Great Smoky Mountains Photo Workshops

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains Private Photo Workshop

Please call for one (1) to five (5) day customized photo workshops

Great Smoky Mountains 2010 Photo Workshops

Workshop 1:

2011 Schedule to come

Workshop 2:

October 18–19

Workshop 3:

Oct. 20–21

Workshop 1 (Saturday Noon – Late Afternoon Tuesday) includes full instruction (including a 200-page guidebook) on the digital workflow using Adobe Photoshop while focusing on the southwestern side of the Smokies including Cades Cove, not only the most popular destination within the park, but also the best location for viewing wildlife and Little River Road one of the most scenic river locations in America.

Workshop 2 (Sunday Evening – Late Afternoon Tuesday) focuses on the southwestern side of the Smokies including Cades Cove, not only the most popular destination within the park, but also the best location for viewing wildlife.

Workshop 3 (Sunrise Wednesday – Sunset Thursday) takes us to the very top of the Smokies at Clingman’s Dome, but also includes Roaring Fork featuring a number of 19th Century farmhouses hidden away in the mountains.

Detailed schedule click HERE. Slideshow of sample tour images click HERE.

All locations sunrise to sunset (times vary by season) are within easy walking distance of your vehicle –– no strenuous hikes or difficult trails to navigate. Except for the wide mountain vistas seen from Clingman’s Dome, Morton's Overlook, and Foothills Parkway West, our subjects include a wide variety of wild flowers and mountain foliage, a wonderful selection of mountain streams, creeks, and rivers, and a few lovely water falls. In addition, deer, bear, coyote, and fox are often seen early morning in Cades Cove.

In Workshops 2 & 3 ,you will learn all about:

Shooting in all kinds of dramatically changing light

Composition (both gray scale and color) and the Art of Seeing

Lens choice and full camera setup

Effective tripod use and shooting moving streams and waterfalls with bracketing and time exposure

Shooting effectively, not only during the 'Golden Hours' early and late, but also during the middle of the day when the light is less kind

All the issues that accompany shooting in the field: weather, clothing, power backup, varied terrain, camera & sensor maintenance, etc.

How to shoot beautiful sunrise and sunset images.

Shooting Infrared images

Meet new people and have a great time

In Workshop 1, you will learn all of the above in addition to a comprehensive Photoshop digital workflow.

The workshop schedule avoids crowds as much as possible while carpooling will be used to facilitate easy movement from location to location. Also, I reserve the option to alter the schedule on the spot if either weather or ground conditions warrant.

The fee for Workshop 1 is $400.00 per person for the 3.5 days. Should you elect to stay for Workshop 3, the fee is $550.00 per person for the entire week. The fee includes a 200-page Photoshop Workflow Guide, full location guidance and photographic instruction at all locations, and feedback/critiques of your images. You are responsible for your own laptop with appropriate software, travel, food, lodging, and miscellaneous expenses.

The fee for either Workshop 2 or Workshop 3 is $250.00 per person for the two days. Should you elect to stay for both workshops (2 and 3), the fee is $450.00 per person for the four days. This fee includes full location guidance and photographic instruction throughtout each day including mid-day feedback and critiques of your images. You are responsible for travel, food, lodging, and miscellaneous expenses.

I use the Valley View Lodge in Townsend, TN (mention Darkness-to-Light for a discount); and in the Microtel Inn & Suites in Gatlinburg; however, there are many other hotels and motels in both locations. The classroom portions of Workshops 1 and 2 are held at Valley View Lodge.

The Composition portion of Workshop 2 will be devoted to projecting/reviewing the participant's images and giving feedback along with addressing any image editing issues that arise.

I will keep the groups small (6 to 8 persons), so expect all the one-on-one attention you may need in all phases of photography. Also, I occasionally will be shooting right along with you, demonstrating all the techniques I employ to capture the very best image in the field

Weather is usually not a factor in the Smokies. Clouds and rain can produce stunning, richly colored images. In addition, you can also learn how to handle the deep shadows and pronounced contrast resulting from mid-day, cloudless skies. As the date of the tour approaches, I will advise everyone of the appropriate clothing.

Registration: To register for any of these Smoky Mountain workshops, click HERE , print out the D2L Registration form, and mail it in with your deposit. Upon registration, a 50% deposit is required with the remainder due two weeks before the workshop. If you have any questions, please either email me at (billjordan@darkness-to-light.com) or call me at (803-932-9540). When I receive your deposit, I will send you information with which you can begin your own research. Reserve early to assure a spot.

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