WATERFALLS AT NIGHT

This is it. This is the workshop everyone asks for. I first offered it last year and it filled up in minutes. Then I added a second one, and it filled right away as well. So I added a third and then a fourth, and, you guessed it. The only reason I didn’t add a fifth is because there was no more time left on calendar.

It’s easy to understand why this workshop is so popular. There may be no new frontiers in nature photography, but how many photos have you seen of waterfalls at night with the plunge pool illuminated with underwater light-painting? For that matter, how many waterfall images have you seen with the night sky or star trails shining in the sky?

Photographing waterfalls at night isn’t unique, but so few people are doing it that the images still have that “wow” factor.

I’ve been photographing waterfalls at night for over 15 years. Most of the techniques I (and now others) use were ones I developed through trial and error. No one was doing this back then, so I had to figure it out for myself. I won’t hold anything back during this workshop. You’ll learn all my “secrets.”

Weather permitting, you’ll capture the stars and star trails above waterfalls, and experiment with all sorts of lighting techniques, including underwater light painting. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to get your feet wet. I’ll do all the underwater light painting for you if you don’t wish to try it yourself.

All the photos on this page are of waterfalls that you may photograph during this workshop.

Attendees should have a firm understanding of how to change the exposure settings on their camera and be able to switch between manual and autofocus. And they should be able to do all this in the dark, without using a light. I’ll take it from there.

We will meet early afternoon on Day 1. After orientation, we’ll have a classroom session about night waterfall photography in preparation for the night shoot. After having dinner as a group, you’ll photograph at least two waterfalls.

We’ll meet again on Day 2 for another classroom session during which I’ll demonstrate post processing techniques using the photos you shot the night before. After dinner, we’ll visit at least two new waterfalls for night shooting.

On Day 3, we’ll meet mid-morning for a final short classroom session.

The waterfalls we will be visiting are close to the road and do not require strenuous hikes. However, a couple of them do require short, steep bank scrambles, and we may have to cross small streams. During the day, this is easy for most people, but visiting at night requires extra care. I will be carrying gear and aiding anyone who needs it, but participants should be reasonably sure footed.

This is a night-photography event, which means we will be staying up late at night. You’ll get to sleep in as late as you wish on Day 2, but not so much on Day 3. You should come prepared to alter your normal sleep pattern for the weekend.

Lodging and transportation to Brevard is not included. It is recommended that you stay at the host hotel, where we will have our classroom sessions. Complete hotel and traveling information will be provided when you register.

Full payment is required at the time of registration. You can register online by clicking the “Register Now” buttons on this page. If you prefer to pay by personal check, please contact me.