Last week I posted about additions and changes to my upcoming workshop schedule, and I wanted to take some time to expand on this as they begin to fill up. Despite the lack of bright sunny weather, spring is here. The days are longer, and the overcast lighting is perfect for the purposes of taking photographs in the beautiful landscapes of the Pacific northwest.
In less than a month, I’ll be leading a Columbia River Gorge workshop. From waterfall-laden rainforests to grasslands, this workshop will encompass a variety of subject matter – and good food from local restaurants to boot! My goal is to not only provide tips and techniques for shooting the varied landscape, but I’m also excited to announce that we will be lending 6-stop neutral density filters to participants to use for nighttime captures of waterfalls. I’ll also provide all participants with personalized copies of my how-to book, The Art of the Photograph.
As of this post there are six spots remaining to join me, but with only weeks to go it will fill up quickly!
I’ve scheduled another Lake Quinault retreat for October. Not only will we be photographing one of the more lush and green rainforests you’ll find, we are also providing a full day of instruction on Adobe Lightroom, as well as printing tips on EPSON printers. Come away from this workshop with new skills in the field, a better understanding of powerful and affordable photo editing and organizational software, and beautiful print or two!
We are a couple weeks away from Photography As Art in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts on May 13th. Sign up now to spend the day hanging out with me and learn how a lifetime of photography and a background in art can change the way you see the world around you. Be inspired to capture interesting and unique images!
While browsing my website, you may have also come across a couple new additions. Many people have asked me about the equipment I use in the field, and to that end we’ve created the Art Wolfe Recommended Gear page. All items listed here are items I use in the field or in some cases as I travel or edit my photos. The Featured Partners on this page are also all companies who’s products we use both in the field and in our office.
We’ve also launched the Pro Tours page – workshops led by my associates Gavriel Jecan, Sean Fitzgerald, and Yuri Choufour. I can’t be everywhere at once, and these instructors have traveled a great deal with me over the years.
Lastly, enjoy some of my latest exhibitions and photos! I was recently in Hamburg, Germany and cut the ribbon on my first ever open-air exhibit, Meisterhaft Getart. Over 50 large format prints from my book Vanishing Act are on display for free all day all night on the streets of Hamburg’s Überseequartier through June 30ths. If you find yourself in Germany, check it out!
I’ve also recently returned from central Africa, where little shade and 110 degree temperatures made for a grueling trip – but I couldn’t be happier with the variety of wildlife I was able to capture. On the ground, I was happy to find a variety of wildlife mingling within each shot. From the sky, we were able to capture the magnificent elephant herds who’ve come together in search of dwindling water sources, and in unity against the attacks of poachers in the region.
1) Limited to 8 participants (and only 2 spots left now!), this guarantees more one-on-one time with Art in the field. Due to the intensive nature of this workshop it is critical for participants to have an opportunity to work closely with Art so he can thoroughly explain the magic behind complex compositions.
2) Art will incorporate lectures from his popular seminar Photography As Art (also coming to Portland on May 7th!) as it is the main focus of this workshop. If you have seen this seminar and are looking to take the next step with this type of photography this is the workshop for you. Art will drive home the concepts that he teaches during that seminar in the field and will change the way you look at photography altogether.
3) It is extended by one day. This means one entire extra day in the field, providing us with the opportunity to incorporate some of the new locations that Art just scouted this year. It also gives the participants a bigger variety of photographic opportunities and compositions.
4) The extra day also grants us time to incorporate morning critiques throughout the workshop instead of having it at the end. This is fantastic because you will have time to learn from your mistakes while there is still time to photograph in the field.
5) The great thing about this location is that many people do not see the photographic potential that it has to offer, so it is fantastic to open up your perspectives on things. It is amazing to see the transformation of what starts as an old rusty object, and becomes a magnificent piece of artwork.
6) We will take the opportunity to work with 6-stop Neutral Density filters to show people how they can use them in the field to add an ethereal quality to their photographs. The many pilings that the surrounding area has to offer is a perfect subject for this.
7) The accommodations that we have selected are top notch! The Cannery Pier hotel offers nice hors d’oeuvres and wine every evening, granting our participants a chance to relax and socialize after an intensive day in the field.
8) The city of Astoria also has very nice restaurants where the entire group will dine together every evening. It’s nice to have an opportunity to have meals together as you really get to know the entire group better. Many people form long-lasting friendships after attending our workshops together.
9) See Astoria, Oregon which holds the distinction of being the first permanent United States settlement on the Pacific coast and for having the first U.S. post office west of the Rocky Mountains.
10) Don’t forget, you get a Human Canvas Book, with a collectors edition print! Add this wonderful collectors edition signed and numbered book+print to your collection, as an added bonus.
“I took this workshop to begin to develop “seeing” beyond the obvious. This workshop definitely started me along this path. Mr. Wolfe dedicated a morning to instill an appreciation into the abstract world and with his critiques of our images, added to my understanding of abstractions in photography. I plan to bring these elements into my landscape photography to see beyond the obvious.”
-Walter D.
Finally, check out the participant photo gallery for some of the amazing images captured in past Abstract Astoria workshops:
Try as I may, unfortunately I can’t be everywhere at once – and with my busy schedule I end up missing out on the opportunity to visit some of my favorite locations to lead workshops.
To that end I’ve created the Art Wolfe Pro Tours set of workshops – trips to these knowledge-rich haunts led by my trusted associates; photographers and friends I’ve worked with for many years whom I trust to adhere to the style and message I aim to convey when teaching in the field, as well as in my talks and critiques. They have accompanied me on countless trips over the years, and their knowledge of these locations and our travels together ensures it will be time well spent, as each Pro Tours instructor brings a unique background and perspective to the table.
Check out the new Pro Tours page and get to know a little bit about each of these trusted instructors and peruse the list of locations they’ll be visiting soon!
I have decided to jump in on the Olympic Peninsula workshop happening in in April with Gavriel Jecan, Yuri Choufour and Libby Pfeiffer. It is only one month away, so now is the time to pull the trigger if you’ve been contemplating joining us to capture the forests, coastline, and mountain peaks of this lush location. Join myself and trusted instructors in an area with a never ending variety of subjects to shoot!
Here in my home town I am offering a special meet and greet that will take place at my house. There will be hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and a special slide show! I will also include a copy of one of my popular how-to books. The following day, we will rendezvous at the Frye Art Museum for the seminar. For those of you who attended the debut of this seminar at Kenmore Camera over a year ago, please be aware that it has been extensively updated.
Hop on this perennial favorite! I myself have decided to do just that and will co-lead this workshop with Gavriel Jecan, Yuri Choufour, and Libby Pfeiffer. We will explore this internationally recognized biosphere that is in our backyard–this is a wonderland where the scent of saltwater and fir hang in the air and the horizon sometimes seems to make the entire world appear to be shades of blue and green.
C4C17 is the 5th annual visual storytelling event put on by Blue Earth Alliance. They have brought together socially conscious businesses, non-profits, educators, public agencies and content creators for two days of inspiration, exploration, and partnership building. I will be presenting the opening keynote, “All in a Life’s Work: The Creative Process of Art Wolfe” on Friday, May 5th at 9:00 AM.
In this full-day seminar, you’ll learn that the beauty, emotion and versatility expressed through photography are matched only by the limits of your imagination. Using art history as a reference point, the seminar highlights common visual elements, from shape and space to texture and light, and shows you how to apply them to enhance your own compositions. You’ll explore innovative ways to translate conceptual ideas into creative results, learn how to spot the non-obvious, and uncover new ways to expand your visual imagination.
This is fast becoming my second most popular workshop. Situated at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River, Astoria is a fascinating and revitalizing port city with a history tied to the early territorial aspirations of the United States. My goal is work closely with each participant to truly transform and refine their skills while exploring the nature of creativity itself.
With Art Wolfe’s Travel to the Edge airing in the US & Europe and Tales by Light streaming on Netflix, you can binge watch all these gloriously filmed, international episodes to your heart’s content and then figure out where you want to travel to next.
If you haven’t already seen it, Season 1 of Tales by Light is riveting. The six half hour long episodes follow five photographers around the world documenting their approach to photography and story telling: Darren Jew, a nature and underwater photographer, Krystle Wright, an adventure sports photographer, Richard I’Anson, a travel photographer, and Peter Eastway, a landscape photographer.
Five photographers & six episodes–the math doesn’t add up, you say. Two of the episodes follow me on wildlife and cultural adventures in East Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Alaska. In “Tribes”, you’ll catch glimpses of my work with the Surma people of Ethiopia, and gain huge insight into my Human Canvas Project. In “Wild” I visit Alaska, among other locations, to photograph the mountainous landscape and brown bears of Katmai to which I am leading workshops in 2017 and the same dates for 2018.
Since I can’t be everywhere, all the time, and all things to all people, I have recruited several colleagues for USA-based trips in 2017. These Art Wolfe Pro Tours are led by exceptionally able photographers and travelers Gavriel Jecan, Sean Fitzgerald, and Yuri Choufour, who are well versed in my curriculum and teaching style. Who knows, you will probably have more fun without me!
So good I’ll be going twice! Many of you may have recently watched Tales By Light with it’s release to Netflix streaming, and now is your chance to visit this featured location with me.
Board the expedition ship Sea Endurance with myself and Kevin Raber of Luminous Landscape and three other professional instructors for an unforgettable 11 day photo tour up the eastern coast of Greenland.
2.) Escape the holiday madness, and of course the cold weather!
3) Traveling with Art Wolfe and Gavriel Jecan will educate and challenge you, all while being FUN!
4.) Myanmar opened its doors to tourism only a few years ago – see it through the eyes of a master photographer familiar with the location!
5.) Ancient ruins, lost in time.
6.) Hot air balloon rides over said Ancient Ruins!
7.) Ancient traditions, long hidden from the outside world.
8.) Witness a people and a country begin to shape their own future before your very eyes!
9.) Did I mention the weather? I will again, because I personally can’t wait to ditch the fall and winter weather for a spectacular sunny break in the east!
10.) And finally – and adventure to south east Asia with yours truly all along the way, because why not?
Take a virtual journey and check out a few of my favorites taken between July 1st and September 30th. Locations include: Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Katmai National Parks, Oregon’s town of Astoria, the Congo’s Nyirangongo Crater and Virunga National Park, Tanzania’s Katavi National Park and the annular eclipse, Washington’s San Juan Islands, and a quick trip to California’s Venice Beach and London, England.
Check out my events page and join me on an upcoming trip! A couple spots are still available for one I am particularly excited about; an adventure to mystical Myanmar in December, where I’ve collected some of my best shots of the exotic cultures and ancient ruins. Escape the cold and capture once in a lifetime images Gavriel Jecan and myself!
If you like what you see of the beautiful Alaskan wildlife and landscape, sign up for trips in 2017 to Glacier Bay and Katmai National Park.
