2009 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Folks,

Below is my 2009 Workshop schedule. Workshop descriptions and information will be available soon at www.jackgrahamphoto.com. You can always email me at jack@jackgrahamphoto.com to request further information, sign up information etc. I have managed to keep my costs relatively consistant in light of the econmomy.

HOWEVER………… I HAVE A PRE 2009 OFFER  of a 10% discount FOR THOSE WHO SIGN UP PRIOR TO JAN 1 2009.

IN ADDITION…………. NANPA MAMBERS receive an additional $50.00 Discount (www.nanpa.org). NANPA membership must be confirmed.

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

2009   JACK GRAHAM PHOTO WORKSHOP SCHEDULE   /”photo classroom in the field”©

FEB  5-7       DEATH VALLEY NP             LIMIT 12             $795.00

FEB 18-22    NANPA SUMMIT (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

MAR 5-8      JOSHUA TREE NP             LIMIT 12             $695.00
MAR 20-22  NFRCC CONVENTION (Buffalo NY)  www.nfrcc.org

APR 23-26   SOUTHWEST/PAGE AZ/SLOTS             LIMIT 8             $695.00

MAY 14-17   COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE                    LIMIT 8            $695.00
MAY 27-31   COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE            GREAT AMERICAN WEEKEND PHOTO WORKSHOP                                                                                        www.gaphotoworks.com

JUNE 4-7    MACRO & MORE with MIKE MOATS——COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE & OREGONCOAST…………………………………….                LIMIT 14   $ 675.00

JUNE 11-14  SPRINGTIME in the PALOUSE–  South Eastern Washington          LIMIT 8   $695.00

JUNE 25-29  OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — OLYMPIC PENNINNESULA–WA    LIMIT 8  $795.00

JULY 15-20 ORAGON COAST – Cannon Beach to Bandon OR.                           LIMIT 8  $ 795.00

AUGUST 6-9- HARVEST in the PALOUSE, Southeastern Washington                 LIMIT 8  $ 695.00

SEPTEMBER 16-21–OREGON COAST-Cannon Beach to BandonOR                  LIMIT 8   $ 795.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPT 24-29/ MACRO and MORE with MIKE MOATS   SITE TBD                         LIMIT 14   $ TBD

OCT 7-11 EASTERN SIERRA   MONO LAKE, Bodie, Bristlecone Pines, Alaabama Hills ………………………………………………………………………………………………..  LIMIT8    $ 725.00

OCTOBER ???  FALL in NE OHIO  Bob Kulon Leader  www.bobkulonphoto.com

OCTOBER 28-NOV 1 –FALL COLOR 3 SISTERS WILDERNESS , OREGON —-LIMIT 8      $795.00

NOV 5-8  FALL COLOR–COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, MT HOOD AND MT ADAMS AREAS  …………………………………………………………………………………………….LIMIT 8       $695.00

DEC 3-6  WYOMING BIG HORN SHEEP WILDLIFE SAFARI– CODY WY             LIMIT 5       $795.00

_________________________________________________________________________________

In addition

I am available for Speaking engegements as well as presentations. Contact me for further information.

ONE on ONE , individual field Workshops are available here in Oregon. We shoot sunrise to sunset. Cost is 300.00 per day. This includes transportation in the field.

ONE on ONE  individual workshops are also available out of the area as well. Cost is $300.00per day + travel expenses. Customer arranges transportation

WORKSHOPS and Speaking engagements are SPONSERED BY:

 www.photographamerica.com

 

__________________________________________________________________

 Jack Graham

jack@jackgrahamphoto.com

Fall Photography—East and West

It’s hard to believe how fast this month has gone. It’s also been a busy month and time has not allowed for what I wanted to do as far as updating this biog, as well as my web site www.jackgrahamphoto.com  with new articles and info. There’s been lots happening though and in the coming weeks I’ll have time to attack most of the things I haven’t been able to do in the past month or so.

Fall color is what a lot of photographers live for. I have to say it’s been really quite a great October for me as I did quite a lot of shooting here in Oregon, from the coast to the Mountains.

Sunset from Ecola State Park, Oregon Coast

Trout Lake Creek, Washington

I shot areas from Mt Adams,  and the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest in southern Washington south to Mt Hood then further south along the Pacific Crest trail to My Washington and jeffferson in the 3 Ststers wildwerness area. I’ll get some new images up soon as well as on my web site.

Last week I had the pleasure to be part of the 4th or 5th (?) annual Fall Photography workshop in NE Ohio led by Bob Kulon. We had an excellent grouip and above average color. We spent time in some prime locations as well as another full day on an Amiah Farm ( the only workshop I know of that gets to shoot on the farm itself then get a real Amish dinner). This will happen again next year so contact Bob ASAP for reservations.. they go fast (bkulon@hotmail.com)

Typical Amish Barn, near Farmerstown Ohio

It was good getting back to Ohio to see Bob and quite a number of old photographer friends.

Yes we had some inclement weather, but much of it helped off until the evenings. I know Bob will be getting lots of images up from the recent workshop and you’ll want to check them out

Speaking of Bob Kulon….. Bob is a good friend as well as being a wonderful talented photographer. What a lot fo folks are discoveing is his ability to teach the art of photography both in the field as well as in the classroom.

 

 For those of you who live in the midwest especially, I sugest you check out his offerings. Bob started a new blog today where you can keep up on his comings and goings. http://bobkulon.wordpress.comBob is the founder of the DSLR Bootcamp concept. We can never stop learning and I highly recommmend his offerings. Check back to this site often.

 

 

So on to November, snow & rain here inte Pacific NW and Mountains. The off to Wyoming in December for the Big Horn Sheep and Teton’s workshop.

My official 2009 Schedule will be published in about a week and God willing we will have a good year.

Life ain’t so bad!

JG

THE SEASON OF COLOR/ Tips for better Fall Photography

Text and images are © Jack Graham / Jack Graham / photography

 

Conway Summit, Eastern Sierra, CA

 

Let’s face it, we as photographers….pro’s, amatures’ or just casual shooters all look forward to the fall color display to get out and capture all that nature has to offer. Unless you are lucky to live in areas that offer really interesting photography most of the year, once that cool air, increasing rain and fall color starts, we get that rejuvenated feeling and grab our camera bags and get out, sometimes after a long dull summers

 

Here are some tips that can help in getting the best images you can in the season of color.

Overcast and  rainy weather provides the best lighting for both landscapes and close-ups of fall leaves, ferns, mushrooms, berries, and other fall details. Bright sunny weather creates harsh highlights, blocked shadow details, and even a blue cast due to reflected light from the blue sky.  A cloudy sky minimizes the blue cast, reduces contrast, and increases color saturation.  Rainy/ wet conditions serve to even increase color saturation. The bottom line is that bad weather usually makes for great photography. Streams, rivers, waterfalls and forests are great subjects to photograph when it rains. In fact when tree trunks get wet they become darker, sometimes even black. This only enhances the color in the leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take care to keep your equipment dry as well as yourself and get out and shoot in these conditions.

• You can use a circular diffuser, such as a Photo flex, to soften direct sunlight, simulate an overcast sky, and thus improve the lighting for your fall close-ups.

• Early morning and late afternoon lighting on sunny or partly cloudy days can provide dramatic lighting for scenic fall vistas taken in the open.  Weather fronts, which often occur in fall, can also provide sensational light, especially when areas of fall color are sunlit against a dark storm sky.
• Let’s talk about sky. John Shaw’s sky rule: “If the sky adds nothing to your image… LEAVE IT OUT”!!! White or overcast, undramatic sky is poison to an image.

• Left-white sky makes this a bad image
•                             Right–same location. no sky !!

Sunny weather is also the best lighting for photographing reflections of fall foliage in lakes, rivers, and streams.  The reflections are most dramatic when the fall color is sunlit and the water is in shade.  Try using slow shutter speeds to create abstracts from fall foliage reflected in the moving water of rivers and streams.

• Misty, damp days can provide wonderful, moody lighting for fall color and waterfall photography.  The air is usually still, eliminating the problem of wind movement, and the moisture on leaves and rocks intensifies their color. 
• As with snow scenes, relying on your camera meter may result in misty scenes that are too dark, so you may need to open up by ½ to 1 f-stop to retain the pearly light and luminosity that permeate these quiet foggy fall days.
• A polarizing filter can be used to intensify colors and minimize reflections from wet rocks and leaves.  An exposure increase of 1 to 2 f-stops will be needed, depending on the amount of polarization.  Your camera meter will adjust the exposure automatically when you attach a polarizing filter.  With most modern digital cameras, a “circular” polarizing filter is needed to ensure an accurate exposure reading.
• Use color to your advantage. Complimentary colors add to impact images. Green foliage combined with the reds and oranges work well. So does yellow aspens against blue sky’s in autumn.

Keep your compositions as simple as possible. Remember, don’t try and write a novel in your photographic composition, write the sentence that tells the story. Use the rule of thirds, graphic lines and make your image using a key element as the anchor. Simple is always the best.

• We have been told to always polarize to bring out color. This is not always helpful. Don’t over polarize reflections of fall foliage in water…the reflections may disappear!  And beware of over polarizing deep blue skies.
•       Don’t be afraid to occasionally rearrange fallen leaves, twigs, or other inanimate objects to improve a composition.  Professional landscape photographers do it all the time, though they usually don’t like to admit it!  But don’t become a slave to manipulating natural objects in your photograph, or your pictures will appear manipulated and trite.  And please don’t uproot living plants and other subjects in your quest for better compositions.

 

How to monitor the progression of fall foliage:

www.foliagenetwork.net

http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/fallfoliage/

http://phototravel.com/fall.htm   (more than you’ll ever need!)

http://www.wxnation.com/fallfoliage/ (lots of cams)

 

Bridleveil Falls, Cuyahoga NAtional Park, Ohio