I’m looking forward to offering another workshop in my old stomping grounds in Iowa. Northeastern Iowa is in the driftless zone, an area untouched by glaciers. The bluff country surrounding the Mississippi is rugged and beautiful. A perfect time to visit is during summer when the bluff country is green and vibrant. We’ll spend four days romping through northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin on an adventure to photograph the best parts of the driftless area.

Bluff country in northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin serves as our photographic canvas during the Bluff Country of Northeastern Iowa Photography Workshop. We’ll visit state parks along the Mississippi River, such as Pike’s Peak State Park and Wyalusing State Park. We’ll visit historic downtowns, drive gravel roads, visit a state forest, and learn what NE Iowa and SW Wisconsin has to offer.

If you’ve taken this workshop in the past, we’re staying in Dubuque this year. That will open up different locations to photograph than in the past.

Dates: Not currently scheduled, considering it for 2028

Price: $TBD ($TBD nonrefundable deposit due on registration. Final payment is due 90 days before the workshop)

Location: Dubuque, Iowa

What You Will Learn

• Landscape Photography: Learn to recognize and compose images of the Driftless Area’s rugged bluffs, rolling hills, scenic river overlooks, and historic towns.
• Composition: Develop your ability to find strong compositions, work with foreground elements, and simplify complex landscapes.
• Working with Natural Light: Learn to make the most of changing summer light, from sunrise to sunset, and adapt to a variety of weather conditions.
• Camera Techniques: Improve your exposure, focus, and depth-of-field skills while learning when to use a tripod, filters, and bracketing.
• Creative Problem Solving: Work through photographic challenges in the field and learn to make stronger images in a variety of locations and conditions.
• Image Review and Feedback: Discuss your photographs, get constructive feedback, and learn practical ways to improve your landscape photography.

Itinerary

The itinerary will be fluid based on the weather.

• Day One: If you arrive the night before, we’ll shoot the sunrise and spend the morning in the field. We’ll take a breakfast break and meet up with the rest of the group around 1pm before we return to the field until sunset.
• Day Two and Three: We’ll spend the day exploring northeastern Iowa from sunrise to sunset with a break for breakfast. Other meals will be on the road.
• Day Four: We’ll spend the morning exploring northeastern Iowa from sunrise until mid-morning.

Additional Information

Workshop type: This is a destination-style photography workshop. It has classroom time, outdoor field time, and an image review session during the workshop dates. Learn more about workshop types.

Maximum number of participants: 10

Level: This workshop is for all levels of photographers and works best for photographers using digital cameras.

Activity level: Expect up to 3-mile round trips on moderate terrain. The hikes are easy to moderate in difficulty. Sometimes participants decide to skip some of the hikes and photograph closer to the cars. This is okay. If you have questions, please, phone me.

What’s included in the workshop fee: Quality small group and one-on-one instruction. Conference room for classroom time. Fun!

What’s not included in the workshop fee: Transportation to Dubuque and photography locations. Carpooling is highly recommended. Lodging. Meals and drinks. Park permits.

Lodging partner: The lodging partner is in downtown Dubuque, Iowa. After you register, you’ll receive information about booking your room in the room block. You’ll need to make your room registration separately from the workshop fee.

Workshop Dates:

Check-in date:

Check-out date:

Getting there: Dubuque, Iowa, is located along the Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa. Dubuque Regional Airport is about 7 miles south of downtown. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is about 165 miles east. Minneapolis is about 250 miles north of Dubuque.

Weather: The average temps are 64°F for lows and 83°F for highs for the month of July. Normal temps are 74°F. The month typically gets seven days of rain. Clear skies prevail in July.

Equipment list: After registration, you will receive a suggested equipment list and participant package. The package will discuss equipment options, photography techniques and more.

Registration and Cancellation Policies

Please, read the Registration and Cancellation Policies at the link. There are no exceptions to the policy.