What To Expect

Yosemite provides one of the world’s most beautiful and unique landscapes and wildlife species.

Each morning we will meet and depart from our meeting location . Each location offers a variety of subject matter and wildlife. We will return to our preset meeting spot around noon for lunch and to depart to our next location. Around 4pm we will depart to out sunset location for the best light of the day photographing the amazing wildlife and unique landscapes Yosemite has to offer.  After dark we will shoot some stars and moon backdrops.

Hiking

• 1-2 miles over the course of the day

Group Size – 16

We have designed this trip with superb comfort and quality in mind. For these reasons, we have purposely limited this trip to only 16 photographers, and with 3 instructors. Having a small group allows us to be highly efficient while ensuring personal attention and the ultimate intimate educational experience.

Getting to Yosemite

You will need provide your own transportation.

Travel Document Required

None

Vaccination and Medicine Recommendations

None

What to Bring

Required Equipment

DSLR Camera

Required:

Our Workshops require the consistent creative control of a Digital SLR Camera (DSLR)  to get the most out of your learning experience.
We will be utilizing the camera’s Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes, and multiple lenses if you have them.
We teach all brands and models of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Fuji and more!

Tripod

Required:

Tranquility and Stability are prime in Photography.
To achieve this, we many times need  a sturdy tripod will help improve your compositions and get sharp images.
A tripod also allows you more time to determine what settings and focus you need to execute your creative insight.

Wireless Remote Control / Cable Release

Required:

Since we go through all the trouble to place out camera on a sturdy tripod, we would be doing our image a dis-service is we didn’t keep our hands and body motion away from the camera. A shutter release allows you to do that. This helps ensure a sharpest photo especially in long exposures in dark areas, or at night. They are very affordable to affordable and a necessary tool to have in your camera bag!

Other Things to Bring

Additional Lenses

Try to cover a range from very wide (17-20mm), for landscape images, to zoom ranges (100-400mm) for wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see wildlife on workshops (even those structured for landscape instruction), so it’s best to be prepared, if possible. We also encourage you to bring other lenses, like a macro or fish-eye lens if you have them, because there are always endless creative possibilities to be found on our workshops.

Filters

We do a great deal of work with filters in our workshops, so, if you have them, bring them. We highly recommend a Circular Polarizer, and a (3 or 4) soft-step graduated neutral density (GND) filter. We also use straight neutral density filters, which will help us get longer exposures in all times of day, but this isn’t as important as the first two mentioned. We have a few extras that can be loaned out, but you’re going to love what you see with the filters, and you’ll want to have your own.

Extra batteries

Bring at least 1 or 2 extra batteries. Batteries drain much quicker while using long exposures and in Cold temperatures. Just like running out of Memory Space to save that perfect last image of the day, dead batteries can spoil the trip.

Extra Memory Cards

We will be instructing on the benefits of, and encouraging to shoot in, the superior RAW format. RAW images take up more space on a memory card. Having multiple memory cards will be to your benefit.

Laptop

We will spend time, when not in the field, reviewing and critiquing images

Shoes & Clothing

Wear good, comfortable walking shoes and wear / bring layers of clothing you can add if/when temperature and wind conditions change, and they probably will.

Water, Lunch and Snacks

Snacks and water are supplied on 2 and 3 day workshops. On one day workshops, we stop for lunch at a local food establishment and you can buy meals or eat what you have brought for yourself.

Lodging, Meals & Directions

Lodging and meals are not included.

Suggested lodging is the Yosemite View Lodge, located in Portal, California (888-742-4371).

We will take a break mid-day, each day, for lunch and rest.

FAQs

>> Why only Digital?

Digital photography offers unique learning opportunities. Being able to instantly reviewing images , we can review exposure, composition and histograms, and suggest corrections if needed.

>> When to arrive?

All students are expected to arrive on-time per the instructions and to work together as a group to learn, not only from instructors, but also from each other.

>> What to Bring?

Each Expedition and Workshop suggest different Things to Bring.  Please read the “What To Bring” Tab on the individual Expedition and Workshop page for specific details.

Many workshops focus on landscape photos, but wildlife might appear providing the perfect scene to photograph them in their natural habitat. It’s always better to go into the field with slightly too much gear.

>> Is transportation provided?

Each student is responsible for their own transportation to and from the workshop meeting location.

>>  Does weather ever alter or cancel events?

Only if conditions pose a safety risk. Often, poor weather can make for dramatic photographic opportunities, so if rain is forecasted, pack a light jacket or rain poncho and bring something to keep your camera dry (a hotel shower cap is ideal).

>> What happens if I have to cancel?

When you reserve a spot, it won’t be available for anyone else, therefore we can not offer a refund unless the cancellation is 90 days before the workshop date. This policy is necessary to assure that WDP can:

• Keep the cost to our Students to a minimum
• Guarantee a limited number of Student enrollment per workshops
• Maintain a high number of Instructors to Student ratio

However, there is an exception to every rule. If, for some reason an Expedition or Workshop  is cancelled by WDP, you will be entitled to a refund, or may choose a credit for a different date. [Read more…]

>>  Create better photographs!

These workshops will help you develop technical and creative skills to produce photographs at a Professional level while you build friendships and have fun!