DATE: June 24 – 28, 2012
LOCATION: Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
TUITION: $995
LIMIT: 8

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Overview

Veteran adventure, landscape and lifestyle photographer Michael DeYoung will conduct this 5-day adventure photography workshop at the Edelweiss Lodge in Taos Ski Valley. Nestled in the highest mountains in New Mexico, the workshop focuses on incorporating the human element — athletes and adventurers — into the area’s dramatic landscapes. DeYoung will teach creative composition, lighting, action, art direction and design techniques to help participants create powerful images that convey a strong sense of place, action and emotion. Anyone wanting to improve their outdoor photography with any camera system will benefit from this workshop.

Ready to take your photography to the next level? Read more below …

Workshop Description

This workshop takes you beyond the mechanics of photography and gives you the skills you need to visualize, plan, light, direct and execute photography that is powerful and compelling. These skills come from within you, the photographer, adventurer, athlete, wilderness traveler, or appreciator of the landscape.

In this workshop, you’ll learn to incorporate human elements — athletes and adventurers — into mountain, canyon and river landscapes to produce compelling work. Whether the goal is to communicate sheer adrenaline, spiritual serenity or something in between, you’ll gain the skills to achieve it.

Participants will learn creative composition, lighting, action, art direction and design techniques to create images that convey a strong sense of place, emotion or peak action. Utilizing local athletes and adventurers as talent for field sessions, we focus on photography of muscle powered adventure sports of trail running, yoga, mountain biking and paddling. We will introduce you to the wonderful world of speed lighting – learning to mix small flashes with natural light to achieve stunning results in less than ideal lighting conditions. Participants will also learn to stay light and mobile with their gear in a variety of adventure situations without sacrificing professional results.

Daily schedules are typically early morning and late afternoon location shoots with lecture and critique sessions during the day or in the early evening. Lectures will consist of visual presentations and equipment and technique demonstrations. Time permitting, we will also cover getting the most out of your RAW files in post production with Lightroom.

Workshop Setting

Taos Ski Valley and Taos are one of the west’s top ski resorts and adventure towns. Located 90 miles Northeast of Santa Fe and a short distance from the Town of Taos and the Taos Pueblo, the Ski Valley is a cozy alpine village and ski resort surrounded by forested and alpine peaks of the Sangre de Cristo. It is nestled below the highest mountain in New Mexico – Wheeler Peak. The legendary light and landscape have drawn artists to this area for centuries.

See more images from Taos Ski Valley, Taos, and the surrounding area here

Our host lodge, the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa, has offered a special rate for workshop participants and our lectures and critiques will be held there. At 9,200 feet summer temperatures are typically invigoratingly cool at night and very pleasant during the day.

Where We Go

Our location shoots will take place in several settings including a private ranch (Northside at Taos) that can easily take us to high mountain forests, meadows and alpine settings with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Here we can work uninterrupted with talent and practicing technique. Other possible locations will include the ski slopes and surrounding trails. Nearby, a section of the Rio Grande will provide our setting for whitewater and paddle sports photography. Our elevations will range from 12,000 feet to 6,500 feet along the Rio Grande.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is really for anyone wanting to improve their outdoor photography. Intermediate and Advanced photographers who are familiar with the basic functions of a digital SLR and are comfortable with manual exposure are welcome to attend. Film photographers are welcome, too, but only digital photographers will be able to participate in critique sessions.

What You Should Bring

• Camera and Lenses: A DSLR (does not have to be a pro model) with a hot shoe connection and a couple of basic lenses. Suggested lenses are a wide angle prime or wide angle zoom in the 16-28mm (35mm equivalent) range and a portrait length prime or medium telephoto zoom in the 85-200mm (35mm equivalent) range.
• Speedlites: at least one brand specific wireless enabled speedlite and wireless transmitter unit (like Canon 580EXII and ST-E2, or, Nikon SB900 and SU800) or two wireless enabled speedlites (Canon 430 or 580 series, Nikon SB800 or 900 series) where either one could serve as a transmitter.
• Optional equipment: tripod, gels, softboxes, light stands, off camera cord, other trigger systems such as RadioPoppers or Pocket Wizzards, extra batteries, extra media cards, a loupe to see your viewfinder in bright light.
• Computer: Laptop with image editing software (Lightroom suggested) with the ability to download images from media cards to the computer. Participants need the ability to produce jpeg images for group critique. Optional equipment suggestions: portable hard drive, small jump or flash drive.

Tuition

$995 (includes all instruction, location fees, and model fees)
Deposit: $300 (includes non-refundable $50 application fee)
Participant limit: 8

What’s Not Included

Lodging, meals, gratuities, and all transportation to and from Taos Ski Valley and to and from assignment locations (except on private ranch where transportation will be provided from and to Taos Ski Valley)

Lodging

Workshop participants are offered a special lodging rate at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa for a single room at $85 per night plus taxes.

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