AMAZING COASTLINES & TOWERING REDWOODS

A spring photography workshop of the beautiful Oregon Coast and California Redwoods.

May 31 - June 5, 2024

The Oregon Coast is a wild and untamed gem in the Pacific Northwest, one that can surely challenge a photographer’s creativity as fog and mist are more common than epic sunsets. From grand landscapes to intimate small scenes, this workshop will have it all. I am offering a small group workshop to explore this landscape with a flexible itinerary to chase the best conditions up and down the coast. The many sea stacks and raging surf in this location offers limitless compositional possibilities. We will have the ability to cover a lot of ground and photograph the best subject matter we can find, whether it be foggy redwood forests, the milky way above the Pacific Ocean, or a blazing sunset over towering sea stacks on the beach.

On this 6 day, 5 nights Photography Workshop you will be guided you to some of the best spots along the coast and also have the opportunity to explore some lesser known locations. Our loose plan will be to find a great sunrise location and then stay on the move along scenic Highway 101 for other interesting subject matter to photograph during the day - the goal is to find the best photography spots on the Oregon Coast! Weather will dictate where we move each day, but our three main hotel stops will be in the towns of Yachats, Bandon, and Brookings, all scenic locations in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. The group size will ensure plenty of individual attention and instruction for those that attend and helping clients create beautiful images will always be priority number one. Additionally, because of the weather, there can be difficult shooting conditions, but there will always be something to photograph. 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 Friday May 31 in the town of Yachats, Oregon. From there, we will follow Highway 101 all the way down to northern California and hit Cape Perpetua, the Samuel H. Boardman corridor, Bandon, Del Norte Redwood Forest, and plenty of places in between. Expect some back tracking and repeating of some favorite spots. Each afternoon we will check into our new hotel, grab some food, and rest up a bit before heading out for sunset. If there are clear skies, then photographing the milky way will be a possibility as well (depending on the moon cycle). In the afternoons and evenings we will also mix in post processing instruction in both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for those that are interested. The workshop will end after our sunrise session on Wednesday June 5 near Brookings, Oregon.

USEFUL INFO / PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

The sun rises at approximately 5:40am and sets at 8:40pm during this time of the year. Add in driving time to and from locations and this will make for very early mornings and late nights. Temperatures typically range from the 50’s to 70’s but can be colder, windy and rainy. Prepare for variable weather.

Physical difficulty of the locations will be easy to moderate. It is important for participants to be in good physical health. While many locations will be a short distance from a parking lot, there won’t be any long hikes but there may be some short steep sections to get down to beach areas.

AIRPORT / ACCOMODATIONS / RENTAL CAR

Participants should fly into either Portland International Airport (PDX) or Eugene (EUG). We will meet on Friday May 31 in Yachats, Oregon which is approximately a two and a half hour drive from Portland, and one hour forty-five minute drive from Eugene. We will be carpooling as much as possible and this will be coordinated prior to the workshop so that not everyone may not need to rent a car. A standard mid-size rental car will be sufficient. Lodging is optional on this workshop and will be included for those that choose it for the nights of May 31 - June 4, checking out on Wednesday June 5.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

A wonderful week chasing light and photographing some of the most dramatic seascapes in the United States. Nothing quite compares to the rugged Oregon Coast with its incredible scenery and always-changing weather. Our small group will be nimble and able to cover a lot of ground. Having a flexible travel plan gives us the opportunity to move on a whim and be in the best position to create memorable images. With the saltwater smell in the air and the sea birds chirping over head, standing on an Oregon Beach in the springtime is one of the best environments to learn and grow as a nature photographer. This corner of the Pacific Northwest is hands-down one of the most scenic places to explore and improve your landscape photography.

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. I will provide 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. I am an open book and willing to share any tips or tricks he's learned 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

• Transportation

• Park entrance fees

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

GARY RANDALL

Gary Randall is an award winning professional photographer, artist, writer, traveler and adventure seeker who lives in the foothills of the south side of Mount Hood, Oregon. He has been a lifelong resident of all sides of Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge and has spent his life exploring the outdoors. Gary has been taking photos since he was about six years old when he was given a Brownie Hawkeye. Taking photos has been a passion since. He bought his first 35mm SLR, a Yashica, when he joined the U.S. Navy and immediately wanted to learn how to develop his own photos. He joined a camera club and started spending hours at a time in a darkroom learning new techniques from the “old guys” there that were willing to teach what they knew. It was during his stay on the little atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Midway Island during the late 1970’s that he got his first taste of the world of travel, adventure and was where he first became serious about the hobby of photography. After raising a family, he has two grown sons Chris and Matt, and a career change that lead back to the use of a camera, he has transitioned to photography full time. Since digital photography has come into play and has developed into a high quality method, it has allowed him the ability to do many of the darkroom processing techniques that he learned in the past, plus a lot more – all with the lights on.

Through the last 15 years Gary has been recognized for his work both for photography and volunteer work in his community. He is a licensed outfitter and guide who conducts photography tours, classes and workshops. He earned a Silver Medal award from the Professional Photographers Association 2017 International Photographic Competition.

Whenever he’s not at home taking care of business, you can find him wandering near and far to find the the unique scenery that makes up his work. He shares his adventures with his wife Darlene, his dog Betty and his PPV (Photographic Pursuit Vehicle) his 1990 Jeep Cherokee. Photography is his life. Photography is his reason.

NICOLE PINO

Born and raised in Utah, Nicole adopted an outdoor lifestyle and love of photography at a very early age. Exploring the many natural wonders of her home state fueled her passion for photography, prompting her to take things to the next level. She soon found herself happily immersed in the industry, leading photo workshops in the Southwest and beyond.

Having an adventurous spirit, and incurable wanderlust, Nicole spends most of her free time traveling, exploring and capturing the beauty around her. She is also a licensed boat captain and never passes up to a chance to get out on the water.

Nicole loves sharing her passion for photography with others and is most at home in the field helping clients improve their skills as well as gain confidence in themselves and their photographic vision. In addition to being an accomplished guide and instructor, Nicole is familiar with the technical aspects of photography as well as various camera systems and gear.

TESTIMONIALS

“I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for an amazing workshop on the Oregon Coast. Your planning and execution on every place we visited was outstanding. I think I can speak for the incredible group we had when I say your leadership and attention to everyone's needs did not go unnoticed. You and Gary Randall were truly a great partnership. I personally appreciated your help on anything I needed and couldn't be any more satisfied with the entire experience, friendships, knowledge and most of all memories documents within my photos. I have no-doubt I will see you on another workshop very soon.” - Greg Chimenti

"If you are interested in a photography workshop, I strongly encourage you to book a trip with Chris! As a testament to my endorsement, I have been to three workshops with Chris in the last 10 months. His workshops are well thought out and managed. He makes sure you have what you need and helps you to get better at your craft. If you get great conditions you will walk away with some outstanding images! Either way, you will learn a lot and be happy with the images you capture. You won't be disappointed!" - Dan Kayser

CANCELLATION POLICY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event of emergency where Chris cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. 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.

A $200 change fee will be charged for changes or cancellations. Participants who cancel prior to 90 days before the workshop will receive either a full refund or credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Any cancellations within 90 days of the workshop cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Only if we are able to fill the vacancy, will the participant will receive a credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Workshop credits are good for one calendar year from the date of the missed workshop.

Any cancellations within 30 days of the workshop (for any reason) will forfeit their entire registration fee as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice. If a true emergency arises last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop, but this is not guaranteed. Again travel insurance is strongly recommended.