Description
Itinerary
Details
Cancellation Policy

New Orleans Monochrom Workshop with Richard Sexton

Join Leica Store Miami and fine art photographer Richard Sexton in New Orleans for an intimate, small-group workshop dedicated entirely to the art of black-and-white photography with the Leica Monochrom. Now in its 10th year, this program has become one of our most celebrated offerings—a deep dive into seeing, thinking, and creating in black and white. 

If you own a Leica Monochrom, or have been curious about working with one, this experience is designed for you. 

Black-and-white photography is not simply an image in the absence of color. It is a way of seeing. A tradition shaped by masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mary Ellen Mark, Robert Frank, and Helen Levitt—all of whom embraced Leica cameras as instruments of precision and poetry. This workshop builds on that legacy, helping you refine your vision and fully unlock the extraordinary capabilities of the Monochrom system.

Why New Orleans? 

Few American cities offer the layered visual richness of New Orleans. From grand 19th-century architecture and historic above-ground cemeteries to the electric unpredictability of Bourbon Street and the soulful rhythms of Frenchmen Street, the city offers a remarkable range of tonal, architectural, and human subjects. It is a place where light, texture, history, and atmosphere converge. Ideal conditions for monochrome work. 

As Richard Sexton writes in his book Creole World:
“I fell in love with all the things that make New Orleans feel like a foreign city on American soil – a city that belongs to the U.S. only by the accidents of politics and history.”

The Monochrom Difference 

The Leica Monochrom is not simply a camera setting, it is a purpose-built instrument devoted entirely to black-and-white capture. Its files possess a depth, tonal subtlety, and luminous quality that cannot be replicated by converting color images to grayscale. 

Working with a Monochrom requires intention. Throughout the workshop, we will focus on: 

Seeing & Capture 
• Pre-visualization and committing to black and white at the moment of exposure 
• Recognizing contrast, texture, gesture, and light as primary compositional tools 
• Achieving precise exposure with a monochrome sensor 

Color Filters in Black & White 
• Using yellow, orange, red, and green filters to translate color into tonal value 
• Shaping skies, skin tones, and architectural detail at the moment of capture 

Post-Production Workflow 
• Optimizing Monochrom RAW files in Adobe Lightroom 
• Refining tonal structure and local contrast in Photoshop 
• Developing a consistent monochrome aesthetic 

Printing 
• Understanding why monochrome printing is more interpretive and nuanced than color 
• Producing one or two gallery-quality black-and-white prints to take home (or ship) 
• Exploring paper choice, tonal separation, and final presentation

Participants will enjoy exclusive location shoots, thoughtful critiques, hands-on processing sessions, and meaningful dialogue about photographic intent and authorship. Each attendee will also receive a signed book from Richard Sexton.

Richard Sexton will be your instructor. He is a widely published and exhibited photographer, who is also a lifelong Leica photographer, beginning with a used M4 in the 1970s and continuing to the present day with the M10 Monochrom. Along with Richard, Jonathan Traviesa of Richard Sexton Studio will help to guide you during your printing session. Leica Specialist Brandon Woods from Leica Store Miami will be on hand to give assistance and advice. He’ll share his favorite tips and tricks to getting the most out of these exceptional cameras. Take a look at a few behind the scenes images from a previous workshop.
Basic Itinerary (a more detailed version will be sent prior to the workshop)

Thursday, November 5th
- We will meet at a local gallery (location TBD) at 4:00pm to kick off the workshop. We'll look at some amazing prints and talk to them with the gallery manager.
- At about 5:30pm, we'll head to a nearby restaurant to get to know each other better, talk about the workshop and share a welcome dinner.
Friday, November 6th
- Morning location shoot
- Afternoon classroom session covering Monochrom photography and post processing
- Optional evening photo walk
Saturday, November 7th
- Group 1 printing session at Richard's live/workspace
- Lunch
- Group 2 printing session at Richard's live/workspace
- Visit to St. Roch Cemetery and or Crescent Park when your group is not printing
- Optional happy hour and early evening shoot in the Marigny neighborhood
Sunday, November 8th
- Wrap up and Q&A session at Richard's
- Farewell brunch
- Departures
Class Size: Limited to 8 attendees

What to Expect:

Workshop Highlights
- Work alongside a master of black and white photography
- Learn how to attain proper exposure with a Monochrom
- Learn how to use color filters.
- Learn how to see in black and white and what to look for
- Engage in exclusive location shooting sessions
- Attend Monochrom specific Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop processing sessions
- Create and take home (or ship) a few gallery quality black and white prints
- Receive a signed book from Richard Sexton
Who should attend this Workshop?

This workshop is geared towards current Leica Monochrom owners or photographers who wish to try the Monochrom. Anyone interested in black and white photography is also welcome to attend. Limited loaner Monochrom cameras and lenses may be available to try during the workshop.
Hotel/Lodging:

Richard’s new live/workspace is located in the St. Claude neighborhood of New Orleans. Although availability may be limited, we recommend Hotel Peter & Paul, a unique hotel that was recently renovated and the closest option to Richard's studio. Another close option is the brand new Hampton Inn on Elysian Fields. AirBnBs are also readily available in that neighborhood.

If you'd like to stay elsewhere, we would recommend that you look near Frenchmen St. in the nearby Marigny neighborhood. It’s a lively area with a lot of restaurants, music venues, bars and it’s also a great place for street photography.

Here are some hotel and b&b recommendations should you need them:
http://www.royalfrenchmenhotel.com/
https://www.lerichelieuhotel.com/
http://www.maisondubois.net/
http://www.hoteldelamonnaie.com/
http://www.lanauxmansion.com/

Transportation

We will mainly be working out of Richard Sexton's studio in near St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans. Uber, Lyft, or taxis are easily accessible but you are certainly welcome to rent a car if you choose.

About Richard

Richard Sexton is a widely published and exhibited photographer, who is also a lifelong Leica photographer, beginning with a used M4 in the 1970s and continuing to the present day with the M10 Monochrom. His most recent project, Enigmatic Stream: Photographs of the Industrial Landscape of the Lower Mississippi River was shot with the Monochrom. He is also a master digital printer utilizing a post-production workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop to optimize files for printing. He uses Imageprint RIP for archival monochromatic printing on 100% rag papers. For more information about Richard's work and career see the links below:

A bio can be found on Richard's web site here:
http://richardsextonstudio.com/biography/

Enigmatic Stream, a current project shot entirely with the Monochrom can be seen here:
http://richardsextonstudio.com/enigmatic-stream/

A portfolio of work from Ireland, shot entirely with the Monochrom can be seen here:
http://richardsextonstudio.com/notes-from-ireland-2015/

A portfolio of work shot on b/w film with a Leica M4 can be seen here:
http://richardsextonstudio.com/early-work/

Questions about the Workshop:

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 305-921-4433 or send us an email. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!
Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Enrollment is limited to 8 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:

If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:

At least 60 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 44 and 30 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 30 days from the start of the workshop: No refund

Travel Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)

Leica Store Miami is not responsible for cancellations due to medical or personal emergencies so we highly recommend purchasing travel Insurance. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Just make sure that they have an A+ rating from the BBB. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation.

Camera Gear Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)

We advise all of our workshop attendees to insure their camera gear against damage, theft, loss, etc. If your gear is not already insured, check with your home owner's insurance to see if they offer coverage. There are several photo specific insurance policies out there as well.

Communicable Illness Protocols

Our main goal on all of our tours is to keep everyone safe. To that end, we ask that everyone do their best to avoid exposure to communicable diseases like Covid-19, influenza, RSV, etc before and during our trip. If someone in our group becomes ill on the trip and we deem it to be harmful to the group, we reserve the right to remove them from group activities where social distancing is not possible.

Course Cancellation

Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 60 days prior to the start of the workshop.
In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.

Transfers

If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.

There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.

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Black & White Workshops

New Orleans Monochrom Workshop with Richard Sexton | November 5-8, 2026