TALIESIN WEST.
I TOOK THIS PHOTO FROM THE KITCHEN. THE BEDROOM WAS DIVIDED FROM THE LIVING ROOM WITH AN ORNATE WOODEN SCREEN.
A BREEZEWAY WITH DUELING FIREPLACES IS FOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE CRESCENT.
EACH UNIT HAS A PRIVATE WALLED COURTYARD IN BACK. THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE COURTYARD FOR MY UNIT, #4.

Our First Classroom Session


After getting settled into my accommodations for the weekend, I headed back to the Entry Court, carrying my camera gear (including my laptop) where I, and my other five classmates, met up with Andrew Pielage.  Andrew escorted us to the conference room where we would meet for each of our sessions.  This conference room was located off the Breezeway and and looked out on the Water Garden.  Over the next hour and 45 minutes, Andrew went over our agenda for the weekend and gave us some history relating to FLLW and Taliesin West.  His presentation that afternoon also included the basics of Wright’s organic architecture, a little history about the desert shelters at Taliesin West, and an introduction to matters to consider when composing a photograph.   

THE CONFERENCE ROOM WHERE WE MET EACH DAY WAS A PERFECT ROOM FOR OUR PURPOSES, WITH AN INSPIRING VIEW.
SOME OF MY WORKSHOP PARAPERNALIA: A COUPLE OF ANDREW'S HANDOUTS, MY VISITOR PASS, AND MY PARKING STICKER.

Our First Photo Shoot…The Desert Shelters & Sunset at Taliesin West….


After our introductory classroom session, we headed out to explore and photograph some of the desert shelters constructed by FLLW’s apprentices over the years.  In the early years, when an apprentice first arrived at Taliesin West they were issued a ten-foot-by ten-foot sheepherders tent which would serve as their shelter.  Not content just to erect the plain white tent, a tradition soon developed whereby the apprentices would construct bases that came to be more and more eleaborate over time.  Some of the shelters were quite simple and functional, while others were wildly artistic and whimsical.  One of the primary reasons I wanted to attend this workshop was the rare opportunity to visit and photograph these amazing structures. It was a magical evening for this old man!  We stayed out in the desert behind the Taliesin West Historic Core as the sun set —  it was quite beautiful!  Andrew put lights in a couple of the shelters so we also had an opportunity to try our hand at some nighttime photography.  Below are a few of my photographs from that lovely evening.  For a more complete gallery of photos of the desert shelters at Taliesin West, look here.  

THIS UNNAMED DESERT SHELTER WAS THE EPITOMY OF SIMPLICITY-- THE TENT APPRENTICES WERE ISSUED WOULD SIT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE LOW WALLS AND BASE.
ONE OF THE MORE NOTABLE DESERT SHELTERS IS "THE HANGING TENT", A STEEL CANTILEVERED STRUCTURE DESIGNED BY FATIMA ELMALIMPINAR THAT SUSPENDS A TRADITIONAL SHEPERD'S TENT EIGHT FEET OFF OF THE GROUND, BUILT IN 2001.
THIS SHELTER FEATURED RAMMED EARTH WALLS, A FABRIC ROOF, AND A FIREPLACE. IT WAS NAMED "BRITTLEBUSH".
STANDING BY THE DESERT SHELTER CALLED "LOTUS" DESIGNED BY KAMAL AMIN AND BUILT IN 1963.
ATTEMPTING TO PHOTOGRAPH "THE LOTUS" AS THE SUN SETS AT TALIESIN WEST.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE DESERT SHELTER CALLED "SKYBOX".
THIS DESERT SHELTER LOOKED MORE LIKE AN ART INSTALLATION THAN A HABITATION.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE ELABORATE DESERT SHELTERS. IT IS CALLED "RED ROOF" AND WAS DESIGNED BY FREDRICK BINGHAM IN 1970.
"DESERT PERCH" WAS REBUILT BY VICTOR SIDY IN 1999 BASED ON A SKELETON OF A STRUCTURE FIRST BUILT IN THE 1960S.
THIS SHELTER WAS BUILT BY APPRENTICE FRED PROZZILLO AND WAS KNOWN AS SIMPLY "FRED'S".
"STRAWBALE" WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT BY MICHAEL HEULBLEIN IN 2004. THE WALLS WERE MADE OF, YOU GUESSED IT, BALES OF HAY!