A WATERFALL WONDERLAND IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Join photographer Chris Byrne for a hiking adventure and photo tour of the best waterfalls in Oregon and Washington

June 6 - 10, 2025

The lush and moody Pacific Northwest is home to countless waterfalls, the majority of which are hidden deep in national forest lands. This will not be your conventional photography workshop as we will be setting our sights and cameras on breathtaking waterfalls that are literally off the path, with adventurous hikes through the woods to see places that few people see. We will of course mix in some iconic waterfalls on established trails, but make no mistake this is not a roadside photography workshop and is geared to a more advanced hiker.

On this 5-day photography workshop through the Pacific Northwest we will be taking a very small group of 5 participants to keep the group nimble and minimize our impact on the scenes that we photograph. This will be a hiking filled workshop, with several steep and somewhat difficult hikes to waterfalls that few have even photographed. Hiking poles, waders and micro spikes are must haves. Participants should be in good physical health capable of hiking up to 5 miles a day with up and down elevation gains of 500-1000 feet. We will do some shorter hikes through challenging forest terrain (bushwhacking, climbing over big fallen trees, hiking forest hillsides).

As you’ve surely guessed by the workshop title, our focus for our time together will be waterfalls. Which means that unless there is a strong possibility for a beautiful sunrise then we will be skipping sunrise and driving before dawn to get to our hiking locations and on the trails as early as possible. We will be striving to hit two to four waterfalls per day with one afternoon dedicated to post processing in a classroom setting towards the end of the week. The goal of the workshop is to do some awesome hikes, get muddy and wet and give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune your photography skills in the rugged and beautiful northwest landscapes!                             

ITINERARY

We will meet the afternoon on Friday June 6 in Hood River, Oregon. From there, after our meet and greet we will either do a short hike to a waterfall or shoot sunset. Each morning we will rise early and hit the trail 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. The workshop will end the evening of June 10 with a group dinner. Participants should plan to fly out the following day.

Note: there are A LOT of waterfalls here. All of the photos above are potential locations for this workshop, but we will not get to every one of them. Our goal will be to hit two to four waterfalls each day depending on the length and difficulty of the hikes involved.

USEFUL INFO / PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

The sun rises at approximately 5:30 am and sets at 9 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 70’s during the day and as low as the 50’s at night. Be prepared for colder variable weather with wind and rain.

Physical difficulty of this workshop will be mostly moderate with some short and steep difficult hikes and wet terrain into small river canyons. We will be hiking down steep challenging hillsides and of course back up the same way that we came (the quite difficult part). Off trail hiking in the woods involves climbing over and around logs, some bushwhacking, navigating loose ground and mossy hillsides. 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 planned hike will be an out and back 5 miles round trip hike with 800 feet of elevation gain. But plans of course can change depending on the wants of the group.

AIRPORT / ACCOMODATIONS / RENTAL CAR

Participants should fly into Portland International Airport (PDX). We will meet on Friday June 6 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 hotel locations will be Hood River and Eugene and recommended lodging will be emailed along with other information as the date gets near. Five nights lodging for June 6 - 10 (checkout June 11) will be included for those that choose that option.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

A wonderful week chasing light, waterfalls in 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! If you can close your eyes and picture yourself in this fairytale paradise then this workshop is for you!

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 or Mirrorless Camera

• Lenses ranging from wide angle (12mm) to telephoto (300mm). A macro lens will also useful to bring as well if you have one.

• Camera manual

• Memory cards

• A very sturdy tripod (Do NOT bring a Peak Design tripod)

• Camera backpack (must go on your back, not a roller bag)

• Cable Release Trigger

• Circular Polarizing Filters for every lens and Solid ND filters (for long exposures). Do NOT bring a Variable ND filter, they are worthless.

• Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc. 

• Computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

• Notebook

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Meals and snacks

• Transportation

• Airfare

• Camera Equipment

TOTAL COST $2950 (No Lodging) / $3750 (With Lodging)

50% DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE A SPACE

FINAL PAYMENT OF $2400 IS DUE 90 DAYS IN ADVANCE

REGISTER NOW

MEET YOUR GUIDES

BRONWYN ILLINGWORTH

Born and raised in Canada, I inherited my love for photography from my father at the age of 12.  The art of film photography and the artistry of the dark room consumed me for many years.  In 2012, I embraced the digital realm, which unleashed a new wave of creativity. 

Now residing in Oregon, I am blessed with endless opportunities to capture the magnificent beauty of the Pacific Northwest.  From towering evergreens to majestic coastlines, nature has become my muse.  I have a passion for traveling and uncovering the wonders of the world.

I love chasing breathtaking landscapes and exploring the intricate details of nature through my lens. Photography isn't just a hobby for me; it's an intimate connection that allows me to freeze time and share the raw beauty of our world with you.

CHRIS BYRNE

Hello there! I’m Chris Byrne and I spent way too many years aimlessly wandering the earth and working for the man before finding my true passion in nature and landscape photography. My love of nature started very early in life as I would study the photographs in my dad’s huge collection of National Geographics, and also spend as much time as I could out exploring in the woods with my younger brother. Fast forward many years and after getting a finance degree in college I went to work in the stock market for over fifteen years (and didn’t get rich). During my time, I saw first hand two of the most devastating financial crises in our country’s history, and after the second go around I completely lost interest in my profession and desperately needed something more. I found myself in a place in life without any inspiration or excitement for what I was doing.

Then on a trip to Glacier, Montana I rediscovered my love of nature. However, the photographs I was trying to get just didn’t do the place any justice. It was then that I decided to get serious about photography and quickly poured all of myself into the craft, learning as much as possible as quickly as I could. I was a super sponge and had a new passion for life! As soon as I became proficient in my skills, I wanted to share my knowledge and began teaching others. Now I lead workshops to some of the best places on the globe.

I am proud to be able to inspire others and spend as much time as I possibly can with each person in helping them connect with nature while teaching the techniques to capture the images that they want to create. Seeing people make breakthroughs in their art is something that I cherish. I truly believe that nature is good for the soul. The more you explore, the more you will be inspired.

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.