Olympic National Park Photography Workshop

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Olympic National Park Photography Workshop
July 3 - July 8, 2024
Biennial Workshop - Next workshop in summer of 2026.
Instructor: Andy Cook

Join us as we photograph the ruggedly beautiful coastline and tranquil rain forest of Olympic National Park.

This workshop is geared for the intermediate to advanced photographer. However, beginners with a working knowledge of their camera can gain a lot of experience and instruction. Each participant is assisted at their level. We focus on helping participants create the most appealing compositions of each location we visit. As needed we'll delve into extensive discussions on equipment, exposure, metering, filters and personal tips. This is a workshop environment, the instructor is present to aid in the field and teach his techniques for landscape photography. If you're an advanced photographer he is happy to help or stay out of the way.

Olympic National Park Photography Workshop

Itinerary Outline

The 2024 workshop starts on Wednesday, July 3rd, at 6:00 pm with an introduction and discussion in the instructor's hotel. We start shooting on the morning of Thursday, July 4th. The formal workshop ends after shooting on Monday evening, July 8th.

First Lodging Location: Olympic Lodge, 140 Del Guzzi Drive, Port Angeles, WA. 360-452-2993
Check-in Wednesday, July 3, 2024; Check-out Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Relocate to
Olympic Suites Inn, 800 Olympic Drive, Forks, WA. 800-262-3433
Check-in Thursday, July 4, 2024; Check-out Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

Generally, participants can expect to be at a shooting location for the start of civil twilight and we'll stay in the field into the morning. We will provide breakfast bars and snacks for enjoyment in the field. We will not provide water bottles during this workshop; reducing one use plastic bottle waste. Please bring a reusable water bottle from home. We will have a meal after the morning shoot. Nights are very short, so during midday, participants will have time for napping, downloading... Also, during some, midday breaks there will be time to answer post processing questions. We have an early dinner in a restaurant scheduled for each evening, afterwards we'll travel to our evening location and photograph through sunset.

Weather may cause problems at some of our locations. We feel participants may benefit by staying past the workshop and photographing a few days on their own.

Consider staying in Port Angeles or Sequim after the workshop and photograph the lavender farm fields. They usually peak in mid July.

COST: $1,690.00 per participant. Target number of participants is 8.

Deposit Amount: $300.00 due at time of registration. This deposit becomes non refundable 90 days in advance of the workshop.

Full payment of the workshop is due 60 days prior to the start of the workshop. If final payment is not received when due, we reserve the right to treat the reservation as canceled, please review the cancellation policy on the registration page.

VIEW THE REGISTRATION PAGE MasterCard and Visa

Workshop Effort Scale

We rate this workshop as one of our most difficult. Some shooting locations will be a short walk from the parking lot, but many will involve trail hiking to arrive at shooting locations. Some trails will have a few hundred feet elevation change. The trail hiking may be deemed vigorous activity or medium activity based upon one's condition. Trail hiking surfaces and those beyond the parking lot are generally uneven, hiking boots are recommended. Our longer trails range between 1 and 2 miles each way. We will be trail hiking on most days, sometimes twice a day. One doesn't have to be in tip-top shape, but a participant's enjoyment will be enhanced by good health and preparation.

Be prepared for possible temperature extremes and sudden changes in weather. Be aware that mornings can be very chilly. Often we will be out in darkness before sunrise and after sunset, please bring a flashlight. On most days we plan to arrive at our morning location no later than 4:30 A.M. Sunset is approximately 9:15 P.M.

More Information

LODGING: We suggest participants stay in the same hotel as the instructor. However, Port Angeles and Forks are small towns and most hotels are just a few minutes from the instructor's hotel so please select a hotel that makes you feel comfortable. We will be in Olympic at the height of the summer season and hotels will run out of vacancy, participants need to contact their hotel directly and reserve their room upon registering for the workshop. Even if one has not registered for this workshop but is considering it, we recommend making hotel reservations.

Driving conditions will consist of paved roads and maintained dirt roads. When possible we prefer that participants car pool with each other to help limit our impact and get to know each other. A standard rental car will be sufficient.

Equipment Recommendations: Bring all camera equipment including the camera's manual. We recommend using a polarizing filter with many photographs on this workshop. Andy combines images of various exposures in post processing. Andy will be happy to teach participants his field and post processing techniques for doing so (requires a cable release with some cameras).

A lens range from 18mm to 400mm after the lens multiplication factor is recommended. However, we think participants should bring their entire range of lenses. A macro lens or extension tubes or diopters for shooting close-ups may also be useful. For shooting the Milky Way, typically a wide angle lens with a max aperture of f/2.8 or bigger (smaller number) is required. For cameras with full frame sensors the lens should be at least 16mm wide. For cameras with partial frame sensors (1.5 LMF) the lens should be at least 10mm wide. One should test the wide aperture performance of their lens in advance of the workshop; find lens testing information at this webpage: Field Lessons and Handouts. During the 2024 workshop we will not be photographing the Milky Way as a group, but if weather permits participants who require little sleep may enjoy doing so on their own.

To blur wave action into a mist, bring a 6-stop (1.8 filter) or higher neutral density filter, this filter can be the screw on type. Andy carries both a 6-stop (1.8) and a 10-stop (3.0) in his bag. Andy does not recommend using variable ND filters. Bring lots of memory, 64 to 128 gig if downloading and formatting cards for reuse. 32 to 64 gig per day if not formatting and reusing cards.

One should shoot with a sturdy outdoor tripod that can adjust from standing height without cranking up a center post, to very close to the ground. This type of tripod does not have attachments connecting the legs to the center post; i.e. the legs can move independently. Please use a cable release or know how to work the camera's timer delay to avoid camera shake. Unless your camera has a built-in level, we recommend having a 2 axis flash shoe bubble level, it is the easiest way to make sure photos are level. Please buy these at a reputable dealer; they run about $35.00. To receive post processing aid, bring a laptop with Photoshop and a calibrated monitor.

The Fine Print

We do not guarantee the weather. Workshop fee does not include transportation, lodging or meals. In order to keep workshop fees as low as possible we may overbook any given workshop by 1 space. Usually this results in 8 participants, but from time to time we may have 9 participants attending. We require an acknowledgment of risks be signed before going into the field. We will send the acknowledgment of risks upon registration, please return it at the start of the workshop. The time of day, morning or evening, that we visit some locations, and the actual locations visited, does fluctuate every year. Tides and sand levels are also different every year, impacting compositions, every year has been great, just different. In the event Rocky Mountain Reflections Photography, Inc. (RMRPI) cancels a workshop due to unforeseen circumstances such as inability to obtain permits, instructor injury, death... Then, RMRPI will refund fees collected by RMRPI for the affected workshop. In the event of a natural disaster, government closure or other happening of this nature that causes a workshop to be canceled, RMRPI may be unable to refund workshop fees. If this happens then funds collected by RMRPI will be applied as credit toward a future workshop of the participant's choosing. RMRPI will not be held responsible for other expenses (airline tickets, hotel deposits, rental car...) that may be associated with any canceled workshop.

Rain is a real possibility. Yes, we may shoot in the rain, bring an umbrella and rain proof clothes.

BRING

Flashlight
Tripod
Spare Camera Batteries
Camera's Manual
Lots of Memory
Filters
Extra Shoes and Socks
Camera
Rain Gear
Hiking Boots
Shoes for wading in water, yes, it's cold, but worth it; Andy uses Tevas.
Some beaches may have streams requiring wading.
Very Warm Clothes
Umbrella

2022 Group Photo

View images in the
Olympic NP Participant Gallery

To be as prepared as possible for this workshop, please review the 2 videos, 7 lessons and 10 workshop handouts found at the link below:

Field Lessons and Handouts

Below please find the PDF handouts recommended for this workshop. One needs to print or download to a digital device these documents before the workshop from the link above.

For this workshop we recommend that participants:

*Print: Blank Workshop Locations Visited.

*Print or download to field digital device: CFDER Field Reminder (This is useful to those new to our workshops and/or trying to develop a useful field workflow.)

*Print or download to field digital device: Steps to Capture Panorama Photographs

*Print or download to field digital device: Hyperfocal chart for camera’s LMF. (Unless you already have a depth-of-field app on your smart phone.)

*Print or download to digital device: Andy’s Camera Settings (Only if unsure about what the camera’s settings should be.)

*Print or download to digital device: Tripod Tips and Techniques (Only if one is new to tripod use or are considering a tripod purchase.)

Questions?

Please call
or
send e-mail.

Click Here for Complete Workshop Schedule

Rocky Mountain Reflections Photography, Inc. is authorized by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, to conduct services in Olympic National Park.

Images on this website are property.
Please do not use them without the photographer's Permission.