Walking in The Footsteps of Ansel Adams Landscape Photography Experience 2018 Yosemite National Park 5-days of Practical Photography Monday 19 th February to Friday 23 rd February 2018 6 Nights Accommodation will be booked from Sunday 18 th through to Saturday 24 th February 2018 Digital-Workshops Photography made easy. for beginners and beyond Tour services are provided by: Tours of Yosemite National Park and More Accompanied by a local driver-guide-photographer we will have the opportunity to put your photography skills into practice: Rule of Thirds, Why It's Ok to Break the Rules Using Filters to Enhance Your Images How to Make Water Stand Still With Long Exposures & ND (Big Stopper) Filter Photograph Yosemite Your Way Making the Most Of The Weather and Lighting Photographing water pools and reflections Capturing dramatic sky and cloud formations using Polarising Filter Macro/Close up photography HDR Photography (Bracketing Exposures or in camera apps) Panoramic Landscapes Time-lapse Night Photography Lunar Rainbows Spectacular Sunrise & Sunset Photography (Weather Permitting) How to make Black & White Images Stunning (Colour Conversions) Lens Selection for Impact Hyperfocal Distance How to take less shots, but make each shot matter Pushing Your Camera and Your Skills to a New Level RAW vs Jpeg and why you need both 1
Everyone is Welcome This photography experience is designed to help you cope with everchanging subject lighting and weather conditions to produce stunning images with the minimum amount of fuss, without getting stressed out about camera settings and functions. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to advanced photographers, there will be some amazing and interesting scenery to see and capture and lasting memories to take home. Locations Visited We will have access to all the major (accessible) areas of photography interest that Yosemite National Park has to offer (subject to weather conditions and area closures) It is advised that you are of reasonably good health and are capable of walking short distances on uneven surfaces. Walking along wet slippery icy paths and rocks will be kept to a minimum and nothing too strenuous. It is recommended that you bring sensible, comfortable walking shoes and all-weather clothing, as the weather can change and close in without warning. Some photography tour companies expect their photographers to hire cars and travel from location to location in convoy with walkie talkie radios. On this trip, we have the use of a local guide/driver who knows the roads in and out of the park, travelling in a 4-wheel drive mini coach (with snow chains if needed) which can get us out of trouble quickly and safely should the weather deteriorate. This is also an added bonus should there be a need to change locations quickly to capture better weather in another part of the area. We will be visiting the renowned Ansel Adams Gallery (www.anseladams.com) where we will be taken on a 4 hour photography class by an Ansel Adams Gallery staff photographer. Ansel Adams immortalized Yosemite National Park through his classic black & white images. His images pushed the popularity of landscape photography while helping to motivate the American environmental movement. Through the course of the class, you will visit a number of locations from where Ansel composed some of his most famous images. At each location, you will have the opportunity to see the same image through your lens and work more in-depth with the scene around you. You will receive insight into Ansel's life, photography and philosophies as well as basic lessons in photographic technique, if needed. Why February? Yosemite National Park is open for the most part 365 days a year and gorgeous at any time. The Yosemite Valley and major attractions outside of the Tioga Pass area are open year round. Many travellers forget that Yosemite is an amazing place during the Winter. Yosemite really transforms between each season and the temperatures and climate adjust accordingly, with February being a great time to visit especially after a major snow storm has cleared. With the runoff starting to melt and roll off the sheering cliffs of Yosemite Valley and transform into cascades such as Yosemite Falls, Nevada and Vernal Falls, Horsetail Falls, Wapama Falls, and other seasons falls that emerge from sleep. February is also a good time as there are less crowds. Another very good reason for running this workshop in February, most spectacular of all sights: Horsetail Falls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsrhvs8wsnc) (weather permitting). 2
Itinerary There is no set itinerary, every day will be weather dependant and at the discretion of our experienced guide/photographer who understands the fast-changing unique and unpredictable weather climate. You can encounter almost all four seasons weather in one day, well at least three... Which makes photography in Yosemite such a wonderful and exciting experience. Although the days will be long, they won t be so long that your experience of Yosemite National Park becomes unenjoyable from exhaustion. Each day will be a unique experience, taking us to some of the most beautiful locations in Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Some of the locations we hope to capture during our visit are: Horsetail Fall (natural firefall) Yosemite Valley Tunnel View El Capitan Cathedral Rocks Glacier Point Half Dome Yosemite Falls Bridalveil Fall Merced River Yosemite Village Gates of The Valley These are just a few of Ansel Adams favourite places in Yosemite and visiting them will be subject to weather conditions and at the discretion of the tour guide/photographer on the day Equipment A couple of quotes from Ansel Adams: You don t take a photograph, you make it & The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it! From a compact digital camera to a digital SLR, there is no specific equipment required for capturing beautiful images of Yosemite. Although it would be an advantage if your compact camera has the ability to select manual aperture-shutter speed settings. If you have a digital camera system with detachable lenses even the standard lens that came with your camera would be more than capable, however if you want to get creative and produce images with impact we would suggest the following for your specific camera: Micro Four Thirds Sensor (Olympus & Panasonic) Wide angle lens around 9mm Standard lens around 25mm Telephoto lens around 100/150mm APSC Sensor size: Wide angle lens around 10mm Standard lens around 35mm Telephoto lens around 100/200mm Full Frame Sensor Size: Wide angle lens around 17mm Standard lens around 50mm 3
Telephoto lens 200/300mm Most of the above lenses can be incorporated into a high quality travel zoom lens which will be much lighter to transport and carry around. Keep it simple, pack only what you need for the trip. It is not advisable to pack expensive photography equipment in your suitcase, but in a back pack with your carry on. It is also not advisable to leave expensive photography equipment in hotel rooms. It is much safer to carry it with you at all times. Should you be considering buying a new camera or lenses, please let me know and I will be more than happy to make some recommendations. Additional Essential Equipment: Spare batteries Battery charger (with USA adapter) Extra memory cards Sturdy tripod (spare tripod plate) Lens cleaner & cloth Rain sleeves Additional secure storage Small pair wildlife binoculars Torch If applicable to your camera: Cable release UV Filter Polarising Filter Neutral Density Filter Graduated Filters Intervalometer (Time-lapse photography) Digital Workshops are pleased to recommend London Camera Exchange for all your photography needs All photography equipment can be purchased from: Carl at: London Camera Exchange (Chichester) 01243 531536 Please remember to quote Yosemite 2018 to qualify for discount. With over 45 years in photography or photographic related industries I have extensive knowledge of most camera manufacturers products. Including Nikon, Canon, Sony Minolta, Pentax, Olympus etc. Just to be on the safe side please feel free to bring your User Manual with you in case you experience a specific issue with your camera. I have made lifelong friends with some of the many photographers attending my Photography Experiences who are frequent students wishing to get the most out of their cameras and photographic opportunities. These workshops are informal, friendly and most of all FUN. 4
Price includes: 'The Full Experience' Lodging in a 3-star Oakhurst hotel (B&B basis) Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks and soft drinks during the day trips Day/Evening guided transport/tours to specific renowned photographic locations Photography Class by Ansel Adams Gallery staff photographer All outdoor activities are subject to weather conditions and area closures Total Price of 1570:00 per person What s NOT included: Flights, Transport to & from airport (Flights and transportation to Oakhurst can be arranged) Alcoholic Beverages Dinner (This allows everyone to choose their preferred dinner venue) Additional Food Guide/Driver/Photographers Gratuities We have a strict limit of 10 photographer spaces per trip. Some photographs from previous Yosemite Photography Experiences 5