Blue Ridge Parkway Photography Workshop

The Blue Ridge Parkway Photography Workshop centers around Brevard, NC, the waterfall capital of North Carolina, and Little Switzerland, NC. We’ll cover approximately 130 miles of the Parkway and the surrounding areas. You’ll photograph sweeping vistas where the ridges stack one upon the other. We’ll photograph waterfalls, both big and small, and the highest areas of the Parkway. This area of the Parkway has some of the most stunning views in all of the national parks.

Dates: May 15 to 19, 2023

Cost: $1099 (A non-refundable deposit of $550 is due at registration. The remainder is due 90 days before the workshop begins.)

COVID Note: For 2023 proof of vaccination is required to participate in a workshop. The policy is reviewed quarterly. If the pandemic subsides or ends, then this requirement may change.

$550.00

SKU: Blue Ridge Parkway Category: Tag:

Description

The Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s longest and narrowest park, runs for 469 miles from North Carolina to Virginia. It links Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This Blue Ridge Parkway Photography Workshop covers approximately 130 miles of the parkway through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the national park system.

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the Blue Ridge Parkway or to show you my favorite parts if you have been there before. The Blue Ridge holds a place in my heart and if there was one place I could live other than where I live now, it would be along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The photographic opportunities seem endless and the Parkway’s moods are many.

Itinerary

The itinerary is subject to change.

  • Monday: Meet at 11am for introductions and lunch. After lunch, we’ll be in the field until sunset with a break for dinner. Optional start: If you arrive in Ashville on Sunday night, we’ll meet at a nearby overlook for sunrise. I’ll let you know the location before the workshop.
  • Tuesday: Sunrise in the field. Breaks for breakfast and dinner. Lunch in the field. Most of the day spent in the field photographing nearby locations. Sunset on the Parkway.
  • Wednesday: Sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out. Drive the Parkway north with a stop at the Folk Art Center and at various scenic locations. Check-in. Photograph sunset on the Parkway.
  • Thursday: Sunrise to Sunset on the Parkway. We’ll visit various waterfalls and overlooks. Breaks for breakfast and dinner. Lunch in the field.
  • Friday: Sunrise on the Parkway. Shoot until the good light ends. The workshop ends mid-morning.

Topics

On this photo workshop, there is no classroom time. During the first day, we’ll discuss Leave No Trace principles and how they apply to outdoor photography. Field topics include photographing overlooks and views with ridge lines stacking upon each other. The use of telephoto lenses in landscape photography, filters for sunrise and sunset and additive composition techniques. Other field topics will include photographing fall color and waterfalls.

Additional Information

  • Maximum number of participants: 10
  • Experience Level: This workshop is a destination photo workshop. Destination photo workshops are designed for participants that have taken one of my workshops previously or have equivalent experience. For destination workshops, I’ll provide participants with videos of my presentations before the workshop. You can watch them on your own. If you are a novice, the videos will be a good way to catch up. The goal on destination workshops is to emphasize experiential learning by spending more time in the field.
  • Activity level: You should expect up to three miles of hiking per day on easy to moderate terrain. Many of the days will be long with limited breaks.
  • What’s included in the workshop fee: Instruction fee and guiding.
  • What’s not included in the workshop fee: Transportation to the Blue Ridge and photography locations. Carpooling is highly recommended. Lodging. Meals and drinks. Trip insurance.
  • Lodging partner: We have two lodging partners for this workshop. The first is in Brevard. You will book rooms there for the 14, 15, and 16. Our second location is further north along the parkway. You will book rooms there for the 17 and 18th. When you register, I’ll provide exact information on how to book a reservation in our room block.
  • Getting there: Ashville, NC is about at the center of the locations we’ll use for this workshop. The regional airport is AVL. Brevard is about 20 miles from the airport and Little Switzerland is about 60 miles from the airport. For specific routes, consult Google Maps.
  • Weather: The average temps for Ashville are 53°F for lows and 75°F for highs. You should expect colder temps on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
  • Equipment list: After registration, you will receive a full equipment list and participant package. The package will discuss equipment options, photography techniques and more.
  • Filters: A polarizer is necessary for the workshop. It’s nice to have a 3-stop reverse and a 5-stop ND filter. More information is in the participant package. I recommend a 2-stop reverse, 2 and 3-stop soft ND grads, a LB neutral polarizer and the Bryan Hansel Waterfall Polarizer for this workshop. You get a discount when buying direct from Singh-Ray and using the code “hansel10”.
  • Registration and Cancellation Policies