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ADIRONDACK WINTERSCAPES

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January 29 - February 1, 2023
Inlet, NY

Our popular winter workshop, in the central Adirondack lake country —

with a variety of great shooting locations, new field lessons and instructional presentations.

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Winter in the Adirondacks is a magical time and the central lake region is a classic winter playground, with its own backcountry charm. There are numerous lakes and ponds, watched over by peaks and cliffs and surrounded by pristine forests. The waters become encrusted with intricate ice formations.  Even small snowfalls create winter wonderlands. Snow quiets and simplifies the landscape, accentuating lines and form. Portraying it artistically in photographs requires special attention to composition, exposure and processing. Through both field lessons and indoor instructional sessions, Mark will explore the art of seeing winter’s beauty and demonstrate techniques specific to creating compelling winter images. With the emphasis on “shooting & processing”, we’ll photograph a variety of locations, during the day and at night, and take time to process and share our images. Possible shooting locations include the Fulton Chain of Lakes, the Moose River, Moss Lake, Raquette Lake, the villages of Inlet, Old Forge, and Raquette Lake, and the woods around them.

 

Come explore the special beauty of winter in the North Country!

Field lessons will emphasize attention to detail, with tips and techniques on:

  • reading and shooting the light

  • seeing from different vantagepoints

  • fine tuning compositions

  • determining proper exposure

  • achieving critical focus

  • working with your range of lenses for creative effect

  • using Live View to compose and focus

  • using the LCD screen and histogram to refine compositions, check exposures and confirm focus

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Mark will give indoor instructional presentations on:

  • winter weather & the Art of Seeing

  • extreme snow & ice

  • the compositional benefits of open water

  • winter patterns

  • using exposure to create mood

  • shooting winter’s color and tonal palettes for creative effect

  • multiple exposure blending for expanding exposure latitude and resolution: layer masks, panoramas and HDR’s

  • focus stacking to maximize depth of field

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Mark will also cover efficient digital workflow and optimization in Lightroom, Camera Raw & Photoshop. He will demonstrate the non-destructive digital workflow he uses to optimize images:

  • RAW processing in Lightroom and Adobe Camera RAW

  • applying global adjustments in Lightroom and Photoshop for white balance, tonality, contrast and color control, highlight and shadow control

  • noise reduction and pre-sharpening

  • making local adjustments to contrast, color and tonality

  • selective dodging and burning

  • working with layers

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Camera Skills Needed

All skill levels are welcome. Users of all types of cameras may attend. However, digital SLR cameras are preferred for their ability to provide immediate feedback and instant access to the images. Without one, you will not be able to take full advantage of the indoor sessions in this workshop.

Description of skill levels - click here.


Computer Skills Needed

A basic understanding of digital workflow and some working knowledge of Lightroom, Photoshop or other image editing software will be helpful.


Other Considerations

Though locations visited during this workshop are readily accessible, some moderate hiking in snow may be required. Participants must be in good physical shape and able to climb and descend moderate inclines.  Though not necessary, feel free to bring snowshoes or cross-country skis to access snow-covered forests. 

As with all outdoor pursuits, some risk is inherent; all participants will be required to sign a waiver prior to the workshop.


Group Size

10 participants maximum


Registration Fees

$925 tuition only.

Deposit of $250 required at time of registration.  Deadline for early registration is December 1, 2022.

Click here for information on discounts that may be available.

Details

Dates and Times

The program begins Sunday, Jan 29th at 5:00 pm and ends Wednesday, February 1st at noon.


Where to Meet

Participants will gather at the Marina Motel in Inlet.  Instructions on how to make reservations are below under Lodging.


Directions

The Marina Motel is located at 6 South Shore Road, Inlet New York 13360.  For driving directions go to Google Maps and enter the motel's address as your destination. If you have further questions don't hesitate to contact the motel at (315) 357-3883.​


Lodging

Lodging is the responsibility of the participant and is not included in the registration fee.  We suggest Marina Motel for this event. Contact them at (315) 357-3883 for reservations.

Meals

Meals are not included with the workshop tuition and is the responsibility of each individual .  Mark will work with the group to organize meal times and locations.


Getting to the Event

The two nearest airports are Syracuse Hancock International (SYR) and Albany International (ALB). Rental cars are available at both locations.


Transportation During the Event

Participants’ vehicles will be used for transportation during field trips.  Note that the instructor is not allowed to provide transportation for participants duing the event.


The Program Schedule

Day 1

  • Participants gather at the Marina Motel.

  • Welcome dinner and opening presentation on winter photography by Mark.

  • Night shooting session.

Day 2, 3

  • Morning field trip followed by breakfast.

  • Instructional presentations by Mark on Artistic Winter Photography:

    • Winter Weather: Reading the Light, Color Palette, Open Water, Extreme Snow and Ice, Winter Patterns

    • Winter Exposures: Using Exposure to Create Mood

    • Digital Workflow: Multiple Exposure Techniques for expanding tonal range, depth of field, and resolution: panoramas, HDR’s, layer masks, focus stacking and more.

  • Image analysis and group critique of participant's images.

  • Afternoon field trip.

  • Twilight and night shooting sessions.

Day 4

  • Morning field trip followed by breakfast.

  • Presentation by Mark - Image Optimization in Lightroom, Camera Raw & Photoshop.

  • Group critique.

  • Workshop Wrap-Up and Participant Slideshow

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Note - The actual itinerary may vary considerably from this due to weather and other conditions that cannot be anticipated.

What To Bring

Mark has provided additional information regarding your needs for this program. Click here to view or download that information. Please contact Mark Bowie directly with questions: mbowiephoto@gmail.com or 413-442-9125.

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