Itinerary- The workshop will be centered in beautiful Hood River OR and the exact itinerary will be decided depending on weather conditions, flower conditions and the interest of the participants.   For over 25 years, Brian has lived full time in Hood River acquiring extensive experience exploring and photographing the Columbia Gorge.  The class will use his local knowledge to help us decide the optimal locations.  This will be a photography intensive experience and will likely involve shooting from very early in the morning until late in the evening.  The workshop will involve driving to locations that may be an hour or more away.

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Possible Itinerary example-  Friday afternoon we meet up at a local brewpub at 4pm to get acquainted and go over the plan for the weekend and discuss our goals and what we wish to get out of the workshop.  5:30 pm we head out to a viewpoint to capture the sun as it sets over the Columbia River Gorge.  Saturday morning we get up early to head to my favorite place to shoot the sunrise in the gorge in springtime.  We hopefully will have dazzling fields of wildflowers in the foreground as the sun rises over the hills in the eastern gorge. After a late breakfast together we head out to a rarely visited or photographed wildflower area with views of Mt Hood. It is not unusual to not see another person while exploring this area.   A quick break to rest in the afternoon and depending on interest in the group and conditions we head out to shoot a waterfall or head further east to capture more wildflowers and the sunset behind Mt Hood.  Sunday morning we again start early to capture the beautiful orchards of the Hood River valley with Mt Hood rising above the blossoms.  After breakfast we meet at my home with its double mountain view to have a brief class discussing post processing and we can share some of our favorite images from the weekend before saying our goodbyes.

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What is included- The price of $895 includes only photography instruction and guiding to the locations only.   Class size will be limited to 8 students to allow for plenty of one on one time with the two photographer guides.

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What is not included-  Lodging, transportation, meals, drinks or any day use or parking passes. Participants will be required to drive to shooting locations and are welcome to carpool. 

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Requirements-  Any level photographer is welcome to attend with any type of gear. We will not be doing any extended hikes, however you should be comfortable walking at least one or two miles a day and possibly further. The gorge has variable terrain including uneven ground and unstable/slippery surfaces, cliffs etc. The Gorge can be a dangerous place and students are responsible for their own safety at all times.  Please contact Brian with any questions or concerns.

 

Hotel- We have negotiated a special price with a local hotel with a central location in Hood River that will be our base of operations.  A link to the hotel  will be sent to you once you have signed up.  You are also welcome to stay at any location of your choosing.  Hood River is a very popular location and lodging can be expensive and in short supply.  Please contact Brian if you have any questions. 

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Cancellation Policy-  Brian and Steven reserve the right to cancel the workshop in the event of extreme or unsafe conditions such as fire, pandemic, illness of instructors or with three or fewer registrations. In this event ,you will get a full refund. Attendees who cancel prior to February 28th  will receive a 75% refund of their fees if we are able to fill their spot. Cancellations later than that will not be eligible for a refund.

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About us-  Brian and Steven have very complementary personalities and teaching styles that work well together in the workshop setting.  We are planning on continuing our workshops at various locations though the Northwest so keep checking in for more opportunities. 

 

Steven Michael:   Steven has been a resident of the Southern Oregon coast since 1975 and has been a full time professional photographer since 1998. He has been featured on the OPB show, Oregon Field Guide, showcasing the Shore Acres Waves. He has been publish in various magazines, brochures and billboards. He is also a published children's book author and illustrator. When not out photographing, Steven is home painting mandala designs on rocks, or writing educational blogs centered around earth science and pioneer cemeteries. The rest of his time is spent outdoors exploring with his dog. Steven is among the most knowledgeable and experienced photographers on the Oregon Coast.

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Brian Chambers:  Brian has been living  full time and photographing in the Columbia River Gorge since 1997.  He is a member of one of the premier art galleries in Hood River (301 gallery) and has been published in several magazines and has been teaching photography classes and workshops in the Columbia River Gorge for several years.  When not out photographing, he is a part time veterinarian, home remodeler and spends as much time as possible outside in nature enjoying the beauty of Oregon.

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