Last Day of August over Sundling Creek

Midsummer’s Dream on the North Shore Photo Workshop

Midsummer’s Night Dream is a play about love. It’s that love affair we have with the end of summer — knowing that although it should be just the middle of summer, summer is close to end. We question: will this summer be a comedy or a tragedy? Only a last push at photography answers that question. On this north shore photography workshop, we aim to turn our love of summer into a comedy by giving summer in the northland one last photographic adventure. We’ll photograph sunrise and sunset at subtle inland locations. We’ll haul along a canoe or two to use in our pictures. We’ll wade up a river into a lush, green canyon to photograph a waterfall and we’ll visit a waterfall that looks like it could host faeries for maybe it does. We will photograph the rising full moon and maybe howl at it too. Our midsummer fancy will guide us wherever it takes us. We will explore whimsy in photos through a series of exercises involving Gestalt psychology, and we may even quote poetry.

As the great bard William Shakespeare wrote, “My soul is in the sky.”

Dates: August 7 to 10, 2025

Cost: $749 (A non-refundable deposit of $375 is due at registration. The remainder is due 90 days before the workshop begins.)

This event is in cooperation with and under a Special Use Permit from  U.S.  Forest Service, Gunflint Ranger District.

$375.00

SKU: Midsummer’s Night Dream Category: Tag:

Description

A final fling with summer on the north shore just before the woods transition into fall. This will be a playful workshop with specific exercises that will have you explore the psychology and visual perception involved with photography.

Itinerary

The itinerary is subject to change, but this is a field workshop reinforced with experiential learning exercises with little or no classroom time. The exercises will explore the principles of Gestalt psychology.

  • Day 1: Sunrise to sunset.
  • Day 2: Sunrise to sunset. Photography the rising Full Sturgeon Moon based on conditions.
  • Day 3: Sunrise to sunset in the field with breaks for breakfast and dinner. We will eat lunch in the field. Sunrise will be at an inland location and over water to maximize the potential of early morning fog. Sunset will be inland. We will bring a canoe or two to photograph. Photography the rising Full Sturgeon Moon based on conditions.
  • Day 4: We will start the day with another inland sunrise and shoot until the light isn’t good. Then break for breakfast. At 11am, we will meet up in the classroom for image review. The workshop ends at 1pm.

Topics

Classroom topics include filtering for the right effect, working methods for landscape photography, composition techniques using my unique Elements of Composition and Additive and Subtractive Composition. Encouraging whimsy in your photography. We will explore visual perception and Gestalt psychology through a series of visual learning exercises.

Additional Information

  • 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 3 miles of hiking a day on easy to moderate terrain with some uneven trails that have rocks.
  • What’s included in the workshop fee: Quality small group and one-on-one instruction and guiding. Conference room for classroom time. Fun!
  • What’s not included in the workshop fee: Transportation to Grand Marais and photography locations. Carpooling is highly recommended. Lodging. Meals except for breakfast which is provided by the lodge.
  • Lodging partner: The lodging partner is within walking distance of downtown Grand Marais. 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.
  • Check-in date: August 6
  • Check-out date: August 10
  • Getting to Grand Marais: Grand Marais, Minnesota is 110 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota on Highway 61. Duluth boasts a small international airport. It’s 260 miles north of Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has an international airport that also acts as a regional hub. Grand Marais is 128 kilometers south of Thunder Bay, Ontario on Highway 61. Thunder Bay has a small airport. Car rentals are available at the airports.
  • Weather: The average temps are 10°F for lows and 28°F for highs. The records are -34°F and 58°F. Count on snow on the ground and ice.
  • 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

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