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 9 - 13, 2023 *** SOLD OUT ***

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 I 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). If there is any hesitation on physical ability, I also am offering a Scenic Columbia River Gorge Workshop showcasing many of the best sights in the area at a much more leisurely pace that is also filled with incredibly beautiful waterfalls!

As you’ve surely guessed by the workshop title, our focus for the week 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 three 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 9 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 13 with a group dinner. Participants should plan to fly out the following day.

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 9 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 9-13 (checkout June 14) will be included for those that choose that option.

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!

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 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

• 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. 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.