Midsummer’s Night Dream is a play about love. It’s that love affair we have with the end of summer — knowing that although it should be just the middle of summer, summer is close to end. We question: will this summer be a comedy or a tragedy? Only a last push at photography answers that question.

On this north shore photography workshop, we aim to turn our love of summer into a comedy by giving summer in the northland one last photographic adventure. We’ll photograph sunrise and sunset at subtle inland locations. We’ll haul along a canoe or two to use in our pictures. We will visit a lush, green river canyon to photograph a waterfall, and we’ll visit a waterfall that looks like it could host faeries for maybe it does.

We will photograph the rising full moon and maybe howl at it too. Our midsummer fancy will guide us wherever it takes us. We will explore whimsy in photos through a series of exercises involving Gestalt psychology, and we may even quote poetry and study composition archetypes.

This workshop combines classroom instruction, Lightroom Classic editing instruction, image reviews, and plenty of field time.

Dates: August 7 to 10, 2025

Cost: $749 (A non-refundable deposit of $375 is due at registration. The remainder is due 90 days before the workshop begins.)

Location: Grand Marais, Minnesota

This event is in cooperation with and under a Special Use Permit from  U.S.  Forest Service, Gunflint Ranger District.

What You Will Learn

Capture the fleeting beauty of late summer on the North Shore as we explore the intersection of photography, psychology, and visual perception. This unique workshop combines hands-on field experience with engaging exercises designed to deepen your understanding of composition and creativity.

Workshop Highlights:

• Explore Visual perception and Gestalt psychology principles in photography through field exercises
• Learn advanced composition techniques and composition archetypes to help you improve your compositions
• Master landscape photography editing with Adobe Lightroom Classic
• Photograph diverse locations from sunrise to sunset
• Capture the Full Sturgeon Moon (weather permitting)
• Filtering techniques for optimal effects
• Landscape photography workflow
• Elements of Composition: Additive and Subtractive approaches to composition to give you new ways to approach your subject and landscape photography
• Incorporating whimsy in your photography through the Gestalt psychology principles

Itinerary

Itinerary is subject to change based on the conditions.

Day 1:

• Sunrise to sunset field sessions
• Composition and landscape photography techniques presentation
• Afternoon field session

Day 2:

• Sunrise to sunset field sessions
• Adobe Lightroom Classic editing workshop
• Afternoon field session
• Evening Full Sturgeon Moon photography (conditions permitting) or sunset

Day 3:

• Sunrise at inland location (potential for morning fog)
• Lunch in the field
• Sunset at inland location or evening Full Sturgeon Moon photography (conditions permitting)
• We’ll bring along a canoe to photograph
• Potential editing session based on participant’s interests

Day 4:

• Inland sunrise shoot
• Breakfast break
• 11 AM – 1 PM: Image review and workshop conclusion

This workshop balances field experience with classroom instruction, ensuring you’ll leave with enhanced skills, fresh perspectives, and a portfolio of great North Shore images.

Additional Information

Workshop type: This is a Minnesota photography workshop. It has classroom time, outdoor field time, and an image review session during the workshop dates. This workshop has an additional focus on using psychology and architypes using field exercises. There’s classroom time for learning how to edit your photos using Adobe Lightroom Classic or Camera RAW. Learn more about workshop types.

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 3 miles of hiking a day on easy to moderate terrain with some uneven trails that have rocks.

What’s included in the workshop fee: Quality small group and one-on-one instruction and guiding. 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.

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.

Workshop Dates: August 7 to 10, 2025

Check-in date: August 6

Check-out date: August 10

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 54°F for lows and 71°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.