Mount Rainier National Park Workshop

I have this great fondness for Mount Rainier. It is the landscape that I grew up with and the view of it southeast of Seattle inspires me to this day. It is hard to miss—an unbelievable landscape rising abruptly from sea level to 14,000 feet. This shining, white mountain has always loomed above and beyond Seattle, both unsettling in its latent volcanic power and awesome in its beauty.

It was the allure of the mountain that got me to Mount Rainier early in my life. I’ve climbed the mountain several times over the years, but I visit at least a couple times a year to photograph its magnificence and get grounded. I’m motivated to inspire people—to uplift people—and I find mountain imagery does that. I also love to turn people on to things that have excited me in the past; with Mount Rainier it is very easy to do.

From any different angle Mount Rainier presents a perfect and amazing landscape. I love that fact that it is often shrouded in mist, and as the day changes the mountain just comes out of nowhere. The mists themselves are great subjects as moisture and light and hidden forests give rise to clearing skies. It is a subject that is never boring and often entertaining.

In mid-August monkey flowers are flourishing along the small streams that come down from the snow fields above. There’s western anemone, lupine, beautiful paintbrush, and asters. As you are fully engaged photographing the details of the landscapes you’re likely to see animals pop up as it is an environment that is rich for wildlife. There are foxes that live up in there as well as black bears; mountain goats often come off the barren slopes and cross the mountain valleys. Martens, marmots, jays, squirrels, chipmunks and pikas are all up there waiting to be discovered.

Down in the old growth forests a whole new range of subjects reveal themselves—from the beautiful details of the old growth trees to the fungus that start to come out in the early fall to the beautiful oak ferns, oxalis and hellebore. If we are lucky we may see some forest animals as well. Ptarmigan and grouse make that zone home, but deer pass through the forests as well as spotted owls, barred owls, and calliope hummingbirds. It’s all part of the experience of photographing in what is a rich, accessible environment.

I always look forward to returning to Mount Rainier, and I definitely love to share it with people who have never been.

Art Wolfe Rainier Workshop
August 22-24, 2014
Click HERE for all the information or to register

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Discover The Palouse this Summer

PALOUSE WORKSHOP with Art Wolfe
Pullman, Washington

August 15-17, 2014, with an evening reception on August 14th at The Hilltop Hotel.

This three-day course will change the way you look through the lens as well as how you look at your photographs. Art will share the finer points of maximizing early morning and late afternoon light. Field shoots will be at some of the most beautiful locations around the beautiful wheat fields of eastern Washington.

All aspects of outdoor photography will be covered including composition, field techniques, technology, and the unique philosophy of this highly specialized profession. There will be informative lectures, rigorous critiques and portfolio reviews.

Want to do aerial photography?  Flight add-on available.  Please email info@artwolfe.com.

For more info, or to register for the workshop click HERE.

 

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Serendipity & the Art of the Photograph

Often my favorite shots are serendipitous and this image of a single Gentoo penguin on an iceberg is one of those cases. Here along the Antarctic Peninsula, Gentoos live on just a few islands.

As we approached slowly in the Zodiac there were several penguins sitting and standing on the iceberg, and I remember thinking to myself that it would really be cool if there were only one. As if on cue, three of them dove into the water leaving the one. I expected the straggler to follow, but it stayed as if reading my mind.

By remaining on the iceberg, the single penguin on its little chunk of ice became a metaphor for dwindling ice packs throughout the world. I wanted to show the enormity of this penguin’s world so I chose to use a 16-35mm f/2.8 wide angle lens while holding a graduated neutral density filter to give the sky more impact. The deeper gray of the sky also brings out the deep blue hues of the icebergs in the distance. On sunny days the opposite is true; the brighter sky diminishes the color of the ice. I also did something I don’t normally do: I put the subject in the center of the frame. By doing this I am making a statement about the vast expanse of this environment and the limits of the ice.

I have three trips to Antarctica coming up. Two are sold out but you can get on the wait-list:

Iconic Images International Antarctic Photography Workshop

Luminous Landscapes Antarctica Workshop

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EYE HEART EWE

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Art of Composition Valentine’s Day Special!

Learn how to see with one of the most inspirational, hard-working, and renowned photographers in the world!

Sign up this weekend & get 15% off
Use coupon code: BLOGaoc2014

2014 Art of Composition Seminars:
March 15 Miami, FL
March 16 Tampa, FL
April 19 Austin, TX
April 20 Denver, CO
April 26 Portland, OR
April 27 Seattle, WA

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Last chance with the Masters!

Wolfe Lanting Mangelsen

Join three nature photography masters, Frans Lanting, Thomas D. Mangelsen,
and Art Wolfe, for a unique weekend of photographic inspiration

Three of the world’s most renowned nature photographers–Frans Lanting, Thomas D. Mangelsen, and Art Wolfe–have teamed up to present a series of unique weekend events that will change the way you look at photography and what you can do with your own camera.

The next Masters of Nature Photography Seminar will be held Friday evening, February 14 through Sunday, February 16, 2014, in Atlanta at the High Museum of Art.  For more information or to register, please visit www.MastersofNaturePhotography.com.

$595 until  February 7; late registrations $695

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Assignment & Assessment Workshop Feb 1-2 in Seattle

Japanese maple, Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, Washington, USA

Art will provide everyone with a list of assignments/shooting suggestions prior to the workshop, and will spend two full days looking over everyone’s work through the magnifying glass. He will have a question and answer section at the beginning and end of each day providing you with an opportunity to gain insight as to how he has created and maintained a successful career in photography.

If you are ready to take your photography to a new level, look no further and do not hesitate as this course will fill quickly.

There is a meet and greet at 6pm, January 31 at the Graham Visitor Center at Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum

To register click HERE

For additional information contact Libby Pfeiffer, 888.973.0011

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2013: Year in Review

2013 was a year of firsts as well as a year of accomplishment. I did a huge amount of traveling, much of it in preparation for my new book Earth Is My Witness coming out Fall 2014. Destinations included Kenya, the South Pacific, the Galapagos, Iceland, southern Africa, my home region of the Pacific Northwest, Brazil, Australia, Borneo, Italy, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Myanmar, and India.


We published two instructional photography books with Amphoto Books: The New Art of Photographing Nature with Martha Hill and Tim Grey and The Art of the Photograph with Rob Sheppard. Find them in the store HERE

I received much-appreciated honorifics, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Nature Photography Association and the Nature’s Best Photography Award in recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Nature Photography.

The Rotella Gallery opened an exciting new Soho location. You may have seen the dramatic full page ads in the New York Times featuring my image “Spirit Horse.” Find their location information HERE

Teaching workshops is always a pleasure. In April I conducted a Masters of Nature Photography seminar with legendary nature photographers Frans Lanting and Tom Mangelsen. We have another event coming up in February 2014 and I will be posting some additional events soon at www.artwolfeworkshops.com.

Both Talks at Google and TEDxRainier invited me for speaking engagements.

If you find yourself in Seattle, please do not hesitate to drop by my gallery. As always, please keep an eye on the blog, Twitter, Facebook and G+ for the latest updates.

Wishing you and yours a bountiful New Year!

(Gallery of Slideshow images HERE)

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Antarctica 2014

Did you know that I am going to Antarctica next winter- and that you can join me?

In collaboration with One Ocean Expeditions, (OOE) Canada, the photography workshop on this expedition, is co-organized by Iconic Images International (Denis Glennon), C4 Images & Safaris (Shem Compion), and myself. OOE is an innovative, service-first, small ship Polar cruise company that offers comfortable, affordable and educational nature-based expeditions to Antarctica. We collaborated with OOE because of their common sense approach to pricing, limited passenger numbers and their commitment to ecological preservation and conservation. These values sit very comfortably alongside those of Denis, Shem and myself. OOE’s cooperation allows us to deliver a specialized on-board and zodiac/land-based small group photographic workshop, to make this polar expedition a very special photographic event.

I have a feeling this is going to sell out quick- so if you are interested contact Denis Glennon soon- and tell him I sent you!

Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Photography Workshop
Nov 20 – Dec 8 2014
For more information:
iconicimagesinternational.com

Can’t see the slideshow? Click HERE

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Masters of Nature Photography Dates Announced!

I’m excited to announce that the next Masters of Nature Photography seminar with Tom Mangelsen, Frans Lanting and me will take place February 14th to 16th at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia.

We will draw from our wide-ranging experience with subjects and locations around the world to inspire attendees, show them new ways to see, give them tools to create more compelling images, and empower them to use photography to benefit conservation causes and other personal interests.  Our presentations will be mixed with panel discussions, Q & A sessions, and reviews of images submitted by attendees.

For more info or to register, please visit mastersofnaturephotography.com

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New Workshop! Photography Assignment & Assessment February 1-2, 2014

Due to popular demand Art has decided to schedule a follow up course to his popular “Composing Effective Images: Field Edition”. This is an amazing opportunity for you to get expert review on your artwork. It is not every day that you get a chance to have a master of the trade provide you with an intricate critique of your work.

What: Photography Assignment & Assessment with Art Wolfe
When:  February 1-2, 2014 with an evening reception January 31.
Where: University of Washington Arboretum
Graham Visitors Center

Sign up now & get a special early bird rate ($45 off) by using coupon code EBIRD2014.

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