The three-day Overgaard Photo Seminar & Advanced Workshop in Amsterdam is limited to 10 participants.

Location will be centally in Amsterdam. There are two different workshop dates. You may pick the one that suits you best as long as there are space.

It is a combination of the Overgaard Photo Seminar and the Overgaard Advanced Workshop tailored to bring you up to an advanced level on using your camera equipment, setting up a workflow on your computer, editing and presenting images, and shooting different assignments.

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Thorsten Overgaard
Photography Workshop in Amsterdam

See Frequently Asked Questions
and reviews from former participants
in the bottom of this page.

Other workshop dates and locations:
See the Overgaard Workshop Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions about Thorsten Overgaard Photo Workshop and Masterclass

Do I need a Leica to paritipate
in the Overgaard Workshop?

No, you can use any camera brand. While Thorsten occasionally have been seen with a Nikon, Hasserlblad, Sony, Panasonic and Fujifilm cameras, his core belief is that Leica is the best lenses in the world, and the simplest cameras. Though the majority of participants tend to be Leica users (and any other tend to become Leica users after a workshop), it's a photo workshop where the focus is on taking pictures.

Where to stay

Hotel and travel is not included in the workshop fee. Usually participants choose the hotel type and brand which they prefer, or an AirBnb (many of the participants are frequent travelers). Some pick a place close to the workshop location, while others choose a very different location so as to experience another area of the city as well (and walk back and forth every day while experiencing interesting scenes and locations). The workshop is both eye-opening, but also draining on energy, so generally I recommend not to flush out on a luxury hotel that you won't have much time to enjoy.

I used to like AirBnb, and I have been very good at judging places from their photos, but I do find the standard has dropped. Often a hotel is better comfort and price unless you're a group who want to share an apartment or house.

How to get around

I prefer to learn the public transportation system in a new place. But not everywhere is it the way to get around. Other times I use Uber which are drivers you request on your smartphone. You don't have to speak the language or read the street names to get from A to B, and when you are done, the trip is charged to your credit card or PayPal. No need for discussing prices, cash or card, and no request for tipping. You can also pre-book an Uber to pick you up at a certain time, this way avoiding embarassing delays. Some cities offer rental bicycles, and that can be quite a fun and fast mean of transportaion!

How to book flights

I use kayak.com to research flights and either buy via the links on that website, or use it as research for who fly which routes and then go to their website and book. Or I use my travel agent, Caroline, located in Los Angeles to figure it all out because she can see connections and seats in her system that I cannot see.

I book flights based on flight times and prices. I don't go for the cheapest flights but the ones that have shorter flight times, less stops and the ones that allow me have a good sleep and get to the airport at a civilized time of the day. Often those flights are not more than a few dollars more expensive than the long flights with lots of stops. You just have to scroll down the page to notice them and see what is possible. People who don't travel a lot usually look for the cheapest flights, missing better flights for almost no extra cost, and thus ends up with extra stops and having to be in the airport before sunrise.

A photo workshop in my own city or far and away?

The workshops tend to be a little like a kindergarten. Professional people (who are usually very busy) get to explore their passion for photography exclusively in a place they dream of going to. Often, in the time outside of the workshop, participants explore restaurants, shops or museums they always wanted to visit, or meet up with old friends, or simply get work done. The workshop is in the scheduled daytime, and there is no social get-together in the evenings, unless someone arrange it for those who want to join. I feel the workshop is enough work for the day, so I let people have their own time, just as I get to have my own time.

On the other hand it is also very practical to do a workshop in your own city.  It's not as distraction-free because the office or spouse might call in the middle of the fun, a kid is ill and has to be picked up and things like that. The advantage is that you will learn to see the possibilities in your own city, because now you see, and you will never ever again hear yourself say, "there's nothing to photograph in my city".

Photo by Paul Holland.

Which type of Overgaard Workshop should I choose?

In truth, it doesn't really matter. Ask the 30% of the workshop students who return to do another workshop and you will know that even the program is similar, the workshop is always a different experience.

All my Workshops are tailored for anyone who had a camera or a Leica for three weeks or 30 years. "Everyone is a beginner" I say, becuase no matter how experienced you are, you probably got a new camera or lens recently, and the software for editing changes.People who 'know everything' seldom participate in workshops, so no matter how nre you may feel, we're all new to the day, the city and what can be done with the equiment today.

I treat everything as if nobody ever heard about it before. We go over the focusing, exposure and other issues that are always a concern. Nobody is left behind and everybody learns something new. If you don't want to learn new things, there's no reason to do a workshop.

Thorsten Overgaard is present in all workshops

When you do an Overgaard Workshop, Thorsten Overgaard is there. All. The. Time. There are no assistants taking over or workshop students sent out on assignments on their own to come back and get critiqued. We work together all the time. All Overgaard Workshops have lots of time for talking and questions, live demonstrations and how to get things to work better.

There is an emphasis on workflow and sharing in the 3-day workshop, whereas in the 2-day workshop we focus on photographing, and editing of your photos is done as homework. Workflow means getting your digital files under control and setting up a way to work on coputer that allows you to concentrate on taking photographs and making great results. But also workflow is about ensuring highest possible quality, and it is about preserving photographs. In my terminology it is also integrity becuase so many commercial interests lead you onto wrong paths that are time-consuming and costly - and without your own workflow, you eventually loose pictures, image quality and the joy of creating.

All this, how to take over your pictures and make them sing with as little work as possible, is covered in the Lightroom Survival Kit and in the Capture One Survival Kit (which are identical, except for the software tool used). Professionals and novices will serve themselves well by getting one of these Survival Kits which have become the industry standard for workflow since they were first released in 2010 (and is updated in new versions whenever software, technology and cameras are updated). If you hate computers - or even if you love them - you will enjoy the breeze of sanity in your digital life, that the Survival Kit offers.

In the workshop you can ask anything about workflow, and if the Survival Kit and the Workshop is not enough to organize your thoughts and pictures, you can buy one-on-one time for consultingin person, via phone/email and video call. There is also "The Photoraphers Workflow Masterclass" where almost any question you could ever want to ask, is answered, illustrated and shown in videos.

Expect to meet very competent people from all walks of life and from many different countries. What they have in common is that they want to be as professional in their passion for photography as they are with everything else they do in life. Age range is typically 30-65, and 30% are women. It's very chilled, casual,eye-opening, inspiring - and it will renew your enthusiasm for making photo.

Will I get along with the others in the workshop?

Yes you will. The participants in the workshop, you will find, are very different, yet very compatible. We all share a passion for photography, and often a passion for Leica. Not surprisingly, we have the same values and viewpoints on many things in life. You will find there is lots to talk about and much experience to share that isn't directly related to photography. 

The participants are usually professionals in their area of life who have an interest in photography; and want to be as competent in their passion as in their work. And above all, it's people who like simplicity. The age range is 30-70, which also tell you it's not going to be a backpack trekking university campus experience. Mostly you will meet experts in their professional field, like CEO's, company owners, film directors, artists, designers, technology specialists, inventors, architects, authors, producers, and similar in the workshop. It's not a networking workshop, though connections are sometimes made, but more interestingly the conversations often offer a view into other areas of life on an expert level. Never a dull moment! 30% of the participants are women overall.

The general attitude is to be professional, in the sense of being good at photography, and very little in making a living from it. About 10% or so of the paritipants make a living from photography.

We seek to make our own photos in the workshop

The workshop as a general rule shy away from tourist traps, busy locations and places "you have to see". The best photographs are usually made in quiet surroundings, narrow streets and in areas that tend to have cool cafes, restaurants and shops. The wider the streets, the more people, the more commercially arranged locations, the more energy is sucked from you, and the less you make your own viewpoint and photos.

Being inspired in an Overgaard Workshop

More than thousand workshop students have experienced that an Overgaard Wrokshop instill enthusiasm in any photographer and raise his or her skill level, self-confidence and production volume. There is no criticism, instructions, things you have to do in a certain way, and there is no tests in an Overgaard Workshop. It's an inspirational workshop performed by demonstartion of how to "Always Wear A Camera" with Thorsten Overgaard present at all times, and in a magical way, you wll find the workshop to be less about Thorsten Overgaard and more about you.

A portrait photography secion is part of any Overgaard Workshop because it teaches the basics of light, colors, timing, and you learn to work decisive and fast! And ... apart from the benefit of getting a great portrait of yourself, you can now photography anybody, anywhere, anytime and make a great portarit in a few minutes.

Doing an Overgaard Workshop or Masterclass again

You bought a camera for a reason, and sometimes you forget, and you want to get back that enthusiasm for photography you once had. And you will. A great deal of those who have participated in an Overgaard Workshop or Overgaard Masterclass come back to do another workshop the same year or some years later. There is no "elevated" program for return students, because each workshop is a new and different experience. And each workshop is an individual session with Thorsten Overgaard.

The workshop is first and foremost indulgence in your passion for photography in such concentrated dozes as you have never experienced before! Return participants often have some certain goals or subjects they want to explore more, but mostly they just come back because it tend to give them a kick and take the individual participants from where they are now, to a new level.    

Portrait photographer David Hartcorn in the Overgaard Workshop.

Overgaard Workshop program:
Schedule of 2-day and 3-day workshops

Sometimes the Workshop or Masterclass is three days, some times two days. Both formats have proven to be very workable formats, refined over many years of doing this. I never listen to advisors who say, "nobody have time to spend three days in a workshop", because my experience say it is what is needed to 'get it', and it works. Likewise I don't do week-long workshops because it takes too much energy, and a week away from work and family becomes hard to schedule. Two and tree days es enought to 'get it', and few enough days to fit into another work trip or a trip with the family to the same location.

If you have done a workshop in the past and wonder where all the photo editing is, the answer is that some yars ago digital was new, and there was a greater need to address the confusion of editing and computers. In recent years I find that people. when asked, wante dto do more photography and less editing in the actual workshop. "How do I find my style" and "what to do with my photos" is more relevant, and I try to address this in the workshop as best as I can (the 3-day workshop offers one-on-one editing and review with me to help this purpose).

		3-day workshop schedule "Photo and Workflow" Overgaard Workshop				2-day workshop schedule "Photography Only" Overgaard Workshop
		Before workshop study You get a PDF booket with theory and inspirational notes to study.				Before workshop study You get a PDF booket with theory and inspirational notes to study.
10:00 – 11:30 11:30 – 12:30 12:30 – 13:30 13:30 – 17:00 Evening		Schedule Day 1 Introduction and camera settings. Portrait photography. Lunch. Walkabout in the city. Homework editing as needed.		10:00 – 11:00 11:00 – 13:00 12:30 – 13:30 13:30 – 17:00 Evening		Schedule Day 1 Camera settings. Portrait photography. Lunch. Walkabout in the city. Homework editing as needed.
11:00 – 14:00 14:00 – 16:00		Schedule Day 2 Thorsten talk on on workflow over brunch/lunch. The rest of the day is either group editing in same location, or we head out for some more photography.		10:00 – 12:00 12:30 - 13:30 13:30 - 17:00		Schedule Day 2 Walkabout in the city. Lunch. Walkabout in the city.
11:00 11:30 - 16:00		Schedule Day 3 Meetup for morning coffee and talk. Walkabout in the city, and late lunch. (Portraits if we didn't get to do that on the first day)
		After the workshop Finalizing editing (if it wasn't finalized in the workshop). Select the best photos from the workshop and send them to Thorsten via WeTransfer (who collects all photos from all and then share with the group after some weeks)				After the workshop Homework editing. Select the best photos from the workshop and send them to Thorsten via WeTransfer (who collects all photos from all and then share with the group after some weeks)

Thorsten Overgaard doing a short run-through of how he edits fast, decisive and get done with work.

Change of plans, now what?

The workshop policy is pretty casual as to changes, because life happens. You can mostly always change your attendance to another workshop in the future without any cost and without any need to justify why it is necesary. Which other workshop you want to move to, you can decide later; we just need to know beforehand if you can't make it. As a general rule workshops are not refunded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which computer do I need for photography?

Here are recommendations for your next computer, before or after a Thorsten Overgaard Workshop: Apple computers are far the best for photography workflow. Even if you work with a PC for work, consider an Apple for your photography.

Generally, I recommend getting the fastest MacBook Pro available, and with the 15" Retina screen. And change it every 18-36 months to stay in the loop with the fastest technology (things change so fast that a 3 year old computer tends to be really slow).

Speed comparison of MacBook Pro using Lightroom:

Which is fastest for Lightroom? This is how big a difference there is working with Lightroom 6.x. This test was performed with 346 DNG files from 24MP camera (= size 20-30 MB each):

MacBook Air 11 (Mid 2013) 1.7 Ghz i7 processor 512 GB hard drive Intel 1.5 GB 1 Thunderbolt 2 USB $1,700 in 2013

MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2013) 2.6 Ghz i7 Quad processor 1 TB hard drive NVIDIA 750M 2 GB 2 Thunderbolt 2 USB 3 SD-card reader $3,300 in 2013

MacBook Pro 15" (Mid 2015) 2.8 Ghz i7 Quad processor 1 TB hard drive AMD 2GB 2 Thunderbolt 2 USB 3 SD-card reader $3,100 in 2016 B&H Photo / Amazon

MacBook Pro 13" (Late 2016) 2.9 Ghz i5 Duo processor 512GB hard drive 8GB RAM Iris Graphics 550 4 x USB-C/ Tunderbolt 3 $1,899 in 2017 B&H Photo

MacBook Pro 13" (Late 2016) 3.3 Ghz i7 Duo processor 1 TB hard drive 16GB RAM Iris Graphics 550 2GB 4 x USB-C/ Tunderbolt 3 $2,899 in 2017 B&H Photo

MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2016) 2.9 Ghz i7 Quad processor 2 TB hard drive 16GB RAM AMD Radeon Pro 460 GPU 4GB 4 x USB-C/ Tunderbolt 3 $4,299 in 2017 B&H Photo

Import into Lightroom 6 of 346 DNG files from SD-card

11:31 min (External USB reader)

2:14 min (built-in SD reader)

1:54 min (built-in SD reader)

9:54 min (USB to USB-C dongle)

7:53 min (USB to USB-C dongle)

2:11 min (External USB-C  reader)

Making 1:1 previews of 346 DNG files

26:34 min

21:32 min

11:48 min

17:43 min

17:08 min

13:40 min

Export of files ** (346 web-sized JPG's)

24:16 Min

4:44 Min

3:12 Min

7:33 Min

7:30 min

3:45 min

Total waiting time for import, preview and export of 346 pictures **

62:21 Min

28:30 Min

16:54 Min

35:10 Min

32:31 Min

19:36 Min

SSD hard drive/Flash Memory read/write/copy speed *

200MB/sec

800MB/sec

2000MB/sec

1900MB/sec

1950MB/sec

1950MB/sec

Delay in showing a full-size preview in Develop Mode *

3-5 Sec

0.3 Sec

0.1 Sec

2.0 Sec

2.0 Sec

1,2 Sec

* = When you edit in Lightroom on a computer, the computer depend on the hard drive and not the processor/RAM to show previews immediately. ** = Export of files in other sizes than original uses the processor to resize the files.

Big screen

If you want to work on a large screen at home, I recommend getting one or two external screens that connects to your MacBook Pro, rather than having a "large computer" at home and a "small computer" for travel. It's much easier to have just one computer and not having to sync two computers; and you can invest the money in one really fast computer.

Workspace with two 30" Apple Cinema screens run by a MacBook Pro. © 2014-2017 Thorsten Overgaard.

Always buy the fastest model available

No matter which MacBook model you buy, upgrade the processor to the fastest possible model, and upgrade the hard drive to the largest available.

In the MacBook Air series, they usually come with an i5 processor, but upgrading to the i7 will increase the speed for photography workflow 4X and only cost $100.

The MacBook 12" is cute, has a great screen, but is also the slowest model for photography workflow. My mother has one and loves it, but she's 70 years old and only uses it for e-mail and online banking.

If you visit an Apple store and compare the 13" MacBook Air with the 15" MacBook Pro, you will realize that there's not much difference in size. So why not get the computer with the largest screen and most speed?

Even I travel 49 of the years 52 weeks, I've choosen the MacBook Pro 15" every time, and I've picked the fastest model available every time. I travel with my computer, but I never really carry it around. I park it in a hotel or apartment, and when I travel to the next place I put it in my bag until I arrive in the next hotel. Only if you always (or often) carry your computer around town with you does it makes sense to get a smaller model.

Currently, the MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2016) with 2.9 Ghz and 2TB hard drive may be the choice for slick design, better screen and the 2TB hard drive. But in terms of speed, the previous 2015 model is actually 14% faster for Lightroom.

Currently, the new MacBook Pro 15" (Mid 2017) with 3.1 Ghz and 2TB hard drive ($4,299 at BH Photo) is likely to the first of the new MacBook Pro's that is actaully faster than the previous silver 2015 model. I will test it as soon as I can.

With it the new MacBook Pro's (Late 2016 and Mid 2017 models) comes the pain of new Thunderbolt 3/USB-C connections and no SD-card reader built-in. An upgraded MacBook Pro 15" are expected to be announced in October 2017 with faster specifications (but still with four USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 connections).

LaCie 5TB harddrive USB-C		LaCie 4TB harddrive USB3 with USB-C dongle

Design

The MacBook Pro (late 2016 and Mid 2017) does have a slick design. After having looked at Joy using a less-than-impressive in terms of speed 13"' for some weeks, I started looking at my 2015 macbook as a clunky device. The fingerprint opening of the new MacBook is a nice feature together with other things that makes the Late 2016 and Mid 2017 model a pleasure to use.

The four similar connections is a freedom, once you get harddrives, SD-card readers, SD-card readers and all that connects to the Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports. And unlike the iPhone, it still has a mini jack for headphones!

No more SD-card reader in the Late 2016 and Mid 2017 MacBook computers

	StarTech SD-card reader is $30 at BH PHoto

Apple doesn't even make or sell (in the Apple Store) a SD card reader, so you have to visit BH Photo, Amazon or eBay to find a third party SD card reader that goes into the USB-C plug, or a traditional SD card reader with USB and use a USB-C to USB3 dongle.

Using a USB 3 card reader via a dongle is extremely slow. There are more and more USB-C readers available. The one I got is the StarTech ($30).

Then a few weeks later, I got the SanDisk USB-C reader, and that one is better:

The SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II Card USB-C reader does the job. © 2017 Thorsten Overgaard.

USB-C is not the same as Thunderbolt 3

The plug for USB-C is the same as for Thunderbolt 3. The confusion on this is so great that the staff in the Apple Store doesn't always know. They will claim it is the same speed. It's not. Thunderbolt 3 is four times faster than USB-C, and that is important when buying a new hard drive: LaCie makes hard drives with USB-C (USB 3.1) connections and Thunderbolt 3 connections for this reason, but many portable drives have just USB-C connection. USB-C speed is rated as 10GB/sec and Thunderbolt 3 is rated as 40GB/sec. This is so little known, most will claim USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 is the same connection and speed (though it was specified in the 40 page document following the release of the MacBook Late 2016).

Thunderbolt 3 hard drives
Hard drives with USB-C are not the same as Thunderbolt 3. The LaCie 6TB, 8TB and 10TB d2 drives are the first ones with real Thunderbolt 3 cables and speeds.

My LaCie 10TB drives with one USB-C connection (top) and two Thunderbolt 3 connections. The cables for USB-C (has a USB-symbol) and Thunderbolt 3 (has a thunder synbol and 3) are different. I have numbers on by hard drives, on front and back, as well as how big the drives are. After a while you can't remember which dive is which, and how much space it has.

Look at performance, don't listen to the hype

When the new MacBook Pro was announced, it was announced as "Metal on all four sides" and "17% thinner than the previous model" and so on. That's how they sold us Thunderbolt some years ago and that's how the MacBook 12" may sound great (even it is the worst for picture editing).

It's difficult to not get enthusiastic about the new, but make speed comparisons before you go get it all.

Which external hard drives do I need for photography?

You need external hard drives for storage, and you need two so one is your storage, the other is your backup of that. In other words, you always buy two, four, six or eight hard drives at a time.

Portable hard drives have a live span of 12-18 months before you want to replace them with a bigger one. You think they will last forever, but your need for storage grows faster than you think. The good news is that price of hard drive space drops with the same speed as your need more space.

This is how big (or little) a difference there is between USB and Thunderbolt
(tested with Blackmagic Sped Test):

		USB 3 portable hard drive 2 TB from BH Photo / Amazon 4 TB from BH Photo / Amazon		Thunderbolt portable hard drive 4 TB from BH Photo / Amazon		USB-C portable hard drive LaCie Porsche 2TB		Thunderbolt 2 desktop hard drive LaCie 6TB		Thunderbolt 3 desktop hard drive LaCie 10TB
Read/write/copy speed *		75 MB/sec		80 MB/sec
Read/write/copy speed with MacBook USB-C (Late 2016) via dongle to USB 3		75 MB/sec		80 MB/sec
Read/write/copy speed with MacBook USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 (Late 2016/Mid 2017)						USB-C cable 103MB/sec		T2 cable via USB-C dongle 137MB/sec		T3 cable 117MB/sec
* = Specifications of USB 3.1 says they can do 1,250MB/sec and specifications of Thunderbolt 2 says 2,500MB/sec. That's in theory. If you test them on your machine with a free program like Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, you will see the actual value ((which of course depends as well on your machine's hard drive (5400 RMP or 7200 ROM or SSD). Specifications for FireWire 400 said 100-400MB/sec and FireWire 800 said 800MB/sec.

As you can see, the extra price of Thunderbolt external hard drives (usually $100-$200 per hard drive) isn't warranted by the 6% faster speed compared to USB 3. Thunderbolt 3 is greatly improved speed compared to USB-C.

With new MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2016 model) that has only four Thunderbolt 3 conncetions (which are the same as USB-C that the MacBook 12" introduced), you don't really have a choice. You can use converters for a while, but all future things you buy should be directed towards Thunderbolt 3 (when Thunderbolt came out, you could get FireWire to Thunderbolt converters, and they work; but you want clean cables without having to use converters).

My portable hard drives are currently 4TB LaCie Rugged (USB3) and 2TB Western Digital (USB3) and 5TB Thunderbolt 3 (same connector as USB-C).

Remember, you will buy a new one anyways in 12-18 months. Go with USB 3if you can, and don't spend much time reconsidering this decision until portable SSD hard drives come down into a reasonable price range. (There will be coming a new type of SSD hard drives that you can expand unlimited - e-mail me for more info on this so you get a notice when they are available). 

Make sure to avoid portable hard drives that require external power supply! Not much compactness in having a small drive that needs a power supply. A portable hard drive should be powered by the USB or Thunderbolt cable. 

I use Western Digital 2TB portable hard drives (BH Photo / Amazon) and LaCie 4TB USB3 hard drives (BH Photo / Amazon).

Desktop hard drives are a little different in that they last for 3-5 years. Then you want to upgrade them to larger ones because you need more space and the connections becomes obsolete. FireWire 400 (invented 1995) and FireWire 800 (introduced 2009) have died out. Again, time works for you, the price of a top-of-the-line 120 GB hard drive in 2000 was $400 back then, and a 6,000 GB hard drive today costs $400 as well. 

This is how big (or small) a difference there is between FireWire 800 and USB3:

		FireWire 800 hard drive		USB 3 hard drive
Read/write/copy speed *		71 MB/sec		75 MB/sec

The lesson on FireWire, USB, Thunderbolt and the new Apple USB-C Port is that it's the size of the connections that change dramatically, not so much the speed. But the hype with each new type makes you buy new equipment, and that's the main feature.

Some of my external hard drives. FireWire/Thunderbolt in the background, USB backup drives on the front, and USB3 portable hard drives for travel.

USB desktop hard drives vs
Thunderbolt desktop hard drives

You can set up several USB 3 external hard drives via an $18 USB 3.1 Hub so they are all connected at the same time. As the Hub provides power as well, you can actually go with portable drives instead of the Desktop hard drives (that all requires a separate power supply). If you don't depend on speed but use the connected hard drives for archiving (and photo editing, video editing, etc. on the much faster internal SSD/Flash Memory), this is actually worth considering. The USB hub also can charge iPhones and stuff.  

Thunderbolt hard drives can be connected in "daiseychain" which means you have one cable going out of the Mac to the first hard drive, then a Thunderbolt from that to the next and from that to the next. They are all connected this way, although it requires that the desktop hard drive needs two Thunderbolt connections (one in and one out).  

One of the problems with Thunderbolt is that the cables go black for no reason. They simply stop working. Some times, after some weeks of rest they may work normally again. If you have a rather complicated setup of drives it's annoying to locate the faulty cable and replace it. Others have reported that Thunderbolt cables caused errors that wiped their hard drives. All in all, it's an easy technology but not a very stable one. We all got into it because "Thunderbolt" sounds so cool, and it's the future (and who doesn't want to be in that?). 

	Sanho 5-in-1 hub for MacBook USB-C is necessary in order to plug in more than one thing. It's a mess..!

Next thing will be USB-C which was introduced on the MacBook 12" in 2015 and that's also what is on the new redesigned MacBook Pro (Late 2016), wich they call Thunderbolt 3 on that one. (It has 4 Thunderbolt 3 connections and nothing else).

Thunderbolt 3 read/write 4X faster than USB-C even they plugs look the same. If you connect a USB hard drive via the USB>USB-C dongle, the speed will obviously be that of the slowest cable.

In the MacBook 12" it's very unpractical as it is the one and only connection for power, hard drives, scanners, phones and all. "Be careful what you wish for", as the Apple CEO said about that feature.

I have Thunderbolt desktop hard drives and USB 3 backup hard drives. The most recent desktop hard drives I've bought have been the LaCie 6TB Thunderbolt model and the most recent backup hard drives I bought was four 5TB hard drives with USB.

Do what seems most practical. As long as you have backup of your hard drives, the problems will never be bigger than what you can overcome. I very much buy hard drives the same way I buy Xerox paper:  the price per pack for 500 sheets of Xerox paper, and the price for a 1TB hard drive. I simply make a piece of paper where I list and compare the current models: Speed, Connections, price per TB). If I had smaller storage needs, I would use portable hard drives only. Nice, easy and compact. 

As I don't expect any of my desktop hard drives to be with me for more than 3-5 years, I don't invest in one large system or one large 30TB hard drive. I buy a hard drive that will keep me going for a while; and in 6-9 months when I need more space, I compare and get the next one.

Price comparison of hard drives (July 2016):

		USB 3:		Thunderbolt:		Thunderbolt 3:
LaCie 5TB Rugged portable HD						$65 per 1 TB BH Photo
WD 2TB portable HD		$42 per 1 TB BH Photo / Amazon
LaCie 4 TB Rugged portable HD		$55 per 1 TB BH Photo / Amazon		$95 per 1 TB BH Photo / Amazon		$87 per 1 TB BH Photo
SanDisk 960GB Portable SSD		$479 per 1 TB BH Photo / Amazon
LaCie 6 TB Desktop HD				$70 per 1 TB BH Photo / Amazon
LaCie 10 TB Desktop HD						$60 per 1 TB BH Photo
LaCie 20 TB Desktop HD		$75 per 1 TB Amazon		$100 per 1 TB BH Photo / Amazon

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop:

"The Overgaard Photography Workshop is an investment that pays immediate dividends.

In four short days there was a marked swagger in my step. This may sound irrelevant to photography, but in my opinion it’s one of the unspoken tangibles that make professional photographers like Thorsten so damn good – their confidence is able to make them disappear in a sense, and put their subjects at ease.

The funny thing about this is that it wasn't something discussed during the workshop, it was something that I learned from observing Thorsten work. The way he moved without hesitation, the manner in which he sized up his subject, and got the shot and moved on. Quick, clean, and confident! For me, that was the most valuable part of the workshop – spending four days at the elbow of a professional photographer!

What an experience!

I came away excited, eager, and confident that I could produce the kind of photographs I've always envied!

Thank you to my friend Thorsten! Some time in the future, somewhere in the world, our paths will cross again!"

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshops in Rome and Paris:

"Thank you for the Rome workshop.

The last days I spent with you in Rome I have done once before. So why do it again? Same type of workshop and with the same photographer.

Simply because I was so inspired by the first workshop two years ago, that I felt I would (and could) squeeze even more out of you a second time.

Of course some repetition was present on theory but two photo shootings are newer the same, and you always get new information there either wasn't presented the first time, or that you did not grasp at that time.

My overall goal taking part in the Rome Workshop was to focus much on the light, which I can transfer to future photo and television news stories that I produce.

And I got it!

The hands-on practice and advice from you benefits both experienced pro's like my self, as well as amateurs who wants to step up a level. So with my tired feet walking around hot Rome, I now will go back to work and let the experiences and inspiration go into my photography works.

You are newer too old, too experienced or (especially) too good to learn. Thank you for good company and learning experiences."

Review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop in Berlin:

"The Berlin Workshop is still resonating with me. It was truly a great experience, and was really nice to meet you and your family!"

"I wanted to take a moment and thank you again for all of the inspiration you give to so many of us. Earlier this evening I participated in an art show. Now, I have to admit that there are few things more satisfying as an artist than knowing that someone is not only willing to pay for your photographs but display them in their home or office. Thank you for all you do."

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshp:

"I diligently edit and process my images after every shoot as taught in your workshop and am always up to date with my images.

I have had your New Inspiration Course for a couple of days and have viewed all videos. I recently submitted a few images to a gallery in Portland for an exhibit.

I will continue to refine and work on the things you have talked about."

"It was a wonderful time, so many wonderful lasting friendships developed in this workshops!"

"Since we have met in the Overgaard Workshop Amsterdam I have been going wild making photos. Your approach really enabled me to make a steep change in making and processing photos. Many thanks for this!"

"I’m more confidence in doing portraits after the workshop."

"The Berlin Workshop is still resonating with me. It was truly a great experience, and was really nice to meet you and your family!"

Thorsten Overgaard Workshop Review:

"Thorsten, I appreciate the genuine way in which you continue to communicate with your students and admire your success in creating a community of enthusiasts around you.

"I was such a beginner when I did your workshop that it has taken me quite a while to incorporate what you taught us into my photographic life.

"I remember you are not a fan of spending hours on a photo, and nor am I – indeed one of the benefits of the workshop was to show how one could spend more time out and about with the camera".

"Thank you again for sharing the basics of your craft with us in Milano! It was a pleasure to meet you and I hope to find another opportunity to join one of your future classes in a different city soon!"

"Thanks a lot for a great workshop in Stockholm - it was f…… fun and inspiring."

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Paris:

"Thank you for the great days and your hospitality. Besides meeting you and the others and having a good time, the workshop inspired me a lot and I learnt lots of new things.

I took more photos than I usually take and was more courageous as well in shooting people. That was great! I'm really happy with the results and what I did".

"It was a good time in Paris, it really inspired me a lot. And good to get to know you."

"Thanks for an inspiring workshop and nice company in a lovely city. It was really great getting together with you and be in the Leica-bubble for a few days. I liked the relaxed atmosphere and learning from you"

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Hong Kong:

"It was a great pleasure spending the past three days with you guys. It was a lot of fun walking around Hong Kong with our Leica. 

Thank you Thorsten for sharing your professional experience with us, it really changed my point of view on keeping data files. With the advancement of technologies, we must keep a set of data which can take the test of times. That's a very important message amongst others that I learned in the past three days.

In the meantime, always carry your camera and be ready for the next shot!"

"First of all my gratitude goes to Thorsten who wants to share his knowledge about (Leica) photography, answering to all our recurring questions.

His methodology is perhaps not what hardware-, software-, cloud-, ...companies want us to do but as a former IT engineer I can only acknowledge his views about preserving our digital "heritage".

Unfortunately the times of the shoe boxes with our 10x15cm photographs are gone (with or without the negatives). Some markings on the envelope and that was it. Some had photo albums for the major events. The advantage of the old system is that anyone could view your pictures without any specialised hardware. I have some 19th century negative glass plates and you can still see what's on it alas in negative.

Recently I found back some negatives my grandfather took in the first WW with his Kodak Vestpocket camera ... In a world full of digital wonders like smart phones we never take so much pictures as nowadays as a society. Most of these pictures are lost or will be lost shortly because of a new smart phone, hard disk crash, incompetence of the user. The chance your hard drive crashes is higher than of your home burns down.

The workflow explained is for me the best I have ever seen. The portrait session; we missed the model but Bengt did a great job. He has FB profile photos for the next 10 years...

Explaining how to observe the light... It was a pleasure to meet you all in this fantastic workshop in Amsterdam, hope we will keep in touch somehow."

"Than you for an inspiring course in Stockholm, and thanks to your expansive personality and great camera knowledge, lightly conveyed.

The Lightroom Survival Kit will help me remember the intricacies of geting the raw file into a great picture."

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Vienna, Austria:

"I would like to say thank you for the workshop. It was a great experience of realizing my potential, capturing important hints and of course meeting you personally.

It was a pleasure for me to join you and the Leica fellows these summer days in Vienna."

"I just wanted to write and say it was a very inspiring three days with you all - I learned a lot from everyone. It was a pleasure to meet you all and hope to see many more of your photos in the future.

Thank you for this Thorsten. It was a great use of three days and you really taught me a lot and inspired me very much, not only in photography but music and life. I look forward to when our paths cross again. All the best man."

Review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop in Rome, Italy:

"I enjoyed myself very much in the Rome Workshop. I learned a lot, and only now the full experience is sinking in.

Thank you. I am trying make the New York Monochrome Masterclass as well".

"This is just to let you know that I had a great time these last three days in Amsterdam. We had a good group and I liked the relaxed way in which you approach photagraphy. I picked up a number of valuable ideas and technical tricks. Thanks a lot!"

"I take the opportunity to thank everybody for having the pleasure of sharing fantastic moments with you all."

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Sydney, Australia:

"Thank you again for the great time in Sydney. It was (and I say this quite seriously) a life changing experience. I'm a lot more confident to take and show my photos now. You should be proud that you have obviously brought knowledge and confidence to so many people. I will see you again some time in the future for a refresher."

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Malmo, Sweden:

"I was participant on your photo workshops in Malmo in 2011 and 2012. My abilities increased beyond imagination after that. Will you be offering a workshop only about portrait photography?"

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Berlin, Germany:

"Meeting you was one of the most memorable things in my life!"

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand:

"I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world who have chance to attend the Thorsten Overgaard workshop in Bangkok."

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop:

"I also wanted to express my gratitude again for the great workshop experience. As you know, I have been rediscovering my love of photography, and I feel that – beyond everything I learned about light, technique and software – I really took a giant step forward in "seeing" again, and in embracing the sheer fun of making photos.

I think your design of the workshop os right on the mark. The full day of ambling around, looking for the beautiful light, and taking (hopefully) great photos. I know it worked for me (since I was up at 3 AM trying to take pictures of the downtown skyline).

I feel energized about my photography, and am planning on getting much more involved with it over the coming months. I've been taking photos of fun things in the countryside on my way to work (I drive through about thirty miles of fields, dairies, falling-down buildings, old and rusting farm equipment and so on). I'm also learning more about both Lightroom and Media Pro.

So, thanks again for a great experience. I hope to take another of your workshops again."

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in Seoul, Korea:

"Dear Thorsten, I wish to thank you for wonderful days of photography. From the first day of theory to the last day of choosing our best, it was a wonderful experience that inspired me to take more pictures and share them with others.

I learned a great deal from your comments and also your showing how to improve the final picture through minor adjustments in Lightroom. Many of my friends have a heavy hand with Lightroom but you showed us how to adjust the camera so that minimal post processing was necessary to have a good final product.

I will always remember those four days as being very special. When you come to Seoul again, I plan to be there!

Again, thank you for a wonderful photo experience."

"I'll add my thanks to everyone for making this a thoroughly enjoyable workshop – very atypical from those that I've taken in the past. 

Thorsten, the way you've mixed the practical (technical) and the craftsmanship of making a good image with arguably the best tools out there left me with very actionable take-aways.

Thank you for being a wonderful gracious host and hope our paths will cross again."

"If you want to feel more confident with photographing and editing your photos from DNGs to finished pictures and have fun while doing it, I can warmly recommend attending Thorsten’s workshop. Not only did he help me shoot with more confidence, but he also taught me his editing workflow. He has a pleasant way of instructing and he inspires his students to develop a style of their own."

"Thanks for pushing your students to use those extreme apertures more frequently. Fun stuff.
I hope you are well wherever you are."

"It was a great pleasure spending the past three days with you guys. It was a lot of fun walking around Hong Kong with our Leica cameras.  

Let us share this passion and try to get together with each other and share our creations over coffee, lunch or dinner.  

Thank you Thorsten for sharing your professional experience with us, it really changed my point of view on keeping data files. With the advancement of technologies, we must keep a set of data which can take the test of times. That’s a very important message amongst others that I learned in the past three days.

In the meantime, always carry your camera and be ready for the next shot!  Let’s try to get together again!"

"I would like to say thank you for the workshop we recently had. It was a great experience of realising my potential, capturing important hints and of course meeting you personally. It was a pleasure for me to join you and the few Leica fellows these summer days in Vienna."

"Thanks again for a fantastic workshop in Montreal. it was a highlight of my summer."

"Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed your seminar this past weekend in Havana. You were able to clear up most of my photography questions and give me a great deal of other things to think about in image capture and techniques.

I am still quite rusty on the Lightroom use and manipulation, but I suspect that will be secondary to capturing good images going forward. Confidence in color was the real treat of the weekend."

"It was a pleasure to work and play with all of you for the last few days.
A great experience I won't soon forget. Now I have 11 new friends from round the world.

Thank you to Thorsten for being so patient and working through the details of being an excellent Leica photographer … Searching out the light and introducing us to his efficient workflow processing procedure over the last four days.  

I will be approaching my photography in a much different light now, compared to my photography life prior to the course. Awesome!"

"Thank you for these great days. It has been super fun and educational. I enjoyed our conversations, and now when I've looked through your best pics, I feel humble and starting to realise that I have a lot to learn.

Thank you Thorsten for all support and I wish you both the best of luck with future endeavours.

Fun to meet so many other Leica users. I would love to keep in touch."

"Many thanks for a terrific workshop! Cannot tell you how much I enjoyed learning from you and with colleagues (and new friends) from around the world. I feel that my skills improved, and everyone learned in a very relaxed manner."

"What a magical three days!!! I greatly appreciated being with such a terrific, interesting and compatible group, and learning not only from Thorsten, but from each other."

"I've had some time to reflect on the workshop and wanted to send you a note to say a big thank you for everything that you taught me over the four days!

It was fun, relaxed, informative and a really positive environment. Your collective enthusiasm is infectious and you've changed the way I look at the world. 

The three key things I took away from the workshop are:
1) love your gear,
2) keep it simple, and
3) just do it!

I now understand why people who attend one workshop are likely to do another one. I think attending a second workshop would be like listening to your favourite song with really good headphones - you get so much more out of it! I will definitely be back!

I can't recommend your workshop highly enough - if anyone is even considering it they should definitely do it (although, be prepared to want more Leica gear)!"

"Enjoying my photography more than ever since the workshop. Love the monochrome Leica."

"Thanks again for the GREAT workshop experience.

It is going to take me awhile to return to (almost) normal after the last several days. I have photo and software details swirling around in my brain, and am trying to assimilate it all. I hope the three of you had a good trip this morning and that you have a wonderful time in Florida as well."

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop in Perth, Australia:

"I've had some time to reflect on the Perth Workshop and wanted to send you a note to say a big thank you for everything that you taught me over the four days.

It was fun, relaxed, informative and a really positive environment. You and Joy complimented each other perfectly, your collective enthusiasm is infectious and you've changed the way I look at the world.

I now understand why people who attend one workshop are likely to do another one. I think attending a second workshop would be like listening to your favourite song with really good headphones - you get so much more out of it! I will definitely be back!

I can't recommend your workshop highly enough - if anyone is even considering it they should definitely do it (although; be prepared to want more Leica gear)!

Since finishing the workshop I've bought a light meter and ordered a WhiBal card and a Rock'n'Roll camera strap from Tie Her Up. I've downloaded the workshop notes and saved them to my iPad for holiday reading and will get a new Apple laptop and some hard drives in the new year, start going through all my photos and set up the workflow you taught us.

Most importantly, I'm now carrying the Leica X Vario with me more often!

Until we meet again, keep having fun and spreading the love!"

"I’ve been several days thinking about the workshop we attended, and I’m still thinking about it!

Thorsten's job was very professional and complete. And the style he suggested fitted exactly with my way of thinking photography: search for the light, then search for the subject. The use of Leica lenses wide open (with the help of ND filters) - terrific!

My photographs really explode in my computer. Thank you Thorsten, those four days wil be unforgetable to me."

"Three pleasant days have changed forever, years of strong image production.

Congratualtion to Thorsten who could immediately create a team spirit maintain everybody's 3 days 110 % focus on improving ."

"I had a great time also. Since I only bought my first Leica about 3 months ago, I know I have a lot to learn, and I really feel I have a superb jump start with all of you help. Thanks Thorsten and everyone else. Please let's stay in touch."

"Thorsten, thanks for another great experience. I look forward to one in Toronto or Montreal!"

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop:

"Thanks again for the GREAT workshop experience!

It is going to take me a while to return to (almost) normal after the last several days. I have photo and software details swirling around in my brain, and I am trying to assimilate it all."

"I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for a really fantastic workshop and the time spent together. This weekend will always be very well remembered!"

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop in Hong Kong:

"Thanks again for an amazing experience. Definitely keen to do another workshop with you both in the near future to hone my skills. Thanks again for everything."

Review of the Thorsten Overgaard Workshop in London:

"I was in a flat spot with my picture making, I was reading your blog which I follow with great interest. Your blog said 'wear your camera and get out and do something'.

Well, after a bit of thought, I went out and put on an exhibition of 80 pictures in our local library exhibition room. This turned out to be very successful with photographic societies and others visiting the exhibition.

Thank you for having inspired me!"

"Now, ten days after of our workshop I am feeling even much more grateful to your three days of relaxed lessons. I have been shooting every day and I can notice your legacy more present in my photos.

I have been changing all my image workflow and now it is simpler, faster and with much better final results. Many thanks and congratulation! Your teaching system keep people improving, it doesn't finish when at workshop ends."

"Thank you Thorsten. I'll try and get at least one image everyday. "

Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop Review:

"Towards the end of the year, I purchased a Leica camera and Leica 35mm lens; I did not know how much this little black box was about to shape all of the next year for me.

I attended a workshop in London with Danish photographer Thorsten Overgaard. It was, not only, an incredibly informative few days but also tons of fun and I met some wonderful people. The encouragement I got from Thorsten and everyone else gave me an incredible boost to get started. In fact I loved the workshop so much I immediately enrolled for the next one, which turned out to be even better.

I found Thorsten's straightforward approach to both using the camera and towards editing extremely refreshing, but it was the way he taught me how to look for light that, honestly, changed the way I view the world.

I see differently now and because of that I also think differently. I've started to compose and record music in a way that is much clearer and for the first time in my career true to how I want to hear it."

User review of the Thorsten von Overgaard Workshop in Sydney, Australia:

"First of all I would like to thank you for some very educational and inspirational days in Sydney. I feel that I've grown a lot as a photographer, not only through what you taught us, but also by just observing how you move and interact with subjects on the street. And your "All you need is love" approach to photography is the best advise I've ever received as a photographer.

I'm still aiming for my "less is more" approach to photography. If something doesn't add to the story you’re trying to tell then try to crop it out (preferably in camera) or wait for the right moment when there are no distractions. I just had another look at your website and one of my favorite photos is of the Sikh reading a book shot with the 80mm Summilux-R. There must be hundreds of people in that photo but they all add to the story and therefore not a single one should be cropped. Very inspiring indeed!

Hope to see you again in the future, in Australia or somewhere else around the world. All the best."