Today is “Nature Photography Day” – I think I might have something to accomodate! This day was designated by the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) to promote the enjoyment of nature photography, and to explain how images have been used to advance the cause of conservation and protect plants, wildlife, and landscapes locally and worldwide–a cause I couldn’t agree more with and one I’ve been pursuing my entire career.
Thankfully I’m home for a couple days between workshops & I will be posting some new photos from the last three weeks along the Pacific coast of California and Oregon. I encourage everyone to get out there and explore your corner of the world!
Recently vaccinated and ready to get out? We are coming up on the final stretch of West Coast workshops, with limited space left to join me at several haunts up and down the shores of the Pacific. Today begins our Carmel-By-The-Sea workshop – probably too late for this one!
One spot HAS in fact opened up for the ever-popular Abstract Astoria workshop happening next week. It WILL be claimed so act fast if you want it.
On June 17th we head to the Columbia River Gorge that serves as a natural border between Washington and Oregon, home to breathtaking landscapes, several waterfalls and a wide variety of opportunities to photograph both nature and abstract images.
Finally, a little further out at the end of July we will be returning to Port Townsend for another Abstract workshop – this new location serves as an excellent companion to Abstract Astoria, and it’s fast becoming a favorite of our clients. Limited to just five participants, this is an excellent opportunity to get some one on one instruction.
I’m thrilled to be back in the field but I also can’t wait until I’m back home and can reconnect with everyone on another live stream – stay tuned for info on when that will be happening again. Visit the events page for information on all upcoming international & US workshops, and have a fantastic weekend!
In the good old days of film ISO 100 was considered fast and on the margins of the day with every increasing exposure times you had no choice but to pan with your subjects as they moved. Today we’re getting spoiled with digital cameras that yield acceptable images at exceptionally high ISOs.
So this is a reminder to dial back to good old ISO 100, even put on a polarizer to lose another stop or more and put some emotion and action back in your shots. It takes practice – try this technique with the wind blowing a field of flowers, a crowded market, street scenes… it’s not just for animals.
When using a tripod the contrast of tack sharp architecture and blurred people can be very effective. Share your results if you have some as well!
Limited to just six participants, this retreat is designed to combine the best aspects of a relaxing vacation, inspiring seminar, and hands-on workshop all into one inspiring trip.
California’s Central Coast is a location brimming with variety: stunning ocean vistas, abstract photo opportunities, and wildlife, not to mention the fine dining in the company of other enthusiasts. Do you like sea otters? Imagine kayaking amongst them! We are going to a fantastic location where you can comfortably photograph sea otters from kayaks.
With Art Wolfe as guide and guru, you will learn how to clear your mind and photograph in the moment, free of preconceived notions; you will explore how to spot the non-obvious and uncover new ways to expand your visual imagination in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Just two spaces remain before this highly exclusive workshop fills up! If you plan on joining, sign up today – it will sell out!
As you likely know by now I love to create abstract, painterly images. I often find some of my favorite captures in locations that most people might not even notice. This video was filmed on location in Eastern Idaho, however if you’ve attended any of my abstract workshops – you know what I’m looking for! A background in Fine Art and Art History serves me well in these instances, where I can draw on abstract expressionists to see the shapes and colors and contours as something more than a rusty old truck – metaphors and imaginary landscapes abound.
While some abstract captures such as this have gone on to be prints, parts of calendars and more – it’s really the activity of training your eye to see and capture them that is the real value here. Training one’s eye to see the metaphors, colors, and potential of a given shot will only expand your visual vocabulary, and serve as valuable tools in any photo work you do.
My upcoming book Night On Earth now has an official cover! This book is full of photos captured between the margins of the night, from twilight to the first inklings of morning light and the dark skies in between. It encompasses wildlife, natural landscapes, cities and much more selected from thousands of nighttime shots I’ve accumulated over my career.
Night On Earth is scheduled to be published this fall. Pre-order your signed copy today, and check out the special print and book bundles on my online store.
I’m excited to share the results of the global vote to create a New Big 5 of Wildlife Photography. Thousands of wildlife lovers around the world have voted for their favorite animals to photograph and see in photos.
The 5 animals in the New Big 5 are: Elephant, Polar Bear, Gorilla, Tiger & Lion.
“These 5 animals – elephants, polar bears, gorillas, tigers and lions – are such beautiful and remarkable species, and are wonderful ambassadors for the world’s wildlife, from iconic species to little-known frogs, lizards, fish and birds. So many face threats to their survival from issues such as poaching, habitat loss and climate change. A million species are at risk of extinction. If we work together, we can stop this happening. There is always hope. Change is possible if we each play our part.”
– Dr Jane Goodall
The ‘Big 5’ is an old term used by trophy hunters in Africa for the most prized, dangerous animals to shoot and kill: elephant, rhino, leopard, Cape buffalo and lion. The New Big 5 project had a better idea: to create a New Big 5 of Wildlife Photography, rather than hunting. Shooting with a camera, not a gun.
More than 250 of the world’s photographers, conservationists and wildlife charities have come together to support this international initiative, which is raising awareness about the crisis facing wildlife, including habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade and climate change.
Each of the 5 species in the New Big 5 face serious threats to their existence and are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. They’re the tip of the iceberg. The world’s wildlife is in crisis. More than a million species are currently at risk of extinction, from elephants, cheetahs, orangutans, lions and polar bears to ‘unsung heroes’ and little-known cats, frogs, birds, lizards and other species, each too valuable to lose. The next 10 years are critical.
We hope the New Big 5 can stand for all the world’s wildlife and highlight the urgent need to act globally to save these animals, our planet and ourselves. These 5 animals are a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose.
The project’s message is that all wildlife deserves to exist and every single species needs to be protected. From bees to blue whales, all wildlife is essential to the balance of nature, healthy ecosystems and the future of our planet.
Change is possible.
Find out more about the 5 animals in the New Big 5 of Wildlife Photography!
We had excellent news this week out of the CDC that will bring us closer to normalcy in the form of reaching enough vaccinations to begin removing our masks and relaxing social distancing. Thank you so much to everyone who has been proactive about getting their vaccination and wearing your mask for this past year and then some.
I’ve been back to leading workshops at a pre-COVID rate for a couple of months now with anxious participants ready to get back to doing what they love, many of which had received their vaccinations ASAP to accommodate.
It’s time to move forward! I for one am interested to see how this past year of minimal travel for most people has impacted the places around the world I visit on a semi-regular basis. THANK YOU for everyone who’s tuned in to Tequila Time over the past year so we could stay connected. I for one am happy to be back teaching, especially after spending months working on the Pathways to Creativity series and truly fine-tuning the the things that I believe make an Art Wolfe Workshop stand out from the pack – utilizing my fine art and teaching background to ensure our participants come away with something unique and incomparable to anyone else’s travel photos.
The upcoming Bandon, Oregon workshop is sold out. On it’s heels are our Majestic Redwoods and Carmel-By-The-Sea photo retreats, with a limited number of spaces available in each. If you’re anxious to get out, sign up today so you don’t miss out! To see all of my upcoming workshops including international trips to multiple locations in Africa as well as Madagascar and Mongolia and more, check out my events page.
I can’t wait to enjoy some meals, share knowledge, and re-discover the planet together!
The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always.
— John Steinbeck
Space is still available to join me on our Majestic Redwoods Photography Retreat, taking place at the end of this month! Come along and make some new friends who share your love of photography in one of the most iconic forests in all the world, where these trees – some a millennia old – tower over the beautiful California coast.
Of course this is an ART WOLFE workshop, so while we will line up and grab the token travel shots that exclaim, “I was here!” along with all the other tourists – we will go much much deeper in exploring this land – the same land that has drawn explorers and naturalists throughout history to it’s unique and massive canopy over the centuries. From the forest to the coast, we will mine this location for opportunities to set our photography apart from the pack, enhancing your creative eye with lessons that will serve you no matter the subject.
Space is limited and these workshops tend to fill up quickly the closer we get – don’t wait too long to sign up and miss out! Of course, all of my workshops are Covid compliant, and your health, safety, and enjoyment of our time together is top of mind.
In case you missed last night’s episode of Tequila Time (which is possible considering some technical difficulties and a late start!), my usual co-host Parimal Deshpande wowed us with more photos from his homeland of India, currently facing a pandemic crisis. His message that the beauty, humanity, and symbiotic nature of India and it’s people will lead them past this tragedy is timely for us all as we look to move forward. If you missed it, check out his presentation!
Prior to Tequila Time, Tom Mangelsen joined us on Earth Is Our Witness to discuss his Legacy Reserve Collection and the stories behind some of his most impactful wildlife shots – if you missed it, check it out on the EIOW Facebook & YouTube pages – and don’t forget to give EIOW a follow on Instagram to see galleries of all of the EIOW Alum’s work.
Last but not least, we made an important announcement last night regarding the future of Tequila Time and my live broadcasts. Tequila Time was an excellent way for us to stay in touch, and I hope that it helped if even in some small way for folks to find an easier time navigating a strange year or more.
Now that things are returning to a bit of normalcy, we want to make sure that our live broadcasts are relevant and informative and ever-evolving. To that end, we will be evolving Tequila Time into a new live feature we will call simply, “Art Wolfe Live!”. This should not only help save my body some extra wear and tear from the extra tequila – but will also be a more planned and intentional broadcast, featuring my perspective on current important world events, highlighting what we are up to here at the AWI office and out on workshops, and of course a Q&A session to answer all your burning questions!
Stay tuned for Art Wolfe Live this August! Prior to the inaugural episode, we’ll also be reaching out for Q&A questions – keep an eye out to submit yours!
