Spring Photography Workshop

This will be a two day field workshop near Jasper Arkansas  located in the area of the Buffalo National River in North Central Arkansas. Just about all of our time will be spent photographing the endless possibilities of this unique area, with personal instruction from Greg Disch.

During this workshop we will learn the techniques necessary for obtaining beautiful silky smooth waterfall photos.  We will also learn how to capture great close-up and macro shots using the abundant spring wildflowers as our primary subjects.

Workshop Itinerary

Friday April 26th

We will meet at the Ozark Cafe on the square in Jasper at 6:00 pm for dinner  and to get acquainted with everyone in the group.  We will discuss preparations for our morning shoot on Saturday, and be sure everyone has transportation.

Saturday, April 27th

We will meet for breakfast at the Ozark cafe in Jasper at 8:00  before departing on our shoot Saturday morning.  plan to bring a picnic style lunch, snacks, and drinks for during the day Saturday as we may not have anywhere available to stop for lunch.

We will do in the field training on how to photograph waterfalls, to obtain the smooth silky appearance that we all like to see in waterfall photographs. In addition, there should be a great variety of wildflowers that we will be able to photograph, there are number of unique techniques that will we explore to capture great flower photos in the field.

 

We will return to Jasper and meet for dinner to discuss the days photo opportunities and have a question-and-answer session.

Sunday, April 28th

We will again meet for breakfast at eight o’clock at the Ozark Cafe in Jasper. After breakfast we will venture out to another waterfall location. After shooting at this location, we will journey to a second location for another  shoot.  We will complete our photography sessions at around 4 to 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon completing the workshop.

In addition to shooting wildflowers and waterfalls, we will have the opportunity to photograph the elk in Boxley Valley, numerous old barns, and other landscape opportunities.

Changes to the Itinerary

In order to offer the best experience possible for the workshop participants we reserve the right to alter the itinerary when our judgment warrants it.  This could be due to unforeseen circumstances, closures, weather or other conditions beyond our control.  We may also alter due to new or unexpected photographic opportunities that may arise.

In Arkansas, April is generally the spring rainy season and a good time for shooting waterfalls. However, the weather is very unpredictable and in Arkansas waterfalls generally have water only in wet periods. There will be no guarantee that we will actually be able to photograph waterfalls with flowing water.  On the other hand, we may have too much water  being unsafe  traveling to the locations to photograph the waterfalls.   In case of either of these conditions we will have alternative subjects to photograph and we will still be able to cover the techniques of photographing waterfalls.

 

 Cost

The workshop fee will $297.00 per participant.

The workshop fee includes all lectures, fieldwork and critiques of your images during our  sessions.  This is a photography workshop, not just a photo tour, my goal is provide as much personal hands on help as possible.  I will check with each participant to see how you are doing and if you need help,  if you wish for assistance let me know, if not just let me know, and you will be free to shoot on your own.  I will be more than willing to look through your viewfinder or at your LCD to check your images.

 

 Register for this Workshop

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Workshop Policies and Information

About the Workshop

Our workshops are based on digital photography, the assistance that I can provide and the immediate feedback of digital make “in the field” workshops one of the most effective teaching formats available.  Whether finding the correct exposure, looking through the viewfinder for the perfect composition, or learning how to use the equipment, you can’t beat real world experience.  Classes are kept small, it’s all about personal, individual attention.

Digital offers a number of benefits for learning photography including:

  1. Immediate feedback on exposure and composition
  1. Immediate critique from the instructor an other participants
  2. Ability or afternoon or evening reviews and projection
  3. Automatically capturing all shooting information (Meta Data)
  1. Ability to manage work flow while still on location

 

Group Size

We keep our group size small, this provides for a high degree of personal attention and a great amount of flexibility in making the workshop the best possible experience for the participants.

This workshop is limited to a maximum or 8 participants.

What is Included

Your workshop fees include full instruction and location guiding.  Prior to the workshop, you will be supplied a trip checklist to assist with your preparations. Before the workshop, all participants receive a course syllabus, detailed itinerary, technical articles, and more.

What is Not Included

Transportation during the workshop, lodging, meals, incidental expenses and items of a personal nature.

Health and Physical Considerations

All participants should be in generally good health, walking and moderate climbing may be necessary in outdoor workshops and you will be responsible for carrying of your own equipment on location shoots.  If you are taking any medications be sure to bring a supply sufficient for the duration of the workshop.

If you have any concern about your ability to participate in a workshop please contact us before registering.

Equipment Needed

To get the most from the workshop you should have a Digital Single Lens Reflex  (DSLR) camera, tripod and an assortment of lenses.  That being said, it is the photographer not the camera that makes the photo.  You will need a laptop computer to use, remember to bring all software, drivers, cords, and camera manuals when attending any workshop and you should be technically proficient with your laptop computer and editing software.

We may be photographing the Arkansas Elk in Boxley Valley and  a long lens in the 300mm or longer range is needed in most cases.

For photographing waterfalls a tripod is essential. Neutral density filters are recommended along with a cable release for your camera.  for photographing wildflowers, a lens capable of close focusing is recommended. For very close-up images the use of either a diopter or close-up filter or extension tubes is recommended. A macro lens is also a great way of obtaining extreme close-ups however considerably more expensive than the previous options.

Transportation During Workshop

We do not provide Transportation on field trips, carpooling will be done among participants for these workshops.  If you do not have a car let us know and we will be sure there are  enough seats with other members during the workshop.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided, you will need to make your own reservations, we will be meeting in Jasper AR, and be eating most meals there.  Jasper has several motels and there are cabins all around. Click here for area information.

Meals

Meals, drinks, and snacks are not provided, and are the responsibility of the participant.  I some cases we may need to pack a lunch for the day and at other times we will stop when and where convenient for the group.  Breakfast and dinner may be at a predetermined location or as available based upon where we are and our photography schedule.

Registration, Payment, and Refund Policy

You can register any way you like, just so I get your information, you can use the online registration, the contact formemail,  postal mail, or call me on the phone (479-414-6889) either to register or just ask a question.  Registration is done on a first come basis, so register early to secure your space.   A deposit of 20% is required to reserve your space, and full payment is due 30 days prior to the workshop. Enrollment is limited in our workshops, so once you have been accepted your participation is important to us – we are counting on you to attend. If you must withdraw from a course, we must receive written notice of your cancellation, and then apply the following refund policy: Withdraw more than 45 days before the start of class and we will refund all monies paid. Withdraw 44 days or less before the start of workshop and we regrettably will be unable to offer a refund of your workshop fee.  We do not make partial refunds for unused portions or services of a workshop for any reason whatsoever. Refunds are not transferable. If we are able to fill your space in the workshop we will give full credit towards another workshop.

Non Photographer (Spouse, significant other, or friend)

We welcome spouses to join you on the workshop experience however “workshop activities” are limited to registered, paid attendees.  You may have a non photographer accompany you to all activities but they must pay for the workshop.  If they wish to accompany you on the trip but not attend the workshop activities, but stay with you, finding other activities during the day,  and  meet for meals and social type events that is perfectly acceptable.

Cancellation Policy

In the unlikely event that we need to cancel a workshop we will refund all monies paid, in full. Notification of our cancellation will be made via either a telephone call or an e-mail to you at least 14 days prior to the beginning of a workshop. We cannot be responsible for phone messages and e-mails not being received in a timely matter due to your service providers. We cannot be responsible for non-refundable airline tickets unused or other travel arrangements because of a workshop cancellation.

Liability Waiver

All participants will be required to sigh a liability waiver before beginning a workshop.  We will not be liable for injury, accident or theft resulting from participation in our workshop program.

Weather

The more the better, at least as far as the photography goes.  Workshops will not be canceled and no refunds will be made due to weather, we will not be responsible for any additional costs that may be incurred by weather delays or cancellations due to weather, flight delays, or other. Participants should come to the workshop prepared for all weather conditions. We will generally update everyone within a few days of the workshop so that they know what type of weather to expect.

Trip Extensions

We may be able to extend your trip in the area, if you would like more time and personal instruction.  Please contact us for more information and rates before the workshop.

Smoking

We prefer that you do not smoke, however if you must please abide by the following guidelines.  Smoking is not allowed in or near vehicles, during instructional sessions, during group meals, or at other times when in close quarters with other workshop participants.

 

Location

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All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.  

Great Places for Great Photos

 

Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!

 
 

Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.

Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.

All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.

If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance.

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