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Photo by workshop
participant Steven Collins |
The
Yosemite Photography Workshops with
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Award-winning
landscape photographer from Fresno, CA.
Photoshop CS3/4, Lightroom 2.1 instructor
I've been backpacking and photographing the High Sierra for 28 years.
My work has appeared in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Sports Illustrated and many
other publications.
See
http://philhawkinsphoto.com
Feel free to call 559-307-7773
for more information.
The 2010 schedule; see below!
By popular demand, I am adding
more workshop dates
"...Not knowing quite what
to expect, it surpassed any expectations that I had. I learned loads in
those 5 days, not only about my camera, but how to shoot and some great
Photoshop tricks, and I've been into photography for years. We had great fun
too, we had a lot of laughs. I just hope I get the chance to do
another one of your workshops. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants
to learn how to be a better photographer, have fun and see Yosemite."
Lem Lattimer
"Again, I can't tell you
how much fun I had. Look forward to doing it again sometime, perhaps in
the UK? Italy?
...great
memories from a wonderful week that I'll never forget."
Leana Di Benedetto
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Hands-on, one-on-one instruction conducted in
awesome Yosemite National Park, California
For more on Yosemite, see
yosemitefun.com
* Intensive 5-day and weekend workshops in different seasons
* Go places only a 28-year, award-winning, local Yosemite
photographer will know
* Learn how to get those "Wow!" shots.
* Night instruction; shooting during a full moon, capture star
tracks, get the elusive "Moonbow" from Yosemite Falls
* All week long workshops include Photoshop instruction.
What we do, how we
are different
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The Yosemite Photo Workshops are different; please read below so
you will not be disappointed when attending.
Beginners are
welcome!
We shoot at night!
First, we are for any level experience photographer. If
you don't know the difference between an aperture and a shutter,
fear not. There is no such thing as a dumb question.
We welcome brand new photographers. Sometimes we have
photographers who are well familiar with their equipment and
only need to be shown where to shoot. Or, they know the
equipment, but have never shot night photography, so they need
instruction. But no matter your level of experience, you
will come away with new knowledge about how to get the most out
of your equipment and your effort. Newbies are welcome!
We have a strict limit of 15 spaces per workshop; some workshops
have as many as 40 people!!
We do not get up at the crack of dawn. Why is it, I have
never been able to understand, that every workshop feels it has
to rouse people at 5am to start at 6. Yosemite National
Park is a west facing park, and the light is best during late
afternoon and sunset. During the summer, we will be
shooting sunsets until 8:30 and 9pm, sometimes at Glacier Point,
which is an hour's drive from Yosemite Valley. We often do
not get into bed until 11pm or midnight. Night shooting
adventures can keep us out until the wee hours if people want,
so getting up at 5am is almost never an option. (Many
workshops will grind out an 18-hour schedule every day, leaving
you burned out. We want to have fun and not be pushed to
the limit of physical and emotional endurance). The
opportunities for good sunrise shots is far less than what we
can find at sunset, so why waste time in early morning?
Most mornings we start about 10am, and after a hard day hiking,
or on the 3rd or 4th day of a weeklong, we might not start until
12noon. Basically, we start late and stay out late.
NO Itineraries; The whole reason one comes to Yosemite is to
find the best opportunity to get the best shot. And that
is dictated by the weather. We wait until we know what the
weather is going to do and then decide on the next day's
itinerary at that time. If you want structure, schedules
and rigidity, do not sign up for these workshops. I will
teach you how to get the most out of your camera and your
efforts, and the way to do that is maximize what mother nature
gives you. For instance; on the weekend workshop June 12 to 13,
2009, we had planned to shoot Upper Yosemite Fall from the
trail. But it became evident that rain might keep us off
the trail, so we drove to Tuolumne Meadow, down to Mono Lake and
shot some incredible cloud shots before the rain caught up with
us in late afternoon. Flexibility. This is what we
do.
We help each other. Experience levels differ, and when
someone needs help, we help each other. I'm a Canon guy,
but someone else may know Nikon much better than myself and will
help you out. I can honestly say, that by the end of every
workshop in 2009, the attendees have all become friends, and
stay in touch after returning home. We've had attendees
from two foreign countries (Great Britain and Japan), and from
all over America. |
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Dates |
Description |
3/9/09
to
3/13/09 |
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6/12/09
to
6/13/09 |
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7/6/09
to
7/10/09 |
Yosemite in Summer;
dodging the crowds.
$995.00
(space
still available!)
5 full
days of shooting (July 6 - 10)
We'll
concentrate on the cool high country, those areas along Glacier
Point Road; Glacier Point, Washington Point, Taft Point,
Sentinel Dome, Inspiration Point and Mono Meadow. We'll cover
the Panorama Trail, an 8-mile trail famous for...panoramic
vistas. Night photography on Sentinel Dome will be featured,
and timed night photos of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point!
Tuolumne Meadows, Saddlebag Lake Loop... Mono Lake too!
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8/8/09
to
8/16/09
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The Big One!
The
High Sierra Wilderness Photography Workshop
$3,375.00p/p
This workshop will be
outside of Yosemite, in Sequoia National Park, about 100 miles
south in the Sierra Nevada. 5 full days at the
10,000 to 12,500 foot elevation at a base camp 25 miles from the
nearest road. We'll travel by horseback to an area in Sequoia
National Park completely removed from civilization. There will
be showers! All food is catered in base camp. Someone else
does all the cooking!! We'll see the Perseid Meteor Shower from
10,000 feet! For more info
Go Here
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11/2/09
to
11/6/09 |
Yosemite Fall Colors!
$995.00
(space
still available)
5 full
days of shooting (Nov. 2 - 6)
Few people understand that the real fall colors do not come out
in Yosemite until early November. The first two-weeks of
November will be blazing with color! We'll be able to get
close to the waterfalls due to the slow water flow for GREAT
timed exposures. Storms start rolling in and we could get
some ground fog on the valley floor, or great cloud
formations... A photography wonderland!
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11/13/09
to
11/14/09 |
Yosemite Fall Colors weekend!
$375.00
(space still
available)
2 full days of
shooting (Nov. 13 - 14)
See above. |
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2010 Schedule
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Photos by
workshop participant Leana Di Benedetto
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1/15 to 1/18 |
January Winter Weekend
$375.00
2 full days of shooting (January 15 and 16)
Yosemite in Winter. Snow, frequent storms and
fewer people make for incredible shooting opportunities...
Join us as we learn those techniques for shooting in inclement
weather, snow and maybe rain...
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1/24 to 1/30 |
January Winter Weeklong
$995.00
5 full days of shooting!Yosemite
in Winter. Snow, frequent storms and fewer people make for
incredible shooting opportunities... Join us as we learn
those techniques for shooting in inclement weather, snow and maybe
rain... for a solid week of changing weather!
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2/12 to 2/15 |
February Winter Weekend
$375.00
Yosemite
in Winter. Snow, frequent storms and fewer people make for
incredible shooting opportunities... Join us as we learn
those techniques for shooting in inclement weather, snow and maybe
rain...
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2/22 to 2/26 |
February Winter Weeklong
$995.00 Yosemite
in Winter. Snow, frequent storms and fewer people make for
incredible shooting opportunities... Join us as we learn
those techniques for shooting in inclement weather, snow and maybe
rain... for a solid week of changing weather!
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3/12 to 3/13 |
Early Spring Weekend
$375.00
Yosemite
in early spring. The weather really changes this time of
year. Rain, snow, beautiful sunshine and everything in
between can be expected. Still no crowds, the park is quiet and
beautiful!
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3/22 to 3/26 |
Early Spring Weeklong
$995.00
Yosemite
in early spring. The weather really changes this time of
year. Rain, snow, beautiful sunshine and everything in
between can be expected. Still no crowds, the park is quiet and
beautiful!
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4/13 to 4/24
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British Isles Ten full days
shooting in England, Scotland and Ireland! Details coming soon!
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5/10 to 5/14 |
Spring Weeklong $995.00
(Hurry! This
workshop sells out quckly)
The waterfalls are
going full guns, the park is becoming more green and roads are
opening!
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5/28 to 5/30 |
Spring Weekend
$375.00
(Hurry! This
workshop sells out quckly)
Memorial Day
weekend. Waterfalls, Tuolumne Meadows, more trails open...
Tremendous shooting!
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6/14 to 6/18 |
Early Summer Weeklong
$995.00
(Hurry! This
workshop sells out quckly) Waterfalls are
raging, most of the park is open.
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7/5 to 7/9
2010 |
Yosemite Summer
Weeklong $995.00
We'll concentrate on
the high country; along Glacier Point Road; Sentinel Dome, Taft
Point, McGurk Meadow... and the famous Tioga Road at
Tuolumne Meadows, Saddlebag Lake and the Steelhead Lake trail,
Tioga Pass and down to Mono Lake if conditions warrant.
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8/7 to 8/15
2010 |
The Big One!
The
High Sierra Wilderness Photography Workshop
$3,375.00p/p
This workshop will be
outside of Yosemite, in Sequoia National Park, about 100 miles
south in the Sierra Nevada. 5 full days at the
10,000 to 12,500 foot elevation at a base camp 25 miles from the
nearest road. We'll travel by horseback to an area in Sequoia
National Park completely removed from civilization. There will
be showers! All food is catered in base camp. Someone else
does all the cooking!! We'll see the Perseid Meteor Shower from
10,000 feet! For more info
Go Here
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10/15 to 10/16
2010 |
The East Slope; Autumn
colors in the Owens Valley weekend
$495.00
Spectacular colors
abound along the east slope of the Sierra Nevada range in October.
We will shoot the area just south of Lee Vining, including Mammoth
Lakes, June Lakes, Bishop, The Alabama Hills, Crowley Lake and
North and South Lakes. |
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Details
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Photos by workshop participant Caleb Austin |
Lodging
Lodging is up to each individual participant.
However, special consideration will be given to workshop participants
at Yosemite's Four Seasons Vacation Rentals where, for the price
of a tent cabin at Curry Village, you can get a condo
w/ kitchenette, sat. TV, and full bath. Rates are about $135 a night,
lower in winter (non-holiday). See
http://yosemitelodging.com
and tell them you are part of the Yosemite Photo Workshop w/ Phil
Hawkins. I encourage participants to stay here so as to make it
easier for us to all convene and conclude the days activities with a
minimum of travel.
Transportation
You are
responsible for getting to Yosemite National Park. For those
flying in from distant locations, it is recommended you rent a car. I have found that
once in a while participants have to leave early for family
emergencies, sickness, etc and so as not to disturb the agenda for
remaining participants, your ability to travel independently is
important.
As for
local transportation, we will carpool to the various shooting locations. Otherwise, we will
use the local Yosemite valley public transportation system.
Photoshop
Instruction
All week long workshops will include at least one night of
Photoshop CS3/CS4 instruction and image critique, conducted at the
Yosemite Lodge meeting room.
Items to
Bring
Although it does not matter what equipment you have, you will get the
most out of it if your camera has manual settings and shoots RAW and
the ability to connect a cable shutter release.
Obviously, bring your wide-angle lenses.
Best tripod you can muster w/ extra clamp plates. You'll be very
disappointed if you lose your one and only tripod clamp plate...
Cable release for night time exposures
Split-density filters; one 2-stop and one 4-stop.
Neutral density filters; one 4-stop one 8-stop if possible
Don't forget your lens shades
Extra memory cards
Bring
several lens cloths and cleaning liquid; I will have liquid, but bring
your own cloths, if possible please.
Be sure you have a wearable backpack photo case for daily hiking trips.
Laptop
computer with spare batteries. Don't forget your CF card reader!!
People forget these all the time!
Rain
and cold weather gear, both for your equipment and for you. Winter shooting could
involve standing out in the rain or snow. Water-proof hiking boots
would be very useful, especially in winter.
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