Death Valley in Autumn -- workshop
Having no formal photographic training, I decided it might be kinda fun to
hit a workshop or two and see what new things I can learn about
photography.
For my first, I decided to go someplace I'm at least familiar with and one
that I would very much like to photograph. Death Valley. It's about 500 miles
from home and fairly dry as well as warm (during the day). The workshop is
being offered through the University of California Santa Cruz. The cost was a
little steep but it's four days of instruction pretty much all day plus I'm not
going to be at work
The packet came in the mail yesterday and I was in for my first panic attack.
We are to bring 10 prints to share with the class at the first meeting. Holy
cow. I don't print a lot of stuff so already I'm kinda panic'ed as to what to
bring and what to print. Just how the heck does one produce a portfolio?
Then there's the issue of print quality...I'll have to resolve that cause I think
they'll want 8x10's.
Then there's the schedule. Day one starts the late hour of 0900. Then it's
0600 followed by 0530 followed by 0600. Three days of sunrise shots at the
Sand Dunes. I don't see any evening stuff but I'd like to try a few dark
sky shots too. We are visiting Titus Canyon, Scotty's Castle and Ubehebe
Crater as well as the Date Palm Grove (I'm all tuckered out just reading the
schedule!!).
I'll take the SLR's plus a little point and shoot, a tripod and all the
accessories. Not to mention a rack o' batteries and chargers for
everything, a laptop and a Sierra Lima of memory.
I can't remember being this excited about going to school :clap
I just hope I have something good to show for it when I'm done....
Any advice is more than welcome.
Ian
hit a workshop or two and see what new things I can learn about
photography.
For my first, I decided to go someplace I'm at least familiar with and one
that I would very much like to photograph. Death Valley. It's about 500 miles
from home and fairly dry as well as warm (during the day). The workshop is
being offered through the University of California Santa Cruz. The cost was a
little steep but it's four days of instruction pretty much all day plus I'm not
going to be at work
The packet came in the mail yesterday and I was in for my first panic attack.
We are to bring 10 prints to share with the class at the first meeting. Holy
cow. I don't print a lot of stuff so already I'm kinda panic'ed as to what to
bring and what to print. Just how the heck does one produce a portfolio?
Then there's the issue of print quality...I'll have to resolve that cause I think
they'll want 8x10's.
Then there's the schedule. Day one starts the late hour of 0900. Then it's
0600 followed by 0530 followed by 0600. Three days of sunrise shots at the
Sand Dunes. I don't see any evening stuff but I'd like to try a few dark
sky shots too. We are visiting Titus Canyon, Scotty's Castle and Ubehebe
Crater as well as the Date Palm Grove (I'm all tuckered out just reading the
schedule!!).
I'll take the SLR's plus a little point and shoot, a tripod and all the
accessories. Not to mention a rack o' batteries and chargers for
everything, a laptop and a Sierra Lima of memory.
I can't remember being this excited about going to school :clap
I just hope I have something good to show for it when I'm done....
Any advice is more than welcome.
Ian
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
0
Comments
Good for you! Forget the panic - you're going for the learning experience.
Workshops are great! You need to worry about nothing except photography - what in life could be better?!
Advice? Enjoy! Take a lot of pictures, try things you haven't tried before, soak in as much instruction as you can get, remember it's not a competion (although other group members may be competitive), but most important - take it easy and enjoy the experience!
Nir Alon
images of my thoughts
gubbs.smugmug.com
Ian - just use smugmug to get your 8x10s for your portfolio....
Landscape workshops begin before sunrise - that is when you find the very best light. Trust me on this. A landscape workshop that did not have sunrise shots would have me a little bit concerned. Just take a good alarm clock and a little LED headlight - you will find it useful.
Workshops can be great fun and a way to get to see and shoot things that you might never find otherwise. Enjoy yourself - have fun!
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Got home from work today and listened to the answering machine.
It said "Death Valley Cancelled. Due to lack of enrollment" :cry
Well, I still have the time off...
Ian
But that doesn't mean you can't go! Depending on the area where you plan on going, I would recomend taking your cold weather gear.
Sam
How much was the class? I know a group from the area just went on a workshop to Yosemite & Bodie. Unfortunately I just started a new job & couldn't get the time off.
Dave
http://www.lifekapptured.com (gallery)
I think this time of year is cold really cold even more so this year.ask Sam he just got back .the end of feb thu march i think is at least better weather .they have a group going from l.a. but does not sound as educational as the trip you were planning. they go in feb. for 4 days $500 or $700 per couple feb 3-6 they stay at the creek no meals $109 a night thats a good rate for the creek .going on your own and looking for your shots is a trip.anyway if you are interested i will email you info.
“PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”
http://jwear.smugmug.com/
But I am going to shoot pictures
ian