Thomas J Avery Photography Workshop - Big Bend National Park October 2011


	__ __ __ Home Page Big Bend Night Sky Addicks Res. High Lonesome Other Photos Workshops _» Big Bend Oct. '11 _- Big Bend, Feb. '12 _- Big Bend, Oct. '12 About Articles Blog Contact Order Prints				__ Landscape and Night Photography Workshop Big Bend National Park, Texas Thomas J. Avery Photography __ NOTE: This workshop has concluded. Please see the workshop report page for a summary of the workshop including photos! __ Dates: October 21 - 25, 2011 Focus: Landscape and Night Photography Students: 9 Spaces Remaining: 0 SOLD OUT Tuition: $600 How to Register: Contact Me Ghost Town Church and Milky Way Big Bend is my favorite place. I have explored and photographed the area many times over the past seven years. This workshop will focus on landscape and night photography. We'll be based in Study Butte-Terlingua and will shoot mainly in Big Bend National Park and the Terlingua Ghost Town. Our time will be spent in classroom sessions and on field outings. I will not be shooting for myself. My assistant and I will guide you through approximately four days worth of photographic experience. It will be intense and incredibly fun. Details of the workshop can be found below. If you are interested, please contact me. I will send you an information packet about the workshop and how to register. Table of Contents Schedule Classroom Sessions Requirements and Prerequisites Night Photography Shooting Locations Getting to the Big Bend Area Workshop Accommodations Policies, Terms and Conditions Sun and Moon Calendar Schedule (NOTE: All times given are approximate. We may shift things around depending on weather, location, etc. The times and activities listed are just to give you an idea of how the workshop will operate. Please plan on being flexible.) DAY 1 (Fri, Oct 21): 4:30 pm -- Meet in lobby of Big Bend Resort & Adventures 5:00pm to 7:00pm -- Greetings and introductions in classroom 7:00pm to 9:00pm -- Dinner 9:00pm to 11:30pm -- Night shoot (weather permitting) DAY 2 (Sat, Oct 22): 6:00am to 9:30am -- Morning field shoot (optional - we may not go out if we do a night shoot the evening before) 9:30am to 11:30am -- Breakfast 11:30am to 4:00pm -- Classroom session (with short lunch/snack break) 4:00pm to 7:45pm -- Afternoon field shoot 7:45pm to 10:00pm -- Dinner 10:00pm to 12:30am -- Night shoot (weather permitting) DAY 3 (Sun, Oct 23): (same schedule as Day 2) DAY 4 (Mon, Oct 24): (same schedule as Day 2) DAY 5 (Tue, Oct 25): 6:00am to 9:00am -- Morning field shoot (optional - we may not go out if we shoot the night before) 9:00am to 9:30am -- Get breakfast to go, and then meet in classroom 9:30am to 12:00pm -- Final classroom session This schedule is full of activity and will have you going all day long while the workshop is running. My goal is to provide you as much value as possible regarding learning and hands on experience. However, we are only human and must eat and sleep! I expect that we will skip shooting the mornings following our night shoots (weather permitting). Please be prepared regarding the schedule and food. As you can see, we'll be out shooting during the normal times that most people eat. It would be wise to eat a small breakfast very early in the morning or at least take some breakfast snacks (e.g. cereal bars) with you during the morning shoots, and then plan on eating a late, large breakfast/early lunch just after our morning shoot. Also, please bring snacks to our afternoon shoots to hold yourself over until we eat our late dinners. Back to Top Yuccas and Stars Classroom Sessions We will have classroom sessions in a conference room at Big Bend Resort & Adventures (formerly known as the Big Bend Motor Inn). During these sessions we will have: • Presentations on landscape and night photography • Presentations on image processing and editing on a computer • Review and critique of your images shot during the workshop • Lab time for you do download and edit your images • General group discussions and announcements The conference rooms are located in a separate building just south of the gas station that is next to the motel. Directly adjacent to the conference room is a coin-operated laundromat. Our classroom will have a private restroom inside. Back to Top Grapevine Hills Requirements and Prerequisites Below is a quick summary. I can email you a more detailed description of our requirements and what to expect from this workshop. Computer & Software A laptop with software to process and edit your images (e.g. some version of Photoshop CS, Adobe Lightroom, etc.). This will allow you to download, edit, and present your images for review during the workshop. We will be able to download your images directly from your memory cards, but we will not have the time or capacity to do any editing of them. Also, if you shoot in RAW format, we may not have the capability of converting your files. Please bring a USB thumb drive so that you can easily transfer your edited images to my computer. Our classroom will have desk space and power outlets so each student can set up an individual work station. Wi-Fi is available at the main office of the motel. It may be available in our classroom, but please do not count on it. Camera Gear A DSLR* (with at least one lens capable of 24mm, effectively in full-frame terms), cable release, tripod, and spare batteries are highly recommended. Any type of camera is welcome during this workshop. However, to get the most benefit, I would highly suggest that you shoot with a digital camera. We will be viewing and critiquing your images during our classroom sessions. Our style of night photography will be very demanding on the performance of your camera (e.g. long exposures with very high ISO settings). Typical DLSR* cameras are usually capable of producing reasonable quality images under these settings. Typical point and shoot type cameras are not. * Either a DSLR (digital single lens reflex), or the newer style of mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses would work fine. Please bring your camera manual with you. Photography Skills and Experience To get the most out of this workshop, I would suggest that you be comfortable in understanding and using your camera in manual mode, and that you know how to vary and change your exposure by manipulating the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity. Anyone of any skill level is welcome to attend, but the majority of the workshop experience will come from hands on work in the field. You will benefit greatly if you know ahead of time how to shift your exposure one or two stops either way, for example. Our work at night will be extra difficult (everything will be done in darkness with a flashlight), so knowing the basics of exposure and how to operate your camera will greatly help. Please contact me if you are interested and let me know your level of photographic experience. If you feel like this workshop is for you but you're not sure if you're ready to jump into this sort of environment, I can advise you. Environment Please bring clothing and gear appropriate for the environment. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended as well as day hiking gear (e.g. flashlight or headlamp, water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, first aid kit, hat, rain gear). The Big Bend area is remote, and the places that we'll visit will be many miles from the nearest conveniences. Please be prepared. Bring any important medications that you might need. Plan on no cell phone service while out shooting. Spare shoes and clothing would be a good idea to bring, and you can leave them in our vehicles during the shoots. Typical high temperatures in October are close to 80°F. Temperatures within the area can range by 10 or 15 degrees depending on elevation. The lower desert areas are much warmer than the mountains. Typical low temperatures can be around 50°F. The rainfall average in October is just over 2 inches. Back to Top Sierra Del Carmens and Rio Grande River from RGV Overlook Night Photography During our night shoots, we will focus mainly on photography of the stars combined with land-based objects. This type of photography has more rigorous requirements as compared to typical daylight landscape photography. Please read my article on night photography. Our night shoots will be dependent on cloud cover. The shooting times will be after sunset and before the moonrise, so the skies will be dark and moonless. The goal of these shoots will be to include the stars and the band of the Milky Way as the main subject or as a background to a land-based subject. Heavily overcast skies will prevent us from getting meaningful images. If the skies are clear or at least partly cloudy, then we'll likely venture out at night, possibly even the very first night of the workshop. Back to Top Crosses and Stars Shooting Locations Our field shoots will take place in Big Bend National Park and also in the Terlingua Ghost Town. We will likely not do any strenuous hiking. Depending on the mobility of the group, our shooting locations will mostly be places that are easily accessible and require light to very moderate hiking to reach and explore. The main purpose of our field shoots will be for you to gain hands on time and experience with the outdoors and photography. It will be a balance between experiencing Big Bend and making photographs. Please be prepared for light hiking and possibly slow and short wandering off trail to find interesting subjects and perspectives. The park is huge, and driving to and from our shooting locations will take some time. Please be prepared to carpool with other workshop participants. Back to Top The Window and Milky Way Getting to the Big Bend Area The Big Bend area is located in remote, southwestern Texas. Big Bend National Park and the villages of Study Butte and Terlingua are part of the Chihuahuan Desert that extends throughout that area of Texas and northern Mexico. Road map of Texas; click to see larger The Big Bend National Park website contains a lot of useful information about the park, traveling to it, and visiting/using it. Note that you will need to pay a $20 entry fee to the park, and the fee will be good for seven days. Study Butte-Terlingua is just outside the west entrance of the park. It contains only a few hundred permanent residents, but there are restaurants, hotels, and convenience stores available. There is even a small grocery store (Cottonwood General Store) that is fairly well stocked. There are no chain stores or restaurants (e.g. Walmart) in the area. The closest "big" city is Alpine, about 80 miles to the north. Map of Study Butte-Terlingua; click to see larger Back to Top Moonrise and Agave Below the Window Workshop Accommodations The workshop will be based at the Big Bend Resort & Adventures (formerly known as the Big Bend Motor Inn) in Study Butte (at the intersection of highway 118 and FM 170). Our classroom space is at the motel and I will be staying there myself. I have reserved a block of rooms there. It is under "Thomas J. Avery Photography Workshop" at a rate of $92 per night. You are not required to stay there, but it is convenient since the motel rooms are very close to our classroom space (should you need something from your room or want to grab a quick nap). Back to Top Badlands Policies, Terms and Conditions Below are the policies, terms and conditions of this workshop. If you have any questions, please contact me. My Pledge to You I will be at your disposal during the workshop. My purpose for being there is to teach and guide you. I will not shoot photos for myself during the workshop except for the occasional snapshot of the group at work or of the landscape for the purpose of teaching (e.g. using the scene for illustrative purposes later in the classroom). Basically, I will NOT drag out my tripod, wander off, and spend time by myself shooting photos. Cancellations If the workshop is full and someone from the waiting list can take your spot, your tuition is refundable. Otherwise your tuition is non-refundable. If the workshop must be cancelled due to low enrollment, your deposit will be refunded in full if you paid by check, or minus a $25 processing fee if you paid using Paypal. I am not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other reasons. No fees will be refunded if you withdraw after the workshop begins. I am not responsible for any fees associated with non-refundable air travel, and I recommend the purchase of travel insurance. Payment I will send you details regarding payment. A $150 deposit is required up front. Payment of the remainder of your tuition is required 3 months before the workshop begins (July 21, 2011). If you register within the 3 month window just prior to the workshop, full payment of the tuition is required. Weather Permitting Our shooting sessions in the field will always be weather permitting. I have selected the dates of the workshop so that we'll be there at the end of the typical rainy season. However, it will also be during the time that cold fronts start to pass through Texas frequently, and fronts can often bring stormy weather. In the event of heavy rainstorms, we will opt out of our field shoots and spend time in the classroom. Flash flooding and lightning are extremely dangerous in the desert and we'll not venture outdoors. There will be plenty to learn and discuss, and we'll even do some shooting exercises inside. Typical rain events in the area usually do not last very long. I will do my best to ensure that your time in the classroom and the field is meaningful and productive, and that a comfortable learning environment exists for you. Guests Spouses are welcome to join us during the workshop except during the classroom sessions. They are welcome in the field during our shoots, but they will not receive any photographic instruction. They are most welcome to join us for meals. Any other guests traveling with you are asked not to participate in any workshop activities except evening meals. Back to Top Santa Elena Canyon Sun and Moon Calendar (Central US, daylight savings in effect) Friday, October 21, 2011 2:18am -- Moonrise 7:58am -- Sunrise 3:39pm -- Moonset 7:18pm -- Sunset Saturday, October 22, 2011 3:21am -- Moonrise 7:58am -- Sunrise 4:17pm -- Moonset 7:17pm -- Sunset Sunday, October 23, 2011 4:25am -- Moonrise 7:59am -- Sunrise 4:55pm -- Moonset 7:16pm -- Sunset Monday, October 24, 2011 5:31am -- Moonrise 8:00am -- Sunrise 5:34pm -- Moonset 7:15pm -- Sunset Tuesday, October 25, 2011 6:39am -- Moonrise 8:00am -- Sunrise 6:16pm -- Moonset 7:14pm -- Sunset Back to Top Church in Terlingua Ghost Town __ __