Grand Teton National Park Fall Colors photography Workshop
A 4-day workshop based out of beautiful Wyoming
September 24-27, 2024 or September 27-30, 2024
$2,500 to $3,100
Photograph and experience the rugged beauty of one of the most striking and memorable mountain ranges in the country.
Few mountain landscapes in the world are as impressive and majestic as that of Grand Teton National Park. The park features mountain grandeur, crystal-clear alpine lakes, windy rivers, colorful valleys and plains, diverse and abundant forests, and more than half a dozen glaciers. It is a true haven for nature photographers boasting unparallelled opportunities to capture the essence of its iconic landscape.
Join seasoned photographers Martha Montiel and Shanda Akin for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the breathtaking Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. From sweeping vistas to intimate details, this is a truly enriching experience you won't want to miss!
Vision and Overview
Fall is truly a magical time as the Tetons come alive with vibrant colors. The jagged and often snowy, mountain peaks rise approximately 7,000 vertical feet from the valley floor with no foothills obstructing the incredible views, inspiring a sense of wonder and creativity in those who stand in marvel before them.
On this 4-day workshop, we will guide you to the best locations through winding roads and breathtaking panoramas to capture the colors of fall in their full glory. We will offer guidance, insights, and tips to help you better capture the vibrancy of fall in your images. We will make sure each participant leaves with not only stunning images of Wyoming’s fall colors, but with newfound confidence in your photography skills.
Beyond the technical aspects of photography, we also foster a sense of community and camaraderie among the group. As we explore the wilderness together, share snacks and meals, and bond over our shared love for photography, you will form lasting connections.
SKILL AND ACTIVITY LEVEL:
This is a full-on landscape photography workshop for DSLR or mirrorless camera users of all experience levels from beginner to advanced. Every level can expect to be challenged. Your instructors will work closely with you to address strengths and challenges to help you reach your individual goals and create stunning images. We will be working nonstop to provide thoughts, advice, and real-time guidance as light and compositions change. From composition to lighting and editing, we will share our expertise and help each participant develop unique skills and style.
Physical difficulty of this workshop is designed to be less strenuous with options to make short walks and hikes if you choose.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP:
Lodging: As such an extraordinary place sells out of lodging options, we have included it in your registration, so you won’t have to worry. We will be staying at the lovely Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch (see information listed below).
Car: If you aren’t driving your personal vehicle, we highly recommend renting a vehicle so you may also explore on your own before/after the workshop. We will be carpooling to each location during the workshop.
Flight: Jackson Hole is the closest town to fly into. There are also several other outlying locations in Idaho, Utah and Montana that are just a couple hours away and make for a beautiful drive to the park.
Note: Temperatures can range from the 30's overnight into 60's during the daytime so paying close attention to our recommended packing list (that we will email you upon registration) and bringing layers is important. Please be aware, the elevation of Jackson Hole is over 6,000 feet, which can catch people off-guard if you aren’t used to high elevations.
Things you Can learn
The basics of photography and how to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera and their manual settings
Controlling your camera in manual mode
The three pillars of light; shutter speed, aperture, and ISO
Focusing techniques
How to use remote, interval timer, or timelapse photography
Intentional camera movement
How to shoot small/intimate scenes
How to shoot astrophotography
Camera settings for maximizing depth of field & nailing focus within an image
Mastering shutter speeds for gaining the desired look & feel of water
Composition techniques – finding compelling foregrounds
Filters: when and how to use them
How lens selection affects a scene
Technical concepts: Bracketing, Focus Stacking, Perspective Blending
Post-processing techniques via Lightroom and Photoshop
Step by step instruction on shooting & stitching panoramic images
Blending images in Photoshop
LODGING: We will be staying at the Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch along the majestic Snake River. This spectacular location puts us in the heart of western Wyoming making it an ideal as a basecamp for our photography adventure. Headwaters Lodge and Cabins is located only a few miles from the entrance to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone parks. Headwaters offers modern style cabins and their main lodge features a restaurant, gift shop, and convenience store. Your tuition includes one standard room with two queen beds. You may choose single or double occupancy upon registration.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
Day 1: Plan to arrive at the Headwaters Lodge for a short meet and greet and orientation no later than 4:00 PM. We will discuss gear, itinerary, dinner plans, and our sunset shoot. This evening, we will setup at an iconic spot for some dramatic backlighting as the sun sets behind the majestic Teton Range. After dark we’ll head out downtown for a fantastic dinner in Jackson Hole.
Day 2: We will rise early and meet at our designated place to carpool. We will be on location before the sun rises in order to capture the best light over the peaks and continue shooting through the early morning hours. We will return to town for breakfast and a quick rest. In the afternoon, we will meet back at the lodge for editing sessions. We will break for an early dinner before meeting up for the sunset shoot.
Day 3: We will rise early and meet at our designated place to carpool. We will be on location before the sun rises in order to capture the best light over the peaks and continue shooting through the early morning hours. We will return to town for breakfast. After breakfast, we will have a classroom session on image processing and take a break to rest up for the sunset session.
Day 4: We will rise early and meet at our designated place to carpool. We will be on-location and ready for another incredible sunset. After breakfast and a quick break, we will meet again for the image feedback session. Bring 10-12 of your best images from this workshop or previously captured and receive new ideas on how to improve. We will wrap up by 11am.
What's Included
Lodging
Small class size of 8
Hands-on instruction
In-field use of learned skills
Forest and park permits
Snacks and beverages on location
Portfolio feedback session
Connection with other people interested in learning
What's Not Included
Photography equipment
Meals
Flights
Rental car
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Meet Your Instructors
Shanda Akin is a landscape, nature, and adventure photographer whose endeavor is to "capture the remarkable". She retired from the Air Force after 25 years and moved back to Durango, Colorado to chase her dream as a freelance photographer. Though she loves all outdoor photography, growing up in Colorado has made her particularly drawn to the mountains. Her passion is in the pursuit of witnessing a depleting natural globe, bringing the surreal to life, and archiving remarkable moments in time while sharing her view of the world. She is a remarkable teacher with years of experience.
Martha Montiel is a fine art nature and landscape photographer born in Mexico City and now based in beautiful Colorado. Drawn to emotion, texture, and light, she aims to capture this in beautiful and interesting ways. Her fascination with photography started at a young age. As an adult, it grew as a way to show others the beauty of our natural world. Born in Mexico City, grew up in California and now living in Colorado. Photography has continued to fuel her love of the outdoors, her sense of adventure, and a desire to inspire others to conserve and protect our planet.
TESTIMONIALS
“We had a fun adventure! Shanda had a beautiful location for shooting. Reviewing photo basics was a professional approach and a great review for me. I was happy to shoot with the help and encouragement Shanda offered. Digital cameras overwhelm me, Shanda’s knowledge helped me relax and compose beautiful images.” ~Eileen Wegrzyn
“Shanda has a real eye for photography and captures the beauty and purpose in each of her photographs. Would highly recommend any of her photographic work.” ~Cindy Koch