Anza Borrego Workshop


March 21 - 27, 2010

WIldflowers, Wind Caves, Pinyon Wash, Butterfield Ranch, Sin Nombre Canyon, Carrizo Badlands, Pumpkin Patch, Fonts Point, Mud Caves, Truckhaven Rocks, Desert Gardens and Native American Petroglyphs & Morteros

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Overview

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We invite you to explore the dramatic landscape of spring in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This workshop provides a great opportunity to develop your personal style, enhance your creativity, refine your photographic vision and improve your technical proficiency as we set out on an adventure into the vast wilderness of slot canyons, wrinkled badlands, blooming wildflowers and endless vistas.

Some of our locations will include Pinyon Wash teaming with booming wildflowers, Butterfield Ranch with of huge collection of old farm equipment, Canyon Sin Nombre narrow slot canyon, amazing overlooks of Borrego Badlands from Fonts Point, Pumpkin Patch globular sandstone concretions, and Blair Valley’s Indian pictographs and morteros grinding holes.

Itinerary

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Day 1 - Sunday: Meet at the Borrego Springs Visitor Center at 3:00 p.m, please arrive promptly. We will get acquainted over dinner followed by an orientation and our first lecture.

Day 2 - Monday: We leave at 6 a.m. for our sunrise shoot of blooming spring flowers in Pinyon Wash and Narrows Earth Trail then return to Borrego Springs for breakfast and break. At 11:30 a.m. meet for our second lecture followed by a break for lunch. We will leave at 2:00 p.m. for our afternoon and sunset shoots at Butterfield Ranch, Canyon Sin Nombre and Carrizo Badlands Overlook.

Day 3 - Tuesday: Our sunrise shoot leaves at 5:45 a.m. for the Pumpkin Patch, then returns to Borrego Springs for breakfast and break. At 11:30 a.m. we meet for our third lecture, followed by a break for lunch. At 2:00 p.m. we travel to our afternoon and sunset shooting in lovely Blair Valley to discover an old Indian camp with moteros grinding holes indented into the granite. An easy two mile round trip hike will lead us to an amazing pictograph covered boulders.

Day 4 - Wednesday: We leave at 5:30 a.m. for our sunrise shooting at Truckhaven Rocks, then return to Borrego Springs for breakfast and break. At 11:30 a.m. we will share a Print Review of participants' work followed by a lunch break. Our afternoon shoot leaves at 2:00 p.m. on Buttes Pass Road through The Slot. We will enjoy sweeping vistas of the Borrego Badlands from Fonts Point and Vista del Malpais.

Day 5 - Thursday: We begin our day at 6:00 a.m. with a sunrise shoot off Di Giorgio Road to the Desert Gardens, then return to Borrego Springs for breakfast and break. At 11:30 a.m. we continue with our Print Reviews or begin processing your images, followed by a lunch break. At 2:00 p.m. we visit Elephant Tree Discovery Trail for a one mile loop hike. We follow this by a two mile round trip hike to the Wind Caves.

Day 6 - Friday: We will meet for breakfast at 8:00 a.m. followed by a morning of editing and processing of your images. After lunch, at 1:00 p.m. we will travel to the Mud Caves for an exploration of extensive caves and slot canyons.

Day 7 - Saturday: We will leave for Galleta Meadows at 6:30 a.m. to visit and photograph the huge steel welded sculptures of prehistoric animals that once lived in the area. The workshop will conclude after our farewell breakfast.

Lectures & Print Review

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Our workshops emphasize field work, however we feature a balance of field work, classroom-based sessions, critical review of your work as well as ample time to answer your questions. This workshop features 6 hours of classroom instruction, 2 hours of reviewing workshop participant's images and 5 hours of processing time.

Day 1: 7:00-9:00 p.m Tools - mastering your system - The session begins with an overview of light, color and perception. It is followed by new approaches to designing a photograph using the FAST methodology, using camera controls effectively, selection of lenses, depth of field and exposure.

Day 2: 11:30-1:30 p.m Art - taking your photography to art - The session begins with the interaction of aesthetics, art and technology: how to use and break the rules effectively. CTF2 - composition, color, tone, texture, form and frame: a model for thinking about your work.

Day 3: 11:30-1:30 p.m Craft - workflow and presentation of your work - The session begins with a tour of "workflow" and we present a simple approach to processing your images. It is followed by a review of using color management effectively and a discussion about preparing your images for presentation on displays, the web and the "fine art" print.

Day 4: 11:30-1:30 p.m Review - what makes a great photograph? - During this session we review and comment on your work. Please bring 3 prints of your 'best' work for evaluation, critical review and sharing with the group.

Day 5: 11:30-1:30 p.m Processing - editing and processing your images - During this session we will work with you to edit and process your images. Please bring your laptop, card reader and favorite image editing software.

Day 6: 9:00-12:00 p.m Processing - editing and processing your images - During this session we will work with you to edit and process your images. Please bring your laptop, card reader and favorite image editing software.

Experience & Equipment

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The workshop is open to all photographers with any experience level from beginner to advanced, using any camera brand or type, digital or film. Your instructors are well versed in the use of Canon, Hasselblad, Leica and Nikon systems as well as point and shoot, digital single lens reflex, rangefinder, medium format and sheet film based view cameras (i.e., 4x5).

This workshop is targeted at photographers working in digital capture and using a personal computer and software such as Apple iPhoto, Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop.

We recommend a digital SLR with interchangeable lenses (with either a full-frame or cropped sensor), a sturdy tripod and ball-type head, a shutter-cable release, and at least two lenses: a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens (or a zoom lens capable of wide angle to telephoto range). Check out our
equipment recommendations to learn more about our suggestions.

Some workshop participants have previously even used their iPhone as their primary camera on the workshop! Your equipment should never be a limitation for expressing yourself through photography. Well crafted, compelling and emotional artistic images can be captured with virtually any equipment.

What To Bring & The Weather

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The weather in Borrego Springs in March should be mild and beautiful. Temperatures range from the high 70’s F in the day to 50 F in the evenings. Most of our locations are below 1,000 feet.

The key is to be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures, bring layers and protection from the sun. Hiking boots are the best choice for footwear. Bring plenty of water and snacks during our location shooting. Consult our gear checklist to learn what we bring and recommend.

Lodging, Meals & Transportation

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Workshop participants are responsible for their own lodging, meals and transportation. The town of Borrego Springs features many lodging choices that can be found at the Lodging in Borrego Springs. We will often eat meals together, however you are free to join us or eat independently.

A vehicle with
high ground clearance and 4WD is required for this workshop. Car pooling is recommended during our outings and is a great way to get to know your fellow workshop participants, share your passion for photography and learn new points of view. Workshop participants are responsible for any fees for parking, park entrance and park usage.

Instructors

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The workshop will be led by veteran photographers Glenn Edens, Norine Cepernich and John Bassetto. There will be a maximum 4 to 1 student to instructor ratio to insure you have the time, attention and individual assistance you need to learn and practice concepts.

Our top priority during the workshop is to help you shoot. While we may bring camera equipment for demonstration purposes, your instructors do not shoot during the workshop.

Cost & Fees

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The cost of this workshop is $1,495.00. The workshop is limited to 12 participants.

A detailed agenda, overview maps and locations of meeting places will be sent to you via electronic mail about one week prior to the start of the workshop. A confirmation email, verifying your participation in the workshop, is sent to you within two days after receipt of payment.

To sign up simply follow the instructions on our
Workshop Store and please read the Terms, Conditions & Limitation of Liability information.

Terms, Conditions & Limitation of Liability

Our goal is to provide you with an educational, enjoyable and high quality photographic workshop experience. As a workshop participant you will need to understand, agree to, sign and date a Limitation of Liability form.