Join me for a unique photo workshop that combines the beauty of flowers and the full moon. In this four-day photo workshop, you will learn how to capture macro images of summer flowers, as well as how to photograph the rising full moon over the Grand Marais lighthouse.

We will explore the basics of macro photography, such as magnification, focus stacking, umbrellas and light control, and background selection. You will practice your skills on a variety of flowers, including some late spring blooms and the lupine. You will also learn how to prepare for the full moon shoot, such as finding the best location and timing, and choosing the right settings and equipment. In the evening, you’ll have a chance to capture the full moon rising over the Grand Marais lighthouse.

This course will teach you how to use software tools such as Lightroom Classic and Photoshop to edit your full moon and flower photos. You will also learn how to combine multiple images into one using focus stacking with Helicon Focus and/or Photoshop. The editing techniques will be demonstrated on the third day of the course. Having a basic understanding of Lightroom Classic will be helpful. Considering taking my online Lightroom Course.

Equipment notes:

For this course, you will need two types of lenses: one for macro photography and one for capturing the full moon.

• A macro lens with a focal length between 90mm and 105mm is ideal for getting close to small subjects and revealing their details. If you don’t own a macro lens, you can use extension tubes with a regular lens of similar focal length. This is a cheaper way to experiment with macro photography and see if you enjoy it.
• For photographing the full moon, you will need a telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 200mm. The longer the focal length, the bigger the moon will appear in your frame. You can also use a 150-600mm lens if you have one or rent one for this course.
• It can be buggy in June. I recommend buying an Original Bug Shirt. At a minimum, consider a headnet.

Agenda

Day 1: Thursday

• 10am: Meet in the conference room at the hotel for instruction on macro photography
• Noon: Break for lunch
• 1pm to 4pm: Macro flower outing
• 4pm to 6pm: Dinner break
• 6pm to 7pm: Classroom presentation on how to capture the rising full moon.
• 8pm to 9pm: Full moon photography

Day 2: Friday

• 10am: Field session for flowers
• Noon: Break for lunch
• 1pm-3pm: Meet in classroom for image discussion and questions. You should submit up to three images via email. 1200 pixels on the long edge and jpeg format.
• 3pm to 6pm: Field session for flower photography
• Dinner break
• 8:30pm to 10pm: Full moon photography

Day 3: Saturday

• 4am to 5am: Full moon setting photography (optional)
• Break for breakfast
• 10am: Flower field session
• Noon: Break for lunch
• 2pm to 4pm: Lightroom Classic demo for processing flowers and the full moon.
• 4pm to 7pm: Flower photography field session.
• Sunset on your own

Day 4: Sunday

• 4am to 6am: Sunrise and full moon set (optional)
• 6am to 8am: Flower photography field session
• Break for breakfast
• 9:30 to 11am: Image review. You should submit up to five images via email. 1200 pixels on the long edge and jpeg format.

Note: The agenda may change based on the conditions. I’ll send out updates to the schedule about two weeks before the workshop.

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 up to 3 miles hiking each day.

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 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: June 19

Check-out date: June 23

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 44°F for lows and 62°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.