* * * 2 SESSIONS OFFERED! * * *

DATES: June 15 – 17, 2012 and September 14 – 16, 2012
LOCATION: Edelweiss Lodge and Spa, Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
TUITION: $465 (Full time students will get a 15% discount)
LIMIT: 10

Click to register now

Overview

There are many great workshops on location lighting using small portable speedlites. This flash workshop is for the landscape, adventure or travel photographer who often packs their gear to locations by backpack, bike, skis, raft or other muscle powered method. With today’s highly capable Nikon and Canon speedlites (synonymous with strobe and flash), high impact and studio quality lighting is possible even in remote locations for shooters on the go. This workshop will show you how to get the most out of your wireless TTL speedlite system.

Workshop Description

We will cover methods to effectively use wireless TTL flash with one and two units. Techniques and (a few tips) will include:

• Capabilities and limitations of small speedlites.
• Controlling the quality and direction of light to make pleasing flash images.
• Complimenting and blending artificial light with ambient light.
• Understanding and using your systems wireless capabilities.
• Expanding your systems range and capabilities with radio triggers.
• Understanding key light, fill light and accent light.
• How and when to creatively use high speed and rear curtain sync.
• Using color gels and light shaping tools.
• How and when to use one and multiple speedlites.

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

Where We Go

Even though our focus is on adventure subjects our time in the field will be spent making images – not walking long distances. We’ll have access to a private ranch (Northside at Taos) that can easily take us (depending on snow conditions) to high mountain forests, meadows and alpine settings with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Nearby we have an open valley with vast sweeping mountain views and sections of the Rio Grande in a stunning canyon for paddlesports photography.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is for intermediate and advanced photographers and emerging pros who want to improve their lighting skills and get the most out of their speedlite system. This workshop is not brand specific though the instructor is a Canon shooter. Participants should be familiar with the basic functions of their digital SLR cameras and flashes and should be comfortable with manual exposure.

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

$465 (includes all instruction, location fees, and model fees)
Deposit: $100 (includes non-refundable $50 application fee)
Participant limit: 10

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 for a single room at $85 per night plus taxes.

Sponsors

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

Click to register now

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.

Sponsors

Alaskan Adventure Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Photography Workshop

DATE: August 11 – 20, 2012
LOCATION: Anchorage to Kennicott, Alaska
TUITION: $3,595
MORE INFO: Rocky Mountain School of Photography

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in the southeast corner of Alaska carries the distinction of being the largest national park in the United States. Within its borders you’ll find glaciers, rivers, an active volcano and nine of the 16 tallest peaks in the U.S. Led by Michael DeYoung, your Alaskan adventure also contains endless photographic possibilities. During the week, you move from Alaska’s largest city of Anchorage to the funky frontier town of McCarthy. En route, you photograph the scenic Matanuska Glacier and the rugged peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range. From McCarthy you make your way to the Kennicott Lodge, which becomes home base for several days. From here you venture out to photograph the area’s jaw-dropping mountains, forest landscapes, historic buildings and glacier-clad scenery. Enjoy a guided, day-long hike to the Root Glacier where you photograph deep blue pools and possibly explore some ice caves.