Why is the ‘Masters Program’ the next photography workshop you should take? Because the more you understand and practice the ‘Language of Landscape’ the closer you will be to mastering the art of landscape photography! Acquiring this new language and the basic skills necessary to take your camera off “auto” could be the most important step you will ever take in developing your own individual visual voice.  

Writers are said to talk of the subjects they write about in the language of words. Photographers are said to speak of the subjects they photograph in the language of images.  Both art forms use their own specialized language. Appreciation of your photography will increase dramatically when you begin to “master” and “speak” through the universal Language of Landscape. 

Each ‘Wandering Around Outdoors’ Photography Workshop and Tour is uniquely customized to the needs of the students and the workshop location. You are instructed, guided and assisted throughout each workshop and tour by two veteran National Park photographers with extensive experience and credits - Tom Gamache of Wandering Around Outdoors and Van Webster of Webster Communication.  

Participants benefit greatly by having two such accomplished instructors with many decades of combined expertise and know how. Together, with their pooled depth of knowledge, Tom and Van offer a unique and stimulating learning experience while doubling the teaching resource for more individualized attention. During many years of developing popular workshops for the University of California at Santa Barbara, Death Valley National Park, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park and others, Tom and Van have successfully helped photographers of all levels make important advances in their craft and vision.

Combining classroom examples, field assignments and constructive discussion and critique of student images, ‘The Master’s Program’, is a concise and easy to follow curriculum that describes and demonstrates the ‘Language of Landscape’ including the principles, devices and secrets that have been used for centuries by the world renowned masters of both painted and photographic landscapes. You will learn to capture the beauty and complexity of the landscape just as the Masters did. Short, straightforward lessons will help you to understand the central artistic concerns of the Master’s – How light falls; How space is organized; The Recognition Factor - the many different ways of looking at nature and more.  

'Digital Photography Boot Camp’ is the hands-on, ‘Masters Program’ opening day segment that covers all of what you need to know to exercise creative control over your digital picture making. You’ll also learn about the features of Photoshop that are particularly valuable to landscape and outdoor photographers. You will be individually assisted in applying what you learn as the program pays special attention to explaining and demonstrating how to take your camera off AUTO to accomplish your photographic goals. Included are detailed examples and explanations of  “how-to” camera procedures and “pro secrets”. You will practice these techniques in the field, escorted and aided by the instructors. The program is focused from a fine art perspective and is suitable for photographers of all technical levels and all camera formats who want to improve both the technical quality and the artistic vision of their work. Most consumer cameras that offer minimum control are compatible with the program. The more camera control you are able exercise  and the more you understand and use the Language of Landscape the more “eye catching” your image making will become.

Workshop Registration Information.