Utah Spring, Sandstone & Trees – Small Scenes & Personal Expression Workshop May 2020 with Sarah Marino

Lodging included in price

With David Kingham, Jennifer Renwick, and Sarah Marino

May 13-17, 2020

Limited to 10 participants

• Based out of Boulder, UT
• Fly into Salt Lake City or Las Vegas (See ‘How to Get There’ section below)

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More wild, quiet, and low-key than the surrounding national parks, the small town of Boulder, Utah provides easy access to scenic sandstone landscapes, mountains covered in aspen trees, streams flanked by elegant cottonwoods and other vegetation, and viewpoints that showcase the layers upon layers of geology that make up this fascinating region. Our workshop is scheduled for the transition between winter and spring when the trees will be dressed in early spring greens. This time of year brings the possibility of dynamic weather and interesting lighting – ephemeral conditions that will complement the area’s contrasting red sandstone and bright green trees. Our workshop is based out of the beautiful Boulder Mountain Lodge, a comfortable space that will facilitate learning and engagement in the creative process. 

During this retreat-style workshop, we will spend time exploring the area’s dynamic landscape, experimenting with new ideas and techniques, and creating photographs of nature’s small scenes. We will seek out intimate landscapes, telephoto landscapes, abstract renditions of natural subjects, portraits of plants and trees, and macro subjects. Your three instructors, David Kingham, Jennifer Renwick, and Sarah Marino, are partnering on this unique offering to guide you in creating a personally meaningful, creative portfolio of Southern Utah’s inspiring landscapes. Although grand landscapes will not be our focus, we will take advantage of the soft light at the edges of the day along with changing (and harsher) light throughout the rest of the day to help expand your creative abilities and the group’s photographic opportunities.   

During our time in the field, we will share lessons on learning how to see smaller scenes in nature, composition, working with a broad range of lighting conditions, and overcoming technical challenges.  In addition to finding and photographing the best small scenes that the area has to offer, personal expression, exploring creativity, and experimentation will be the top learning priorities for this workshop. The workshop will include extensive time in the field (two to three extended field sessions on each full day), guided lessons to extend your learning, time for personal exploration, and formal instruction on photo processing. We will also share many meals to allow time for discussion about all topics related to photography, travel, and the places we are visiting.

Had a wonderful experience with David and Jennifer in Silverton, CO. Great location for wildflower, waterfall and nature photography. Both David and Jennifer are terrific people who run a good workshop and are attentive to there customers. They offer great advice and their first priority is that everyone in the workshop has a safe and enjoyable experience. I really appreciated them, their knowledge and their help.

Ron Lacy

A workshop with David and Jennifer is like having a personal trainer for intense three-a-day workouts four days in a row. Wake up early for the sunrise photo, spend mid-morning through mid-afternoon learning the ins and outs of post-processing, then close the day with a sunset shoot. Just like a good trainer guides you through a personalized routine, David and Jennifer tailor their instruction to the individual. The beginner as well as the seasoned photographer can learn from this dynamic duo. Their knowledge of the landscape alone is worth the investment. Each shooting location was paired with forecasted weather conditions. Storm clouds or clear skies, dramatic light or flat, David and Jennifer guided us to just the right grand landscape and to the perfect small scene. And when the weather changed unexpectedly, they pivoted expertly. As a result, I captured more portfolio-worthy images in four days than I have in the last four years. To boot, David and Jennifer are personable. They were my teachers and my trainers, but they’ve also become my friends. I can’t wait to book another workshop!

Justin Goodson

This was my third workshop with David and Jennifer but my first time to Death Valley National Park. I have attended workshops by other photographers and I feel that you will not find a better environment for learning than David and Jennifer are able to create. They make every effort to accommodate a wide range of experience levels. If you need basic instruction or want space to create on your own they are very sensitive to those needs. I have not found a student on any of the workshops who did not have a very positive experience and a high opinion of their workshops. Along with being very accomplished professionals, David and Jennifer are both genuinely thoughtful, interesting and fun people to spend time with!

Alan

There are good photography workshops and bad photography workshops, and David and Jennifer are among the best. Small session sizes, extensively researched locations and intimate knowledge of the area, easy going and friendly, and the ability to determine your strong and weak points and work with them to make you a better photographer. They’re not there to get their own photos, they make sure you’re getting the best pictures you can. I’ve seen some workshops where the instructors turn their students loose to fend for themselves, but that’s not what you’ll get here. Always available, and always offering tips without being overbearing, David and Jennifer are the best.

Bob

This was truly one of the best workshops I have attended. David and Jennifer are attentive, knowledgeable teachers, and two of the nicest people you will meet anywhere. I found the workshop to be an excellent mix of field time and classroom time, and I came away feeling more confident in my ability to take photos with strong compositions, and edit them properly afterward. I will happily take part in future workshops with them any time, any place!

Paul

Attending a workshop hosted by David Kingham and Jennifer Renwick is one of the best things an aspiring Photographer can do to raise their skills. The best part is, you come away with an increased passion and desire to spend more time with your camera. It’s not learning how to expose properly or use the right focal length but the emotions they teach you, how to see the landscape or become intimate with a leaf. You can tell there is a burning desire that they both want you to succeed and even more, the sincerity that they want you to leave with a total outlook that photography is not just about pressing the shutter to capture a moment.
This is my third workshop with D and J, and I can tell you without a doubt it’s not my last. I have taken the time to observe them and listen to their mindset towards photography and each time I can see the difference in making a picture.
To that Photographer who is debating on attending a workshop with David and Jennifer, you will be rewarded with a renewed excitement to caress your camera, both emotionally and technically, creating priceless images.
Thank you, David and Jennifer, you have a passionate photographer who enjoys spending time with you.

Mozzam Hosein

If you are a fanboy/girl of a famous photographer and want to be in a large workshop group with other fanboys/girls of said photographer, then move along; Exploring Exposure is not for you. If you are looking for a small group experience where you the client is the raison d’être for the workshop, then you will be delighted. David and Jennifer are intimately familiar with each workshop location and work hard to provide you with every opportunity to accomplish the stated goals of the workshop and most importantly, the goals that you may have set for yourself. They eagerly want to know how they can help you, and what you are interested in learning how to do. With other big groups, there can be a loss of accountability, with David and Jennifer no client ever gets left behind, literally. I have seen how they assure that everyone gets a good experience even if a client has to moderate what they are able to do. You will always be accompanied by an instructor. Every individual is valued. It “don’t get no betta dan dis”! It occurs to me as I am writing this that I may have become a fanboy/girl of Exploring Exposure, but that’s a good thing.

Ellen Golodner

David and Jennifer are two outstanding people, photographers and workshop leaders. They are there for you and you only. They keep the groups very small and are always available, They know the locations intimately so they always have a plan B to deal with whatever the weather deals us. Just finished two workshops with them in short order (this is my third one with them), and can’t wait for the next trip. Keep up such amazing standards.

Guy Maestre

This was my first workshop with David and Jennifer and it certainly won’t be my last (Can’t wait for the Grand Tetons in 2020). Even with the fall colors arriving late in the Ridgway area of Colorado they still managed to find great and interesting subject matter for the group to photograph. They are truly great individuals that do care about the workshop participants and go out of their way to ensure that you have a great and safe experience. They are extremely knowledgeable and they do their utmost to share that knowledge with you without being overbearing. They were always available to answer any questions you may have and offer encouragement when needed. I came away feeling more confident in my abilities and excited about continuing on my photographic journey. David and Jennifer are the best and I am looking forward to future workshops with them.

Rick Wautier

I participated in the Anza-Borrego workshop this month led by David and Jennifer. It was a very enjoyable workshop and my expectations were exceeded. Both leaders were very welcoming and took good care of every workshop participant. The attention to detail was outstanding and every activity ran very smoothly. Both David and Jennifer have done a great deal of preparation in scouting the best sights providing the group with the best photographic experience possible. David’s professional guidance helped me to take my landscape photography to the next level. I benefited greatly from David’s picture critique session, an innovative workflow discussion and Lightroom and Photoshop sessions. Both hosts are very passionate about their work, nature, and environment and are dedicated to providing the best learning experience to their clients. Thank you, David and Jennifer, for the wonderful experience! Looking forward to the next workshop with David and Jennifer.

Jacob

This workshop in Death Valley was simply amazing! David and Jennifer are the quintessential workshop leaders and had an exceptional agenda worked out for us. As they spend considerable time scouting out their locations in advance (sometimes living there for months), their knowledge about the best spots and times is unparalleled. They don’t’ take you where all the tourist and other photographers are either, so many times you have the place to yourselves. They are also able to pivot quickly to adjust the agenda if weather or other factors dictate. During down times, David and Jennifer had training and critique sessions in a local hotel board room. These were excellent and I learned many new techniques. The other photographers in the group were so friendly and we all had a great time. I can’t say enough good things about this workshop. I am still buzzing about it five days later. Looking forward to my next workshop with David and Jennifer!

Scott Fenton

What you Will Learn

In the Field

  •  How to expand your visual exploration skills and improve your ability to see and photograph nature’s smaller scenes
  •  Approaches for enhancing your creativity and learning through experimentation
  •  How to read a scene to create compelling compositions using shapes, lines, visual mass, texture, and more
  •  How to utilize weather information to make location decisions
  •  How to photograph a wide variety of scenes under all different kinds of lighting conditions
  •  How to use apps to scout out your own locations and plan future photography outings
  •  How to use a broad range of lenses to photograph smaller scenes within nature
  •  How to use filters for creative effect, including polarizers and neutral density filters
  • Depth of field and hyperfocal distance to help you create sharp photos
  •  Overcoming technical challenges specific to photographing small scenes, including achieving maximum sharpness using focus stacking
  • Identifying the best light and how to expose correctly

Post Processing for Beginners

  • Making dull RAW files pop in Lightroom using the tools in the Develop module
  • How to keep your files organized
  • Use of local adjustments for dodging & burning, and many more creative opportunities
  • Using white balance to create mood in your images
  • How to properly sharpen and reduce noise for maximum image quality
  • Exposure blending using HDR for natural looking results

Post Processing for Advanced Users

  • How to use processing techniques to develop a cohesive portfolio of work that aligns with your photographic style and creative vision
  • Exposure blending using luminosity masks to create balanced, natural-looking images
  • Focus stacking using Photoshop, Zerene Stacker, and Helicon Focus for maximum depth of field
  • Creative burning and dodging techniques to bring focus to your subject
  • Emphasizing drama and mood through processing choices (advanced color adjustments, light bleed, Orton effect, and other techniques)
  • Using midtone contrast adjustments  to make images pop off the screen
  • Black and white processing using Photoshop
  • Sharpening for web and print

Our Philosophy

Our goal for this workshop is to create an inspiring, supportive environment that will help participants create a personally meaningful portfolio of creative photographs, with a focus on nature’s smaller scenes. As noted in the workshop description, personal expression, exploring creativity, and experimentation will be top learning priorities for this workshop. Thus, our time in the field will include a lot of exploring, experimentation, guided learning, and time on your own. This workshop will be an intensive, rigorous learning experience. Our time in the field and in the classroom will help you take your photography to the next level – whatever that means for you.

Our passion is seeing you grow in your photographic journey during our time together. We put your interests ahead of our own. Early on in the workshop, we will not photograph at all. Our focus is your learning experience, and we will not run off to chase the light and leave you behind. As the workshop progresses, we will take a few photos in a limited manner. This is so you can see how we approach a scene, demonstrate techniques, and create comradery with the group. Our focus will always remain on YOU. Regardless of where you are in your photography journey, we will provide individualized instruction based on your needs.

Above all, we want this to be a fun experience for you. With our small group size, we get to know our clients very well, and we feel like they are part of our extended family. We do this for the love of photography, and there is nothing that gives us greater joy than seeing our clients grow and find their artistic vision.

Photography Prerequisites

This workshop is open to anyone with an interest in photographing nature’s small scenes. Although we can help you with improving your technical skills, the more creative aspects of photography will be the focus of this workshop. Thus, you will get the most from this workshop if you are comfortable with the technical basics of nature photography (how to operate your camera and use your lenses, exposure, focusing, and basic post-processing skills). Additionally, we will be photographing around sunrise and sunset but will not be photographing the sunrise or sunset over a grand landscape. You will get the most out of this workshop if you are excited about focusing on smaller scenes during our full time together.

Fitness Level

This workshop will include a mix of easy roadside photography plus hiking to access photography locations. Hiking will not involve much elevation change but will consist of walking over uneven terrain like rocky creek beds in areas without established trails. Good balance and the ability to carry your camera gear for hours at a time will be necessary. The photography locations for this workshop are between 4,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. Hiking will typically be limited to 1 to 2 miles at a time.

Investment

$2995 - (Initial Payment of $795)

What is Included

What is Not Included

More Information

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How To Get There

Salt Lake City is about a 4 hour drive and Las Vegas is a 5 hour drive. Boulder, Utah is surrounded by some of Utah’s finest scenery for landscape photography, offering many options for extending your trip (Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and the Moab area are all within a few hours).  

All locations are selected based upon the best time of year to visit the area, whether that is to see the best wildflowers, fall colors, or dramatic weather. We have done the research and planning to give you the best possibility of walking away with an incredible photograph.

During our drives we will discuss weather, how to find dramatic light, planning, etc. This will be more than a photo tour, it will be a learning experience. Out in the field we will instruct you on the proper techniques to create sharp photos, balancing exposure, composition, focus stacking, how to incorporate movement, long exposures and more.

The workshops are limited to 6 participants or less to ensure you get the attention you deserve.

We will provide you with an itinerary, but know that landscape and night photography is all about flexibility, especially being flexible to changing weather conditions. You will learn how to read the weather and select the perfect time and location based upon this.

What about night photography? Most workshops will include at least one night of night photography unless noted otherwise. Again, this will be dependent on the weather, this is the advantage of doing both. If we have clear skies we can change our plans to shoot at night when clear skies are preferred.

The 5 day workshops will be focused on one area rather than quickly moving from one location to the next. We will visit many different locations in this focused area. To understand the weather patterns in an area, you must spend some time there.

Is transportation provided?

Yes! Many of the locations selected require a high clearance 4×4 to reach. All of the participants will ride in our 4×4 vehicles. You will all get to share the experience together without worrying about the logistics. You only need to get to the hotel via taxi, shuttle, or rental car, the rest is taken care of. You are welcome to drive your own vehicle if you prefer.

Is lodging provided?

Unless noted otherwise, no. We typically hold a block of rooms at a discounted rate for the group.

Are spouses/partners welcome?

Yes, but seating is limited. If they come out on location you will have to provide your own transportation, or pay the full price for another seat.

Are these workshops run on the up and up?

We work hard to ensure the workshops are run within all the requirements of the law. We are an authorized permittee with the National Park Service, Forest Service, BLM, etc. We also strive to to keep you safe in such remote locations, David is a certified Wilderness First Responder so you can feel safe no matter where we are.

Will I have cell signal during the Workshop?

Cell signal is extremely intermittent in most of the locations, you should not expect to be connected all the time, at certain locations you may be offline for long periods, enjoy the silence.

Will the instructors take photos during the Workshop?

Early on in the workshop we will not photograph at all, our focus is on you and your learning, we will not run off to make our own photographs. As the workshop progresses, we will take a few photos in a limited manner, this is so you can see how we approach a scene, create comradery with the group, and to show you the same type of images you will be taking for our post-processing session. Our focus will always remain with you.

Will weather cancel the Workshop?

Dramatic weather is when the best photographs are created! Unless there are very dangerous conditions the weather will not stop us, in fact it will encourage us! No rain checks will be given for any weather related circumstances.

What is the cancellation policy?

  • If you cancel 90 days prior to the workshop we will refund your initial payment minus a $100 fee.
  • 90 days before the start of the workshop, we will refund your initial payment only if we can fill your spot.
  • The full balance is due 60 days before the workshop. There will be no refunds on the full amount owed. We will attempt to fill your spot, if filled there will be a $100 administrative fee charged and the rest of your payment will be refunded.

There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, even for medical emergencies. All cancellation requests must be in writing and received either by US mail or E-mail. We encourage participants to purchase refundable airline tickets and trip cancellation insurance. We strongly recommend trip insurance to protect you in the event of an unexpected situation that prevents you from attending the workshop. We recommend Travelguard or World Nomads.

We reserve the right to cancel any workshop if the minimum student enrollment is not met. In the event we cancel a workshop, participants will be given the option to reschedule to a later date or receive a full refund. we are not, however, liable for expenses incurred such as airfare or accommodations, and for this reason we also recommend the purchase of trip insurance.

What to bring?

  • Your DSLR, nothing specific is required, although we do have a list of recommended gear.
  • Lenses – Extreme wide angle is recommended (16-35 range on full frame or 10-20 range on a cropped sensor), a mid range zoom, and a telephoto of at least 200mm. If the workshop includes night photography you will want to take a look at our list of recommended gear for night photography.
  • Tripod – A sturdy tripod is necessary, David uses Feisol tripods, but also recommends Really Right Stuff, Induro, and Gitzo.
  • Filters – A circular polarizer is the only requirement, but we recommend neutral density filters (10 or 6 stops).
  • Misc. – Bring extra batteries and memory cards.
  • Clothing – Temperatures before sunrise are the coldest of the day, bring layers of clothing to quickly change for the conditions. If the workshop involves night photography plan on bringing even more warm clothes.
  • Food – Snacks will be provided out in the field, for other meals we will go to local restaurants together and enjoy the comradery of the group. If we have a long day in the field we will stop at a grocery store for everyone to pick up something.

We are proud members of the League of Landscape Photographers, which is a group of artists committed to behaving in an ethical manner wherever we are photographing, and encouraging others to behave as stewards of our environment. Our clients must abide by these ethics in our workshops.

Our Code of Ethics:

Environment

  • I inform myself about all rules and regulations relating to photography when visiting a natural area or public attraction.
  • I do not knowingly step onto private property without permission even if the property appears abandoned.
  • I stay on designated paths and trails. If there is no trail, I follow proper etiquette by educating myself on the principles of Leave No Trace.
  • I aim for authenticity by photographing plants and animals in their natural habitat engaging in their normal behaviors.
  • I inform myself about the plants and animals I intend to photograph. I avoid photographing them if they exhibit distress signals, and during times of physical strain or breeding seasons. If my presence is causing stress, I leave the area immediately.
  • I help to protect the environment by picking up trash I find when in the field.
  • I work to improve my photographic skills by using all my tools when making a composition. I do not move objects, pull plants or otherwise ‘tidy’ a scene. I move my position or wait patiently rather than attempt to influence an animal’s behavior or posture.
  • I refrain from baiting (including sound baiting), or placing attractants to entice wildlife or influence their behavior. Also, I remove all artificial attractants I find in wild places that were placed there by others.
  • I treat wild animals living in an urban environment, such as songbirds, with the same respect that I accord to those living in the wild. I consider their safety and well being before putting out seed. If I do, I research the proper natural organic food and follow proper procedures to ensure the cleanliness of the feeder to minimize the risk of disease. I locate the feeder to avoid cover for predators as well as potential in-flight collisions with reflective house windows.
  • I keep rare species safe and intact by not broadcasting the location of a fragile area, plant or animal. I remove GPS data from my images before sharing them with others.

Social

  • I treat all people with respect.
  • I am patient and courteous with non-photographers visiting a scene. I am creative and can adjust my expectations of the images I planned to make. I am open to new ideas as they present themselves to me.
  • I am aware of my position and how it may interfere with the ability of the photographers and non-photographers around me to enjoy a scene.
  • If someone wanders into my scene, I am courteous and will wait for them to move. I will consider adjusting my own position, or kindly asking them to move when they are ready.
  • If I see someone violating the Code of Ethics, I will consider talking with them about the possible effects of their behavior. I will only do so if I do not perceive any threat to my personal safety. As an alternative, and if their behavior is particularly egregious, I will consider documenting the situation and reporting them to the appropriate authorities.

Self

  • I adopt this Code of Ethics and strive to adhere to these important principles.
  • I am an ambassador of ethical conduct in the industry through my own behavior and by sharing these principles with other photographers and the public.
  • I know and respect my physical limitations and keep myself out of harm’s way by avoiding situations where my health and safety or the health and safety of others could be put at risk by my actions.
  • I educate myself about the weather, terrain, culture and potential hazards before visiting a new area.
  • If I am leading a photo group, whether commercially or not, I ensure that the group members are informed about the Code of Ethics, potential hazards and other safety concerns, and that the group size is appropriate given the sensitivity of the place we are visiting.
  • I am always forthcoming about my post-processing and refrain from representing my photographs as something they are not.