Capture the Beauty of Lake Superior in Spring

Spring arrives late in the Northwoods, but when it does, it transforms the landscape into something magical. Join us for a Lake Superior photography workshop based in the Bayfield and Washburn area along Wisconsin’s scenic South Shore. This hands-on workshop is perfect for photographers who want to develop their skills in seascape, landscape, and nature photography.

We’ll photograph the dramatic shorelines of Lake Superior—sweeping seascapes, sandy beaches at sunset, and early morning urban harbor scenes with the Apostle Islands on the horizon. During midday, we’ll hunt for spring wildflowers like bloodroot and spring beauties, and visit waterfalls surrounded by fresh green growth. You’ll also photograph fishing tugs, sailboats, and the charming urbanscapes of these historic port towns.

Kick off your summer with a photography adventure in one of Wisconsin’s most scenic regions.

Dates: May 28-31, 2026

Price: $749 ($375 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration. Final payment is due 90 days before the workshop)

Location: Washburn, Wisconsin

If you enjoy coastal photography, you might also be interested in the Shadows of November Photography Workshop.

What You Will Learn

This spring photography workshop combines technical instruction, artistic development, and personalized feedback in a supportive, small-group setting.

Topics include:

• Mastering Filters – Use polarizers, neutral density (ND), and graduated filters to capture motion, manage reflections, and handle tricky lighting.
• Exposure & Focus Techniques – Learn how to expose for highlights, focus for depth, and work in dynamic lighting typical of coastal and woodland scenes.
• Seascape & Landscape Composition – Apply additive and subtractive composition methods to simplify complex scenes and create balanced, compelling images.
• Reading and Working With Light – Photograph in various lighting conditions—from soft morning light to bold sunset skies and overcast midday scenes.
• Post-Processing Essentials – Learn editing workflows in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop that enhance your photos without overprocessing.
• Visual Storytelling – Develop photo essays and image sequences that tell the story of the landscape and your personal experience of place.

You’ll also receive one-on-one guidance tailored to your skill level and goals, whether that’s mastering manual settings, building a cohesive portfolio, or refining your artistic vision.

Want to explore more while you’re here? Learn more about the Bayfield area and make the most of your time along Lake Superior’s South Shore.

Itinerary

This Wisconsin photography workshop blends classroom instruction with immersive fieldwork. A small group size ensures plenty of one-on-one time. The following itinerary is flexible and may shift based on conditions.

Sunrise: ~5:16 a.m.
Sunset: ~8:46 p.m.

Thursday
Optional sunrise shoot.
Classroom session: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Break for lunch.
Afternoon to sunset: fieldwork with a dinner break.

Friday
Early start for sunrise shoot.
After morning light fades, we’ll break for breakfast.
Classroom session: 9:00 a.m.–noon (editing and review).
Break for lunch.
Afternoon to sunset: fieldwork with a dinner break.

Saturday
Full-day fieldwork: sunrise through sunset.
Expect a moderately strenuous 3-mile hike to a waterfall.
We’ll take breaks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—likely dining at local restaurants, though a packed lunch may be arranged.

Sunday
Final sunrise shoot followed by breakfast.
Classroom image review: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Workshop ends at 11:00 a.m.

Additional Information

Workshop type: This is a Wisconsin photography workshop. It has classroom time, outdoor field time, and an image review session during the workshop dates. Learn more about workshop types. I’ll run this the same way as Minnesota photography workshops.

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. Some days may have a total of 5 miles of hiking. Most of the hikes are easy to moderate in difficulty. Some of the potential hikes may have sections that some would consider harder, but based on the standard difficulty ratings they are easy to moderate. 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 Grand Marais and photography locations. Carpooling is highly recommended. Lodging. Meals and drinks. Park permits. Any additional expenses.

Lodging partner: The lodging partner is in Washburn, Wisconsin. 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: May 28-31, 2026

Check-in date: May 27

Check-out date: May 28

Getting there: Bayfield/Washburn are about 80 miles east of Duluth, MN. Duluth boasts a small international airport. It’s 224 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has an international airport that also acts as a regional hub. It’s 450 miles from Chicago, which has a major airport.

Weather: The average temps are 38°F for lows and 61°F for highs.

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.