Yosemite National Park Photo Workshops

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Terms and Conditions

In the unlikely event that the workshop does not fill enough spaces to warrant continuing, the class will be canceled and a full refund given. You will be notified at least two weeks in advance if a workshop is not going to take place.  The Yosemite Photography Workshop is not responsible for non-refundable airline or lodging reservations in the event of workshop cancellation.  

I strongly recommend retaining trip insurance.

Participant-initiated cancellations received 60 days or less before the workshop will receive no refund. Participant-initiated cancellations received prior to 60 days will receive a refund minus $300. Due to the unusual complexity and extensive planning required for these workshops, no refunds will be offered for participant-initiated cancellations 60 days or less prior to workshop date unless the spot can be re-filled.

Weather
Yosemite Photo Workshops accepts no responsibility for extreme weather conditions that prohibits us from moving about as we wish, or accessing certain areas of the park.  Each student accepts responsibility for providing your own tire chains in winter.  Carrying them at all times is required by park policy, and at various times you may be asked to show them in your car at checkpoints established by the park rangers.  

It is not uncommon for Yosemite National Park and surrounding areas to experience extended periods of electrical failure during bad weather, particularly in winter.  Yosemite Photo Workshops accepts no responsibility for inconvenience resulting in electrical failure, park closure or extended periods of road closures.  

If the workshop is unable to function due to either weather or park closure a spot in a future workshop within 18months will be offered to affected students.  No refunds will be given.

Thank You!

Your registration has been completed and I’ll send you a confirmation in the next few days.  If you do not receive a confirmation from me within 3 days please let me know. phil.hawkins@sbcglobal.net

Also, please review the “items to bring” list below.

See you soon!

VERY Important; if you did not leave your email address AND phone number on the registration form,
please send it to me NOW so that I may have a way to reach you if necessary.

If you have any questions, email me at phil.hawkins@sbcglobal.net or call 559-307-7773

Please review the information below to ensure you get the most out of the experience!

Lodging
Of course, you can stay anywhere you wish, but we try to get everyone in the same place to simplify convening each day and dropping folks off. 

We recommend lodging in Yosemite West (about 20 minutes to Yosemite Valley) so as to have everyone in the same place and to avoid passing through an entrance gate into YNP each day, but you are free to secure lodging wherever you wish.  The most economical are the Yosemite West Condos.  These are hotel rooms with kitchenettes; think Marriott Courtyard rooms w/ kitchenettes, but smaller.  The Studio units are downstairs, and sleep two comfortably, in a murphy bed and sofa-bed.  The larger Loft units sleep 3 or 4 comfortably in two queen beds and a sofa-bed. 

Cell phone reception is depending on who your carrier is; I have Spectrum (Verizon) and it is very spotty.  All other carriers are very unreliable, but you can drive to specific spots in the development where reception is OK. Or, you can use “WiFi Calling” if your phone is set up for it.

Scenic Wonders is the largest property management companies in Yosemite West, handling about 80% of all bookings in Yosemite West Condos. scenicwonders.com

In El Portal, (about 45 minutes to Yosemite Valley) at the west gate of YNP, try Yosemite View Lodge or The Cedar Lodge. NOTE: The Yosemite View Lodge has WIFI at $10 a day extra, but has no cell phone reception.  There is NO WIFI or cell phone reception at the Cedar Lodge, even though the website states that they have it.

In Fish Camp, (about an hour to Yosemite Valley) at the south gate, try the economical but comfortable White Chief Lodge or the expensive Tenaya Lodge. Both have WIFI but cell phone reception is spotty.

Food
Breakfast will be your own choosing. For lunch we will eat primarily at the Yosemite Lodge Food Court, now called BaseCamp Eatery which has a wide menu.  You are welcome, of course, to bring your own food for special diets and to make your own sandwiches for the hiking and Glacier Point Road excursions.  For hiking and Glacier Point Road, we will get sandwiches from Degnan’s Deli, which makes dee-licious sandwiches special wrapped for trail hiking, or you may bring your own. Be sure to go to the grocery store before entering the park; there is no retail in Yosemite West. The closest store is in Yosemite Village, about 30 minutes away and is very expensive.

Transportation
You are responsible for getting to Yosemite National Park.  For those flying in from distant locations, it is recommended you fly in to Fresno (American Airlines has direct connecting flights from Dallas) and then 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.  

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.  Bring telephotos as well if you have them; you’ll use them more than you think.
Best tripod you can muster w/ extra clamp plates.
You’ll be very disappointed if you lose your one and only tripod clamp plate… (This happened one time)

Bring your cable release!!

Polarizing filter!
Neutral density filters; one 4-stop one 8-stop if possible.  We will do a great deal with motion-blur photography.  You will need at least 12 stops of neutral density.

Don’t forget your lens shades

Extra memory cards and spare camera batteries

Bring your camera’s owner’s manual, especially if you are a Nikon or Sony shooter; this will help solve problems with settings.

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.