About the Workshop: Explore the Eastern Sierra as a professional photographer would with Chris as your guide and instructor. During this workshop he will guide you to key areas of the Eastern Sierra while helping you to translate emotion and vision through our photographic medium.
Spend four Golden Hours exploring the Mountains and Fall Color of the Eastern Sierra. This workshop will be geared to capturing the best lighting conditions of the golden hours, but due to the moon cycle we are in a great position to capture the late season milkyway shortly after Sunset and we will take advantage of it depending on weather conditions and the overall feeling of the group.
Itinerary: Since this is a field workshop, we will remain flexible to weather and light conditions so we are in the best position possible. The final itinerary with finalized times will be made available prior to our visit, but will be discussed as we go along to make sure we are rested and ready to perform when the conditions are right. Middle of the day will be used for resting so that we are fresh for golden hours and night shooting, unless some awesome weather conditions present themselves. We will always work as a group and make sure we get enough rest so no one is worn out and not performing their best. Below you’ll find an estimated schedule for how the workshop will flow.
*There will be a one-hour pre-trip online Google meeting with Chris prior to the trip on September 25th @ 7PM. Login information will be provided upon registration.*
DAY 1: Friday, October 3rd
3:00 PM Meet in Bishop for Meet and Greet3:15 PM Depart for Sunset Shoot
7:00 PM Depart for our hotels There is a possibility we might do some night photography if conditions are best this night (Night Photography Session will conclude by 9PM to allow time to eat before bed)
DAY 2: Saturday, October 4th
5:00 AM Depart from Hotels to our Sunrise Session9:30 AM Return to hotels for rest and food
2:00 PM Depart for Sunset Session
7:30 PM Depart for our hotelsThere is a possibility we might do some night photography if conditions are best this night (Night Photography Session will conclude by 9PM to allow time to eat before bed)
DAY 3: Sunday, October 5th
5:00 AM Depart from Hotels to our Sunrise Session
12:00 PM Workshop and instruction concludes
Chris is dedicated to providing the best instruction on all aspects of the art of landscape photography and night photography. Whatever level of photographer you might be, he is ready to help you move forward with your photography by guiding you towards the steps in your journey. Chris will be teaching basic to advanced techniques to bring your photographic vision to life and create impact on viewers of photography.
Transportation:
Transportation from Bishop to shooting locations will be provided. We ask that you please use our transportation to and from shooting locations to keep our footprint small so others can enjoy the area as well. All attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the Bishop area before the start and after the workshop’s conclusion.
Airports:
Nearest Major Airports are Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Francisco. Flights can be taken to Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH) or Mammoth Lakes if you wish to fly a bit closer.
Rental Cars:
Many options are available for renting a vehicle of any kind from either airport listed above. Any car will be sufficient for exploring the area outside of our workshop. If you’d like to take a deeper dive to the surrounding areas before or after the workshop then a high clearance 4×4 might be a good choice. Most of the fall color areas can be easily accessed with any vehicle however.
Accomodations:
Hotels:
Any and all hotels in the city of Bishop, CA are recommended for ease of access to our workshop areas. Several rooms have been reserved at the Best Western in Bishop for your convenience and are available to purchase for an additional fee. Please book your accommodations early to ensure availability. For more information on other Bishop lodging options please visit: https://bishopvisitor.com/lodging/
Camping:
There are camping areas and RV parks in Bishop as well as the surrounding mountain areas. Please keep in mind that there will not be much time to travel so please make sure you stay in or very close to Bishop so that you have more time to rest and an easy time getting to and from our shooting locations. For more information on Camping please visit: https://bishopvisitor.com/camping/
What to Bring:
It’s always good to know what equipment you need. If you have any questions about the necessities Chris is here to help, but here is a list of essentials and recommendations for the trip:
Equipment:
- DSLR / Mirrorless camera and lenses
- DSLR or Mirrorless camera is an essential tool to get the most out of the workshop and your photos
- Wide Angle Lens – 12-24mm (Faster lenses are better for night photography, but not essential)
- Mid and Long Range Zoom – 24-70, 70-200, 100-400 are great ranges to capture intimate scenes
- Tripod (Sturdy as the Fall months can have very strong winds) Tripods are helpful to refine compositions, reduce camera shake and for long exposure/night photography.
- All filters you might have, a Circular Polarizer is a great tool for fall colors and ND filters are great for long exposures
- Remote / cable camera shutter
- Needed for tack sharp images and long exposures
- Several memory cards
- You never want to run out of space for pictures. Bring several or empty at the end of the day
- Spare camera batteries
- Another thing you never want to run out of in the field. Bring several fully charged with you and charge overnight
- Head torch (for any night or low light walking and shooting)
- Raincover for camera and camera bag cold come in handy in some rare cases of rain, snow or high wind!
- Small Camping Chair or Stool for comfort while waiting for the light (may not apply to all shooting locations)
Clothing Items:
- Fall can be quite cold in the mornings and late into the evenings, but somewhat comfortable in the middle of the days. Keep in mind that we will be going up in elevation for our shooting and it will be cooler than Bishop on the valley floor. I would recommend bringing several layers ranging from a heavy jacket to light layers such as a wind jacket or wind pants depending on the time of day. We’ll discuss the weather forecast leading into the workshop. So far the fall is forecasted to be a bit warmer than usual, but that can change. It’s good to be prepared for a variety of weather conditions and temperatures. Certainly long underwear, wool socks, beanies and gloves would be appropriate for the early mornings.
- Sunglasses, Large Brim hat, and Sunscreen are recommended for the daytime.
- Hiking Shoes or Boots are recommended to ensure a good strong footing.
Food:
- Food, Water, and all other essentials. No Food or water will be provided before, during or after the workshop; unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.
- Plan ahead and have plenty of liquids and snacks with you.
Physical Requirements:
Hiking will be required to reach some of our shooting locations, but not all of them. Some are a short walk from our vehicles and others might require a short hike to reach (.5 miles). Typically shooting is done within a mile of the car and most hiking should be mild in elevation change. We’ll be sure to move at a fair pace and no student will be left behind, but please consider that there will be walking involved and participants should be prepared physically.
What is included and not included:
INCLUDED:• Expert instruction in the field with Chris Ewen Crosby• Video Introduction and Presentation Prior to Workshop• Guidance to key compositional attributes throughout the area
NOT INCLUDED:
• Flights and transportation to hotel prior to and after the workshop• Meals• Travel and cancellation insurance (recommended for emergencies that might cause cancellation)
Curriculum:
Curriculum will be catered to each individual’s skill level and may vary from student to student. Below you’ll find some common topics based upon different skill levels.
BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE
Chris is a big believer in fundamentals in the development of any skill, photography is no different. I start all my workshops by ensuring that we have a good foundation to build on. Below you’ll find some sample topics:
- Shooting in Manual Mode
- Understand The Exposure Triangle and how each affects the image (aperture, ISO, shutter speed)
- How to Meter and Expose for best results
- Using light for better captures
- Compositions made simple and easy
- Understanding and using camera settings and menu options
- ND’s, Polarizer and Grads – Which to use and when to use it
- Tips and Tricks for easier workflows and shooting experience in the field
INTERMEDIATE – ADVANCED
Those who have a greater understanding of their cameras will get some more advanced shooting techniques to focus on light, location and making good decisions to make the most of the variables. Some advanced topics are listed below:
- Exposure bracketing and blending
- Focus stacking for depth of field and sharpness
- Creative blending to bring the vision to life
- Complex composition for interest, depth and focus
Conclusions and Expectations
SUMMARY
Your satisfaction, enjoyment and educational experience is important to Chris. The goal of this workshop is to allow you to further understand your camera, composition and artistic expression while using the amazing landscapes of the Eastern Sierra. Chris wants to ensure that everyone comes away with great instruction as well as a great experience in nature. Most importantly, we are going to have fun! Having fun is a critical part of any good photography adventure. When you have fun, your mind is free to expand and learn.
By Registering for this Workshop, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. You will be asked to sign a waiver prior to the workshop. CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Payment Policy & Cancellation: Registration fees are not refundable if cancelling within 60 days of the workshop start date. Minimum of 3 attendees needed. Samy’s Photo School reserves the right to cancel this event if fewer than 3 register.
Samy’s Photo School is not responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses in the event of cancellation. Please review the full terms and conditions.