Early Bird Specials On PNW Workshops – Extended Through the Weekend!

For anyone looking to join an upcoming workshop here in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve extended the early bird savings on some upcoming workshops though the weekend – save a couple hundred bucks and join me in one of two very different locations!

The first opportunity begins August 17th, with a small group photography retreat on the Oregon Coast. While I’m often leading a group in Abstract Astoria, this is an opportunity to explore new locations in a small-group setting of five travelers. While any workshop I lead will include a healthy dose of finding abstractions and unique points of view, this one will focus more on the breathtaking seaside landscapes that the coast has to offer.

The following trip brings us inland, to the Palouse of Eastern Washington. Often referred to as “The American Tuscany”, the Palouse is home to breathtaking landscapes, turn-of-the-century farms and rolling hills of gold under blue skies. It really couldn’t be much different from the mossy, rocky, misty shores of Oregon. I’m looking forward to the juxtaposition of exploring these varied locations back to back!

All of this follows my Katmai bear workshops, both of which only have one or two spots left available – make this year your year to go and claim one of them and capture your own amazing shots of one of America’s signature wildlife attractions.

If I don’t see you on a workshop, have a fantastic summer! If you need inspiration for photography goals, peruse the blog – I’m sure you’ll find something to spark an idea!

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Is it Summer Already? Q1 & Q2 Image Gallery!


Summer is here! It’s been relatively cool in the Pacific Northwest recently, but I’m not complaining as it also hasn’t been overly rainy, making for good conditions to spend some time working in my garden recharging the batteries after what has been a busy 2023.

The year started off on the road in Bangladesh and Thailand, with the later providing shots of clouds of bats emerging from their tunnel colony that will be in my upcoming book Wild Lives, releasing this fall. From there it was off to Japan, and then a later engagement in the northern mountains of India in search of the elusive snow leopard for that same project.

Of course, it wouldn’t be spring without workshops here at home in our beautiful United States. Perennial favorite Abstract Astoria was once again on the agenda and if a more creative and/or abstract workshop is on your to-do list, there are plenty of upcoming events and workshops coming up on both U.S. coasts to check out.

We went coast to coast, with workshops in Joshua Tree, Moab, and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Finally, a specially mention for everyone who joined me at my home in Seattle and then for our Creative Sessions weekend. We had a great time, and I look forward to doing it again in the future. Enjoy the photos and have a fantastic summer!

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Friday Film – Moab, Utah Workshop Video!

This past spring I returned to Moab, Utah with a great group of workshop participants that were graciously receptive to my teaching goals in such locations – shooting the unobvious! It’s easy to come to a place like this and shoot the arches and other well-known landmarks. I can recite ad nauseum the camera settings I might use while we sit around waiting for perfect light and re-create the same shot you’ll find on postcards as you head out of town. That’s not why I come here and certainly not why I choose to lead workshops here.

Places like Moab, Astoria, and other significant locations around the country and the world are attractions for a reason, however— so I recommend people get those shots if they want them, of course. In these popular locations it’s much easier to find lodging and great food versus some remote and obscure spot on the map, so they make great places to hold these workshops. However there is so much more to be seen in the details, reflections, and abstracts to create new and unique one-of-a-kind images as well, and that’s where I like to focus my time and my teaching.

Enjoy the video, and check out my upcoming workshop offerings!

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Friday Vids – Art In Action: Abstract Astoria!

Unless you’re new to checking out the blog (Welcome, if so!) you’ve heard of my popular Abstract Astoria Workshop. It’s been a consistent destination for us year after year, and for good reason. As the oldest city on the west coast, Astoria is a venerable Scandinavian-inspired burg with an abundance of character and old-school charm. Culinary delights are around every corner, and on those corners you’re bound to find museums, breweries, and even old forts— abandoned, but ripe with photographic opportunity.


This makes it an easy choice for a recurring abstract workshop. Not only are the traditional vistas, shores, and surrounding forest great opportunities for your standard fare travel photos, the aged concrete bunkers, rusted logging equipment and waterways of moiré patterns nestled in amongst the greenery and culture make for an amazing trifecta of creativity, photography, and hospitality.

These are just some of the reasons we keep going back— and why this workshop has so many repeat clients. We’ll be heading back next spring, and now is a good time to plan your trip as this one will assuredly be a sell-out as usual! Check out the events page for this location and more.

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Travel Tuesday – Catching Up With Art on US Workshops!

Summer is near, and I’m feeling it in Seattle! Coming off a fantastic weekend workshop that began last Friday evening with a meet and greet at my home,  I came away feeling invigorated after working with everyone who joined.

We added some smaller-group workshops to our events page – and they immediately sold out. If this is something that interests you, we will work with you to figure something out when my schedule allows. The up-side of these smaller trips are more one-on-one time as well as having accommodations and transportation resolved for you.

For the spontaneous adventurer who can get themselves here at the end of the week, one spot remains to join us on the Olympic peninsula. Who is us? Myself, my long-time shooting partner Gavriel Jecan, and office superstar Libby Pfeiffer who assembles these fantastic opportunities.

The Columbia river gorge is one of the most iconic locations on the west coast, and there are a few spots left to join Gav and myself here in early June. While we will have plenty of opportunities to capture the vistas, waterfalls and temperate rainforest of the area our goal here is to use this naturally beautiful location to dial into the abstract. This is something I’ve taught myself to do over decades, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than teaching it to you.

Before the summer wraps up, I’ll be returning to Katmai, Alaska – home to the bear that adorns the cover of my upcoming book, Wild Lives. We’ve been working with the same folks on the ground (and in the air!) for a long time now, and I always look forward to the two weeks we spend teaching workshops here. We are fast approaching the time of year when the last few spots for these opportunities fill up – so don’t miss out and sign up today!

Teaching what I love to do is my passion and the breakthroughs that happen on our workshops are, simply put – awesome. Being able to pass on a lifetime of learning is why I do this!

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New Photos from Joshua Tree!


This past weekend we had a great workshop in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. As expected after the state’s record rainfall this winter, the wildflowers were out in force and the cacti were blooming which made for some unexpected hummingbird photography. However, it’s Joshua Tree’s eponymous yuccas and ancient granite formations that I love to explore.

There’s no time like the present to join me on an upcoming workshop! There’s just one spot left in the upcoming Olympic Peninsula workshop, and a few remaining for the breathtaking and illuminative Abstract Columbia River Gorge. If you’ve ever wanted to attend our renowned Katmai Bear tours, reserve your spot now before they fill up!

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Workshop Wednesday – Two Days Left For Early Bird Discounts on U.S. Workshops!

I’m happy to have a full slate of upcoming workshops on the calendar for your perusal – from the great Smoky Mountains to here in the Northwest, abstract workshops and nature retreats abound! Sign up today, save a few hundred bucks, and I’ll see you there!

Great Smoky Mountains Photography Retreat – Save $300!
April 26 – 30, 2023
Joshua Tree Workshop – Save $200!
May 3 – 7, 2023
Palouse Spring Workshop – Save $300!
June 1 – 4, 2023
Abstract Columbia River Gorge – Save $300!
June 8 – 11, 2023
Abstract Anchorage Workshop – Save $200!
July 30 – August 1, 2023
Grand Teton Photography Retreat – Save $300!
October 11 – 15, 2023
Hidden Northwest Lake Quinault Photography Retreat – Save $300!
October 25 – 29, 2023
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Travel Tuesday – New Photos From Japan!


You know what I loved about this latest “Winter in Japan” workshop? The Snow! Meaning snow was falling as we photographing in various locations. It made for great conditions at the snow monkey hot springs farther north in Hokkaido. It was positively magical with the iconic Japanese cranes; the world looked like a shaken snow globe. Using a faster shutter speed really emphasizes the snowflakes. Depending on the light conditions, I was using ISOs between 2000 and 4000 with my favorite 100-500mm lens.

I have some great wildlife photo workshops coming up: Brazil’s Pantanal in late June, Alaska’s Katmai Bears in August, and Wyoming’s Grand Teton in October (earlybird special!). Sign up while there are still spots available!

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Join Me For a 2023 Abstract Workshop!

With my new book Wild just around the corner, I’ve been heavily focused on capturing wildlife images that I’d like to include – however it’s time to get back to another passion of mine: abstract workshops! We have a few on the upcoming calendar and these are always eye-opening experiences for the folks to attend. Not only will the exercises and lessons expand your understanding of capturing an interesting provocative abstract image, the fundamentals we discuss and experience will be another tool in your kit to think about for all future photographs.

It’s my goal to ensure you come away with applicable tactics to approach all photographic opportunities with a thoughtful, unique creative eye. Even if abstract subject matter isn’t necessarily interesting to you, the creative process of capturing them is virtually guaranteed to make you a better overall photographer. . . and who knows, you might just spark a new passion!

Check out the events page for all of my upcoming workshops – we’ve just added a couple more!

Seattle Creative Sessions | May 12-14 Almost full!

Abstract Columbia River Gorge | June 8 11 – New!

Abstract Anchorage | July 30 – August 1 Almost full!

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10 Reasons to Join My Moab By Day & Night Workshop!

10. The Moab region has so much to offer and we have park permits to conduct our workshop in both Canyonlands and Arches NP’s. This is a fantastic place to capture the beautifully sculpted rock formations and stars at night!

9. Check two National Parks off your bucket list. Do you have a National Parks passport? Maybe it’s time to get one and start visiting the sites of “Americas Best Idea!”

8. Our diverse itinerary includes a variety of locations; finding abstracts in reflections along the edges of the river, some of my favorite petroglyphs and pictographs, and of course night sessions.

7. Moab is a small town that relies on tourism to fuel its needs, great food and we plan to share some fantastic meals together!

6. Critiques – what good is a workshop if you’re not there to do a little work? I’ll be giving critiques of your photos as we review them and discuss!

5. Limited to just 8 participants, this retreat is designed to combine the best aspects of a relaxing vacation, inspiring seminar, and hands-on workshop all in one exquisite trip.

4. If you’re a movie buff, this location should be on your bucket list. Movies such as Thelma and Louise and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade filmed scenes here.

3. Mid-March is the perfect time to visit, when things are warming up from the cold winter, yet haven’t reached the scorching days of summer. With a bonus of snow capped LaSal mountain peaks making a great background.

2. Of course, hands-on instruction and educational lectures. I love to teach!

1. Adventuresome learning! I work hard to make sure everyone comes away from these workshops feeling better about and more enriched by their photography skills.

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