Green Mountain Nature Photography Workshop

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2008 GREEN MOUNTAIN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Moose, spectacular waterfalls, wildflowers, a comprehensive primer on digital workflow from capture to printing, and the best home cooking this side of anywhere (Compliments of Deb Godin and her daughters at the Lake Eden Clubhouse– they don’t call it Eden for nothing!) were among the highlights of this year’s successful workshop.

We enjoyed perfect weather for all of our subjects, ate venison stew and home-made pies, while we discussed topics ranging from basic digital exposure to fill-flash techniques.  Rob created some dazzling images with his new blue-gold filter (see waterfall at left) and photographed his first moose (see below)!    

We’re already planning next year’s workshop and are excited about ideas to expand the itinerary.  We’ll add a greenhouse to offer more macro-photography opportunities regardless of the weather and a hummingbird seminar, among other additions. 

Remember, our workshops are limited to a handful of participants so it’s not too early to start planning to attend.  Visit our website to check for the new itinerary and email us if you have any questions or would like to look forward to spending a few sublime days in the company of kindred spirits photographing nature in the heart of the Green Mountains.

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Tentative 2009 Schedule and Itinerary

Dates: May/June, 2009 (Dates to be determined)

Cost: $850.00 pp

Abstract: The Green Mountain Nature Photography Workshop provides a thorough overview of the use of single lens reflex (SLR) equipment (digital or film) to produce top quality natural history images for illustration, publication, education, and exhibition. Aspiring nature photographers, educators, interpretive naturalists, and anyone interested in learning the professional field techniques of nature photography will find this course invaluable. While the course employs natural history as its primary subject, the instruction also serves as a basic introduction to the use of SLR equipment for most any application.

This affordable workshop provides four full days of instruction and fieldwork in the heart of Vermont’s Great Northern Forest. You’ll have a delightful experience in the company of fellow nature photography enthusiasts learning and applying the techniques that will enable you to photograph wildlife, close-ups, and landscapes like the pros. The Green Mountain Nature Photography Workshop now also includes a primer in digital photography and the digital workflow. We’ll show you how to get your image files out of your camera and into a computer and how to use image editing software to produce gallery-quality prints from your digital images.

We will be based at the Lakeview Campground on the shore of picturesque Lake Eden in Eden Mills, Vermont. This area is also my home ground and is teeming with subjects from moose to carnivorous plants. Accommodations are comfortable, heated RVs with bathrooms. (Double occupancy.)

Deborah Godin and her daughters will be our hosts. Deb provides excellent home-cooked meals, hot showers, and the warmest hospitality you’ll find outside of your own family.

Itinerary

Friday: Arrival

Arrive at the Lakeview Campground and check in by 3:00 p.m. Become acquainted over wine and cheese. Evening field trip to Belvidere Pond for moose and sunset photos. Dinner.

D(1)

Saturday

Breakfast. Morning field trip. Lunch. Classroom session: SLR fundamentals. Download images. Afternoon field trip. Dinner

B, L, D

Sunday

Breakfast. Morning field trip. Lunch. Classroom session: Overview of the digital workflow. Download images. Afternoon field trip. Dinner.

B, L, D

Monday

Breakfast. Morning field trip. Lunch. Classroom session: Lenses & strobe techniques. Download images. Afternoon field trip. Dinner.

B, L, D

Tuesday

Breakfast. Morning field trip. Lunch. Classroom session: Image processing. Download images. Afternoon field trip. Dinner.

B, L, D

Wednesday

Depart after breakfast.

B

Important Notes

(1) B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner

Price includes: accommodations (double occupancy), meals as indicated in the itinerary, instruction, and use of all Lake Eden facilities.

Price excludes: film, items of a personal nature such as snacks, souvenirs, telephone, and alcohol.

PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN LOCAL TRANSPORTATION.
ACCOMMODATIONS ARE RV’S WITH SHOWERS, KITCHENS, HEAT, AND ELECTRICAL HOOK-UPS . IF YOU WOULD PREFER MOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS, THESE ARE AVAILABLE 15 MILES FROM THE WORKSHOP SITE. CONTACT THE SUNSET MOTEL IN MORRISVILLE, VT AT (802) 888-4956.

PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN LAPTOP COMPUTER FOR PROCESSING IMAGES AND TO BE FAMILIAR WITH BASIC COMPUTER OPERATIONS. AN INTRODUCTORY VERSION OF BREEZE SYSTEMS DOWNLOADER PRO AND BREEEZEBROWSER WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT ALREADY HAVE IMAGE CONVERSION SOFTWARE ON THEIR COMPUTERS. (NOTE: BREEZEBROWSER CAN ONLY CONVERT RAW FILES FROM CANON CAMERAS.)

Interested? Please contact me for more information.

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Participant's Comments

"I can’t believe how much I learned during the week and how much I still remember! I’ve been using the techniques that I learned and am having much better results with my workflow and final pictures. I truly enjoyed learning about Vermont’s many plants and animals. The workshop has inspired me to learn more about the natural history of the northeast.
...
What I loved most about this program was that it took my photography to a new level in so many ways. I evidently gained more knowledge and confidence, but I also gained a lot of respect for the patience required to get absolutely superb shots. This respect is so deep in me now that I actually feel calmer when photographing this way.”

Kelly Schulze
Milk-Tester-Soon-To-Be-Photographer
Monkton, VT
Green Mountain Workshop Participant (June 2007)

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"The workshop was a fabulous experience for me. The hands-on approach to each area of photography we learned helped to reinforce techniques because we were able to practice them over and over. To be able to spend as much time as we needed to get the shot just the way we wanted it, without being rushed was also great. The workshop was well organized, packed with so much information and yet was relaxed and fun at the same time. The experience fulfilled my expectations and then some.
...
You guys were the best. You were both professional, yet relaxed in your approach. You never appeared to be better than any one of us and were very generous with your time and experience. Your knowledge, work ethic and attention to detail made the workshop a pleasure to take. I learned so much from you. Your photographs weren’t bad either!!!
… this was truly the best workshop I have ever attended.”

Sue DeMaio
Photojournalist
Newington, CT
Green Mountain Workshop Participant (June 2007)

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