THE PLAYGROUND OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Join photographers Chris Byrne and Gary Randall in 2021 for a scenic photo tour and workshop in the Columbia River Gorge, located on the beautiful West Coast between Oregon and Washington state.

May 5 - 8, 2021 *** SOLD OUT ***

Dividing the states of Oregon and Washington, the Columbia River Gorge is a geological wonder and landscape photographer’s paradise. With lush forests and abundant waterfalls breathing life on both sides of the river, the chance to get lost in nature and create beautiful imagery is a daily occurrence. While the 2017 wildfire devastated some great areas on the Oregon side, trails are beginning to reopen and there is still plenty to see and photograph particularly in the Gifford National Forest in Washington. Rest assured there still remains and abundance of natural beauty here in The Gorge, a scenic location at the heart of the Pacific Northwest!

On this 4-day photography workshop in Columbia River Gorge we will be exploring rolling hillsides covered in wildflowers, breathtaking waterfalls, and scenic views of Mt. Hood. You will be guided you to some of the best photo spots along the historic Columbia River Highway that is teeming with waterfalls and also have the opportunity to explore some lesser known locations. Our plan for the week will be to shoot sunrise from a scenic vista, from there head out to photograph waterfalls and cap each day with a sunset session. We will also demonstrate post processing techniques and tools in a classroom setting towards the end of the week. The goal of the workshop is to give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune your photography skills both in the field as well in post processing development to bring your images to life.                                

ITINERARY

We will meet the afternoon of Wednesday May 5 in Hood River, Oregon. From there, after our meet and greet we will begin with a sunset session in the Columbia River Gorge and possibly stay out for photographing the Milky Way (depending on each person’s level of jet lag). Each morning we will rise early to shoot sunset and continue to one of the many many waterfalls in the region and keep shooting until the light is too harsh. Often in the Pacific Northwest there is enough cloud cover to photograph all day long! Midday we will gather for lunch and hold post processing sessions if we aren’t out in the field. Each day will conclude with a sunset shoot. This workshop is also timed for the new moon, so capturing the night sky and Milky Way is an option each night as well if the skies are clear. The workshop will end after sunset on Saturday May 8 with a group dinner.

USEFUL INFO / PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

The sun rises at approximately 6 am and sets at 8 pm during this time of the year on the West Coast. Add in driving time to and from locations and this will make for very early mornings and late nights. Temperatures typically reach into the 60’s during the day and as low as the 30’s at night. Be prepared for colder variable weather with wind and rain.

Physical difficulty of this workshop will be moderate with some tough climbing and wet terrain. Waterfalls in the area can have steep and slippery trails with some difficult sections. It is important for participants to be in good physical health and be sure on their feet. Our longest potential hike will be an out and back 4 miles round trip hike with 800 feet of elevation gain.

AIRPORT / ACCOMODATIONS / RENTAL CAR

Participants should fly into Portland International Airport (PDX). We will meet on Wednesday May 5 in Hood River, Oregon, which is approximately an hour drive from the airport. We will be carpooling as much as possible, and a standard mid-size rental car will be sufficient. Our home base will be Hood River and recommended lodging will be emailed along with other information as the date gets near.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

A wonderful week chasing light, waterfalls, and taking a photo tour of the lush Pacific Northwest. You’ll be standing in creeks with mist in the air and fresh spring growth bringing the forest to life. Be prepared to get wet! All with the peaceful sounds of running water as our backdrop to creating memorable images. If you can close your eyes and picture yourself in this fairytale paradise then this workshop is for you! Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is the ideal location to take photos from sunrise to sunset and late into the night.

As stated previously there will be early mornings and late evenings but the days are structured to not wear anyone out and get the most enjoyment of the surroundings and scenery. We will always be providing tips in the field to capture images correctly "in camera" with the goal being that part becomes second nature and students can then focus on the creative aspects of landscape and nature photography. Post processing instruction will run the gamut of importing and organizing files into Lightroom to processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop and finally prepping images for the internet or for print to help you turn your photos into art!

RECOMMENDED CAMERA GEAR, ETC

• DSLR & Lenses ranging from wide angle (12mm) to telephoto (300mm). A macro lens will also useful to bring as well.

• Camera manual

• Memory cards

• A very sturdy tripod

• Cable Release Trigger

• Filters (Circular Polarizing Filter, Graduated ND Filters and Solid ND filters for long exposures)

• Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc. 

• Computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

• Notebook

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Meals and snacks

• Lodging

• Transportation

• Park entrance fees

CANCELLATION POLICY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore strongly recommend travel insurance to cover such costs.

Participants who cancel prior to 60 days before the workshop will receive their full deposit only if the space can be filled. Any cancellations within 60 days of the workshop will not receive their deposit back as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice.  If an emergency arises we will do our very best to work with you as we understand things can happen.