I recently led a workshop in the Southern Sierra in California. The fall color put on quite a show, with the aspen trees being a particularly stunning subject to photograph. We also found a lake full of coots, worked on abstracts in Bodie State Historical Park, visited the always fantastical tufas at Mono Lake and stopped at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to add more unique texture to the portfolio.
Recently I went to see Everest with friends and it took me right back to May of 1996 when the tragedy occurred. People will quibble about the movie being true to life, but that’s not what I am addressing here. The climbing community is tight, especially in a town like Seattle, and I knew Scott Fischer through mutual friends. From time to time he would come to my office to select mountain imagery to promote his company Mountain Madness. As is often the case, I was traveling when the news came from Nepal. Scott’s wife Jeannie arrived with his precious film and my staff was galvanized into action. They assisted her with getting it developed, edited and labeled, and making sure the selects got into a stock photography agency for worldwide distribution. It was one small thing we could take care of that helped her and her two daughters through an agonizing time in their lives.
Join me in an exploration of the Southern Sierra in California, September 24-27th. The light is exquisite this time of year. It is a fascinating region, full of photographic possibilities. One day we will set up amidst the ancient & twisted Bristlecone pines at 11,000 feet and the next we will pass through the ghost town of Bodie on our way to the surreal tufa formations of Mono Lake. We will take field sessions to the beautiful surroundings of Bishop. Finer points of maximizing light will be discussed in the classroom and in the field. Critiques will be part of the learning process too.
The best way to learn photography, is in the field, one-on-one with an experienced instructor.
Some of you who get my newsletter may have noticed that I am doing a photo tour to Cuba in March 2016. It filled quickly and I am starting a waiting list for Gavriel Jecan’s tour that is happening right after mine.
Gavriel Jecan is one of my recommended guides. He leads many photography tours and will be visiting all of the same locations and will be utilizing the same Cuban photography guides.
Put your name on the waitlist now to get on Gavriel’s tour!
When running a workshop it is critical never to be absolutely locked into a schedule. Before heading up to Mount Rainier last week, we looked at the weather forecast; there was a possibility of rain on the weekend so we changed around our shooting schedule and did our sunrise shoot at Reflection Lake first thing on Friday. Even then we were concerned that the mountain would be concealed by the surrounding mist but we were pleasantly surprised when the fog lifted for a moment and the golden rays of the sun burst through.
July is Outdoor Photography Month at CreativeLive!
I take you on a photo tour of incredible destinations and explain my artistic workflow in “Maximizing the Potential of Remote Locations: Arctic to Antarctic“.
Do you want to travel to any of the remote locations I mention? Check out the Events page.
Also, through July 31st get 30% off all online courses at CreativeLive!
Escaping the heat in Seattle, we had a great workshop last weekend with a group in Palouse, Washington. The views from Steptoe and Kamiak Buttes are spectacular and I particularly love the graceful lines created by the rolling hills covered in wheat accentuated by the subtle shadows cast by passing clouds. In the small town of Palouse we were able to work on abstracts, photographing old window screens, glass blocks, and rusted metal.
New to the Art Wolfe Store, these framed art cards are perfect as gifts! Framed and matted they are beautifully printed and embossed—a classic look that could effortlessly be used in a variety of ways and decors. They are especially useful in small spaces and as decorative montages.
Art card in a black wood frame with matting.
Frame size: 10.75 x 10.75
Image size: 5.5 x 5.5
See the complete selection here. Use the introductory coupon code blog072015 to save $25!
Iceland is a wonderland of volcanic landscapes and this was a great place to try out the new Canon EOS 5DS R, which is even superior to the 5DS I shot with earlier in May. This camera is not about pushing the ISO boundaries into the stratosphere, rather it’s about amazing details in the enlargement. The 5DS R offers much more clarity in the shadow and highlight details, a greater dynamic range, in addition to its obvious pixel packing punch in huge installations. I also like the familiar feel and weight of the camera vs. moving away from the 35mm look and feel to a medium or large format type body. This will be a game changer for packing in a camera with this resolution capability to remote locations where gear weight is an issue.
All these photos were taken in Junes over the last eleven years. June is the season of the summer solstice, bright with the longest days of the year. It is an excellent time to travel to the Arctic—or just about anywhere for that matter!
