California Photo Workshop Tours
(Save 15% by registering 60 day early, enter discount code "60days". Returning customers, receive a 10% discount, or 25% discount if registering 60 days early. E-mail me for your personal discount code.)
California's Scenic Central Coast
Early Summer on California’s Central Coast is a great time of the year for nature photography, the summer solstice puts the sun at its most northern point and makes it accessible to be included in our images of some cliff sheltered coves. The long days of summer provide us more time for photography at a relaxed and slower pace. The late night winds re-sculpt the sand dunes into a rippling pattern of hill side sand waves which are a classic subject for most nature photographers. The distant marine layer diffuses the bright sun for incredible sunsets and can create a mid-day soft box for some of the best daytime photography anywhere. Molting elephant seals and newborn pups preparing to spend a summer at sea will be numerous and easily photographed. We will also be visiting several charming seaside towns with many photographic opportunities. Gorgeous coastal scenery is everywhere and we will plan to visit select locations from Pismo to Cambria. Join me as I guide you through this coastal small town paradise to many of my favorite photographic vantage points as we capture the best of California’s Central Coast.
$499 (or $424.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
June 21-23, 2013
Eastern Sierra Fall Spectacular
Where the highest peaks in the lower 48 meet the high desert the Eastern Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range creates some of the most inspirational landscapes to be found anywhere in the world. Fall color in this part of the country can be found throughout this area based on elevation, starting with the high elevations and proceeding to the lower elevations as the season progresses. The aspens will be turning gold, orange and crimson painting the mountain slopes in full autumn glory; we will go to those areas that promise the best fall color. The changing weather this time of year often creates a dramatic backdrop to the mountains, lakes and scenic vistas that we will capture in select locations including but not limited to the Bishop Creek drainage, McGee Creek, Convict Lake, Lundy Canyon, Mono Lake, Bodie Ghost Town, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Mount Whitney and the Alabama Hills. We will also have some optional night shoots at select locations to capture the Milky Way in front of some light painted foregrounds, weather permitting. Physically, we will be taking short to moderate walks but do keep in mind that some shoot locations are at high elevations. Join me in some of my favorite locations in this spectacular part of the country.
$799 (or $679.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
October 9-13, 2013
Santa Monica Mountains High Tide & Sea Stacks
The Santa Monica Mountains run east to west from southeast Ventura County east into Los Angeles County rising above the City of Angeles, then widen to meet the curve of the Santa Monica Bay, reaching their highest peaks facing the open ocean. The land is beautiful and diverse. The rugged coastline has many sandy beaches and rocky shores. In 1978 Congress established the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area as part of the National Park System. Winter is the best time of the year to capture sunset images along the coastline of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. By shooting near the time of the Winter Solstice, which is an astronomical event that happens once each year, the Sun's apparent position in the sky reaches its southernmost extreme allowing our south facing beaches to see the setting Sun. Winter also means fewer people typically are at the beach and in our compositions. Each tour will last 3.5 hours and start approximately 2.5 hours before sunset. The dates that I have selected in 2013 coincide with a near high tide at sunset and we will be positioning some on and off-shore sea stacks to comprise our foreground and compliment the setting Sun in the background. When the tidal waters retreat it creates magical swirling pools of water around the rocks and by using the right camera settings we will be able to show that motion. We will also be looking to create some ethereal effects of the ocean waters as the tide moves in and out among the rocks. Additionally, this area hosts a Cormorant Colony and is often visited by other sea birds and marine mammals that we can photograph. Please note that a parking fee is collected by the California State Parks at this location and access to the beach is by way of a moderately steep trail and several sets of stairs. Join me at high tide as we capture the swirling motion of retreating tides among the sea stacks at sunset along the coastline of the Santa Monica Mountains.
$99 (or $84.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
Nov. 10, 2013 Dec. 14, 2013
Santa Monica Mountains Low Tide at Sunset
Winter is the best time of the year to capture awesome sunset images along the coastline of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Why winter? Because of the Winter Solstice—the Winter Solstice is an astronomical event that happens once each year when the Sun's apparent position in the sky reaches its southernmost extreme. Given that most of the beaches along this stretch of coastline are south facing we need the Sun to be as far south as possible to capture the glowing orb in our images. Winter also means no crowds so we are likely to have the beach to ourselves. Each session will last 3.5 hours and start approximately 2.5 hours before sunset. The dates that I have selected coincide with a near low tide at sunset and we will be looking for some exposed starfish and/or other tidal pool creatures for our foreground to compliment the setting Sun in the background. Join me at the ocean’s edge as we capture the beauty of a Southern California sunset along the coastline of the Santa Monica Mountains.
$99 (or $84.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
Nov. 17, 2013 Dec. 15, 2013
Desert Weekend in Death Valley
The largest national park in the lower 48 states, Death Valley is known for extremes: It is North America's driest and hottest spot with average annual rainfall of less than 2 inches and the hottest recorded temperature of 134°F. The land is being pulled apart faster than it can be filled in by erosion creating the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere--282 feet below sea level at Badwater. Telescope Peak, towering above the valley floor tops out at 11,049 feet, along with the other Panamint Range peaks that contribute to blocking moisture coming in from the northwest by capturing the majority of the rainfall. These extremes create scenic vistas and ecological niches that support a startling biological diversity. Over 1,000 native plant and wildlife species coax out a living here, some that are found nowhere else. Highlights of this workshop tour include, but are not limited to Zabriskie Point, Dantes View, Badwater Salt Flats, Devils Golf Course, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Artist Palette, Darwin Falls and the Racetrack. Join me in the warmth of the desert as we photograph the best of Death Valley.
$599 (or $509.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
Dec. 6-9, 2013 Mar. 14-17, 2014
Desert Weekend in Joshua Tree
Two large desert ecosystems mostly determined by elevation come together at Joshua Tree National Park. Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert occupies the parks eastern half. It is dominated by abundant creosote bushes and accentuated by stands of spidery ocotillo and jumping cholla cactus. Higher, moister, slightly cooler, the Mojave Desert hosts the signature Joshua tree. Extensive stands characterize the park’s western half along with weathered granite peaks, outcroppings and boulders. During this time of year the Joshua trees will likely be in full bloom sending out large spikes of creamy yellow flowers along with other cactus and desert annuals. Our weekend will focus on capturing the best stands of Joshua trees at sunset and during a night photography session we will try our hand at some light painting with the Joshua trees as our foreground and the stars in the background, assuming we have clear skies. We will also photograph the dense stands of cholla cactus, the reflections at Barker Dam, Hidden Valley, a palm tree oasis and the quickly becoming iconic monolith and juniper. Join me for a weekend photo workshop tour of Joshua Tree National Park in bloom for some classic desert imagery.
$499 (or $424.15 for early registrants) • For more information or to register on-line, please click here:
March 7-9, 2014
Spring Weekend on the Channel Islands
There are eight Channel Islands spanning a 160 miles off the coast of Southern California. We will be visiting Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands, two of five islands comprising Channel Islands National Park. The islands rose from the ocean millions of years ago and were born of plate tectonics, volcano activity and fluctuating sea levels. During the ice ages these islands were once connected as the polar ice caps expanded. Also during this time, the islands were most accessible to the mainland’s flora and fauna. When the seas rose again it created the islands and isolated them to evolve separately from the mainland as well as one another. The Channel Islands are home to over 2,000 terrestrial plants and animals, of which 145 are found nowhere else in the world. Often referred to as the Galapagos of North America because of their isolation and the fact you cannot drive to the park means it is one of the least visited parks in the national park system. The boat ride out and back is sure to thrill as we likely will encounter sea lions, dolphins and breaching humpback whales. There are no services on any of the islands, which means we will be camping one night on Anacapa and two nights on Santa Cruz. You will need to bring everything you would need over this four day tour including food, shelter and camping gear. On Anacapa we will be focused on the scenic views of Inspiration Point, Arch Point and the light station, as well as more intimate views of wildflowers and nesting seabird rookeries. On Santa Cruz we will be hunting foxes, the Channel Island Fox should be readily seen on this island and we will also see abundant wildflowers and native plant species found only here. There are numerous cliff side views, rolling grasslands and canyon vistas to photograph. We will make an eight mile round trip hike to the top of Montana Ridge for an awe inspiring 360° view of the island, surrounding islands and Pacific Ocean. Weather beaten and stunted the oaks found on the ridge top are a photographers dream along with the silver lotus plant and other endemic plant species. Bald Eagles and Brown Pelicans also make their home on these islands and are regularly seen fishing off shore. Join me for some island photography in one of our most remote and little visited national parks.
$599 (or $509.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
March 21-23, 2014
Wildflowers of the Carrizo Plain
The Carrizo Plain National Monument sits just a few hours drive from Los Angeles but remains isolated due to the fact that the nearest town is 50 miles away. As the largest open grasslands left in California’s Central Valley this monument is a glimpse back in time when much of the Central Valley was uninhabited. Wildflowers are abundant this time of year when average or above average rainfall occurs. Tidy-tips grow so dense you are unable to see the leaves of the plants as they carpet acres of the valley floor and extend as far as the eye can see. Desert Gold, California Poppies and Yellow Fiddleneck patches are also common along with owls clover and lupine. With no natural outlet, Soda Lake at the center of the valley, one of the largest alkali lakes in the Central Valley can be full and attracts migrating cranes, gulls and turns. The San Andreas Fault runs along the base of the Temblor Mountains and we will take a short walk to the exposed fault line at Wallace Creek. Join me for a full day of shooting as we tip-toe through the tidy-tips to capture some of the best examples of California’s wildflowers.
$199 (or $169.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
March 29, 2014
California's Dramatic Big Sur Coastline
Springtime along the Big Sur Coast means swollen creeks, rivers and waterfalls, lush green rolling hills, abundant wildflowers and enchanting sunsets. We will journey back in time to an area of untouched natural beauty, through a land of towering redwoods, rocky beaches, secluded coves and hidden sea arches and miles of dramatic coastline. Gorgeous coastal scenery is everywhere and we will plan to visit Hurricane Point, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur Beach, Garrapata State Park and Beach, the Bixby Bridge and Point Lobos just to name a few. We will base ourselves out of the Carmel area which will put us at the northern end of the Big Sur coast which showcases one of the most dramatic and varied coastlines in the world. Join me as I guide you through this coastal paradise to many of my favorite photographic vantage points as we capture the best of Big Sur.
$499 (or $424.15 for early registrants) • For more details or to register on-line, please click here:
April 4-6, 2014
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