Adirondack Park 1-day Photography Workshops
with professional Adirondack photographer Johnathan Esper
September 27, 2014 $180
The Adirondacks: The Adirondack Park is a large protected region in New York State known for its lakes and wilderness canoeing routes, its rolling forested mountains and hiking trails, and its wild forests and fauna. It is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, greater in size than Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined. Nearly half of the Park’s 6 million acres are protected to remain as “forever wild” state forest preserve, with a harmonious blend of private and public lands giving the Adirondacks diversity found nowhere else. The Adirondack region boasts over 3,000 lakes, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and a wide variety of habitats, including globally unique wetland types, old and new growth forests, and alpine vegetated mountains. The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 by the State of New York amid concerns for the water and timber resources of the region.
The Adirondacks are an ancient chain of mountains, with great hiking. Numerous trails lead up small mountains with open tops giving great views over the forested valleys below, and bountiful lakes and rivers provide recreational opportunities. The timing of this photo tour coincides with peak fall foliage season, where bright reds and yellows fill the valleys, and the air is usually crisper and clearer allowing for distant views of the rolling mountains. The autumn season in the Adirondacks is simply sublime, and quite possibly the best time of year to photograph this diverse and wild area.
Photography & Learning: This one-day photo workshop is all about in-the-field photography and situational instruction working alongside your leader, and there will be no classroom workshops or presentations. Some photographic locations will necessitate moderate hiking on trails to get to, as hiking is an integral part of capturing the Adirondack landscape. A maximum group size of 6 photographers ensures you will receive ample personal photographic coaching in the field and maximize the group’s flexibility and ability to shoot more places, more spontaneously based on light and weather. Pro photographer Johnathan Esper will be leading the tour, who has an intimate knowledge of the Adirondacks from growing up in them. He is a recognized and established local Adirondack landscape photographer, frequeqently published by the region's premiere magazine Adirondack Life. Johnathan specializes in panoramic landscapes, especially of the Adirondack region, and adventure photography, and photographic topics that will be covered while shooting include HDR (High Dynamic Range) imagery, panoramic photography, people in the landscape, and of course classic landscape photography techniques.
Depending on the prevailing weather conditions, we will photograph in the central Adirondack Mountains around Blue Mountain Lake and Long Lake, or in the High Peaks region around Keene Valley and Lake Placid, or in the Lake George region, and we will tailor our specific shooting locations to the day’s weather. During our time photographing together, we may hike up a small mountain for sunset views over the rolling Adirondack hills or for views of colorful red and yellow autumn forests below, photograph intimate forest streams and cascades, photograph the morning mist coming off a wilderness lake, or take a sunrise paddle on yet another lake to glimpse the loon and hear its call.
Workshop Details: The cost for these workshops are $180, and include all professional photographic instruction and guiding. Additionally there may be an extra panoramic tripod head or other camera accessories for participants to try out. Participants must have their own transport to our shooting locations, provide their own lunches, and accommodation in a local town for any nights, as our group will convene before sunrise and shoot straight through the day till past sunset. The picturesque small towns of Long Lake or Lake Placid, in the heart of the Adirondacks, and will be our main meeting point in the morning, with details sent closer to the date. Johnathan is happy to assist you in arranging accomodation. A $50 deposit is due upon registration, and the remaining balance is due at the start of the tour. This workshop is open to photographers of all film and digital formats, although your leader shoots exclusively digitally. A list of gear suggestions will be sent to registrants. The trip is a confirmed go with a minimum of 2 photographers, and in the event only 1 person signs up, the date is cancelled and full refund will be given.
If you would like to sign up or have any additional questions, Johnathan would be happy to speak with you; please use the contact page on this website.
