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!
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.
Art Wolfe Live returned this week with a special look at Katmai, Alaska and the bear tours Art leads annually to this unique location. We run multiple tours here because demand is high. The first trip in August is nearly sold out! However there are still a few spaces remaining for the second tour that begins right on it’s heels – reserve your spot today!
For even more information on this location, check out the Top 10 Reasons to Join a Katmai Bear Tour – and have a listen and enjoy the images of Where’s Art with Mitch Stringer!
I want to express my deepest gratitude & appreciation to the big crowd that turned out last night in Portland. After years and months of zoom calls, It was nice to see everyone safely in person.
For those who couldn’t make the event, I recently shared the stage with Ruskin Hartley, the Director of the International Dark-Sky Association. Included in that talk are some of the stories behind the photos in Night On Earth – available for streaming online:
I’ve been eager to get back to Mongolia for some time now. Although some of the photos I took here on my last visit have become iconic – such as the Kazakh Eagle Hunter and his amazing golden eagle – shooting while the hustle and bustle of Travels to the Edge was being filmed didn’t quite allow me the same flexibility I might have when visiting on a tour. add to this the astronomical leaps we’ve taken in technology since then, and I can’t wait to get back!
We still have a couple of spots left to join our group, embarking on our photo adventure July the 6th. Join us to photograph the Naadam festival, wild horses as the roam the vast steppe largely unmarred by the influence of development, and of course a special shooting sessions with Shaman and Kazakh Eagle Hunters.
I’ll be LIVE in Seattle next week for another talk at Town hall Seattle – this time discussing my new book Night On Earth – and I’m thrilled to be joined by Ruskin Hartley of the International Dark-Sky Association. Ruskin is an expert on the subject of light pollution and the efforts to preserve the deep, dark night skies that allow us to view the heavens and the trillions stars that surround us – among many other conservation efforts!
Town Hall Seattle – The Forum
1119 8th Ave (Entrance off Seneca St.)
Seattle, Washington 98101
Nighttime is wonderfully mysterious, beautiful, and full of a certain kind of energy — and most of the time, we diurnal humans sleep right through it. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you could not only stay awake for it all but also peek in on what’s happening at night across the entire planet?
In his newest book, Night on Earth, acclaimed photographer Art Wolfe gives us a glimpse of nature, animals, and human activity on every continent, after the sun goes down. Blazing sunsets over Antarctic ice. Night markets pulsing with activity in Morocco. Glittering star trails over the Australian outback. Colonies of penguins awaking to the dawn. Wolfe reveals it all through a dazzling compilation of photos that Sir David Attenborough calls “…a suburb evocation of some of the most breathtaking spectacles in the world.”
Wolfe takes the Great Hall stage to present slides and share stories of his travels, the process of creating the book, and the fine art of picture-making at night.
Art Wolfe is an American photographer and conservationist, best known for color images of landscapes, wildlife, and indigenous cultures. His photographs document scenes from every continent and hundreds of locations, and have been noted by environmental advocacy groups for their stunning visual impact. Wolfe has created millions of images in his lifetime and travels nearly nine months out of the year photographing for new projects, leading photographic tours and seminars, and giving inspirational presentations.
Ruskin Hartley is the CEO and Executive Director at The International Dark-Sky Association, where he champions equitable access to dark skies and quality lighting for all through IDA’s award-winning programs. Prior to his position with IDA, Ruskin directed and managed conservation programs that protect land, water, and ocean resources. He has served as executive director of Save the Redwoods League, as president and CEO of Heal the Bay in Los Angeles, and as vice president of resource development at Fair Trade USA.
Last month I took a trip to the South Sudan to photograph in specific the Mundari people and their cattle camps – a defining element of their culture. Their great cows with their incredible horns and size are interesting enough on their own, however the interaction and symbiosis between them and their caretakers in the Mundari are truly fascinating.
Photographically speaking, I got exactly what I was after here. Utilizing the smoke from burning piles of cow dung that the Mundari keep at smokey smolder to drive away insects and atop a ladder I was able to capture atmospheric moody images of both the cows, and the people. The contrast of light colored cows and the darker tribesmen also made for some graphic shots as well.
If you missed Tuesday’s episode of Art Wolfe Live, I talked in a bit more depth about this trip, and shared the following video with the audience. Enjoy!
Tuesday night, Parimal joined me for the premier episode of Art Wolfe Live! Thank you so much for all the positive feedback on the new format – while it hasn’t changed dramatically since the days of Tequila Time, it’s my goal to make it more purposeful and succinct, tying it into the past month of travel, teaching, photographing, and more! If you missed it, enjoy!
We will do this monthly – the next episode will air on October 26th at 6 PM on Facebook and YouTube. From initial feedback, it sounds as if the experience is a little better on the YouTube platform, so be sure to follow me there as well if you’re not already! It will also be a good place to catch up on the video I’ll be shooting.
Finally, Earth Is Our Witness returns on Tuesday, October 19th at 6 PM PST! Parimal welcomes National Geographic Explorer James Balog ofChasing Ice fame – an epic return for EIOW! I’ll be in town for this one – don’t miss it!
I’ve been busy lately – leading workshops, working on books, and of course working in the yard. That being said I’ve missed Tequila Time and being able to connect with everyone live. While logistically speaking, having a weekly live stream simply isn’t feasible, it’s my goal to bring you monthly stories and lessons from the previous 30 days of shooting and my take on current events as they relate to travel and photography.
To that end I’m happy to announce that Art Wolfe LIVE will kick off next Tuesday, September 28th at 6 pm Pacific, 9 pm Eastern on Facebook Live and YouTube!
Returning for the inaugural episode will be Earth Is Our Witness host Parimal Deshpande. I have a quick video treat from my trip to Iceland to share and comment on, and lessons from that same trip to share – and more! Tell your friends, hope to see you there!
Greetings from Iceland! I’m still out and about here and have yet to really dive into editing. I figured I could whet your appetite with a small preview of what’s to come when I return and have the time to go back through all the great shots on this trip.
The weather hasn’t always been ideal, but our group has stepped up to the challenge; a little adversity is how we learn and grow.
I would also like to take this moment to announce that at the end of September will mark the return of my live broadcasts, so if you’ve missed Tequila Time and just can’t wait for more candid shenanigans and honest-to-goodness insights from yours truly, rest assured I’ll be back live on YouTube & Facebook!
Art Wolfe Live, or “AWL” as I suppose we will call it, wont be as frequent as Tequila Time with my travel schedule and other obligations, but the goal is to do it monthly at the very least. I simply don’t want to create an unsustainable format. I do however miss the live streams and connecting with everyone.
Not only will AWL be a way to connect with everyone on a monthly basis and talk about what I’ve been up to, I also intend to discuss current events and other important topics that aren’t solely related to my work.
