Yosemite Photography Workshop

Yosemite Early Summer Waterfall Workshop June 20 – 24, 2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:19:53 +0000

Wow, what a workshop! 5 folks from all across America witnessed the spring runoff at full blast! And what a great group it was! Enthusiasm like I’ve never seen! They ran me ragged! We shot moving water in infinite variations, streams, waterfalls; large and small, sunsets, alpenglow…

From left, Will Meyer, Todd Hricko, Jennifer Carlson and Lori Ransbottom.

Workshop student Will from Sentinel Dome

Lori scouting the top of Sentinel Dome

Jennifer is literally moved to tears over the view from Glacier Point.

Todd shooting from Glacier Point, which had just opened for the season on this day.

Foolish girl displaying her poor judgment. This is how people are killed in YNP.

Time-lapse with light-painted tree in the foreground. By workshop student Jennifer Carlson

Another group shot with (from left) Will, Todd, Lori and Jennifer

A timed exposure looking west down Yosemite Valley at dusk.

Tioga Road had only been open for a few days when we went to Tioga Lake for some spring break-up shots. Jennifer Carlson can be seen in the lower right.

Incredible shot from Jennifer Carlson. GREAT silhouette.

Jennifer Carlson sent me a boatload of tremendous shots. So far I’m still waiting from shots from the others!! So, the remaining shots will be from her contribution.

A great shot of the tunnel.

Lower and "middle" Yosemite Falls by workshop student Jennifer Carlson

Great B&W treatment of this spring runoff waterfall by Jennifer Carlson

From Tioga Road near White Wolf; sunset above a spring runoff waterfall. By Jennifer Carlson

Yosemite Spring Weekend; May 27 – 29, 2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 06:18:31 +0000

Memorial Day Weekend; a full house of some of the most INCREDIBLE photographers I’ve ever had. And, as you will see, one student insisted on using an iPhone and showing some of us with full-sized DSLR how it’s done!

We had screwy weather, huge crowds and a lot of changing weather. If you can imagine, we had snow on the highways requiring chains, they closed Glacier Point Road due to snow… It was crazy! But we got good shots and turned a lemon into lemonade with 7 solid hours of dramatic shooting conditions at Tunnel View.

This going to be a long post, especially for a 3 day workshop. I have 40-some-odd shots to post, all worthy of anyone’s wall.

Workshop student Jeff Perkins shot this tremendous image of a rainbow over Yosemite Valley.

Workshop student Jaime caught Greg Bull shooting his dad Philip at Washburn Point...

...and the result a fine shot with perfect fill-flash.

This is as close as we got to a group shot; if you have any experience herding cats, you know how hard it was to get everyone in the same spot for long enough to do it. Here, Brian, Randy, Jeff and Jaime stand still long enough to capture.

Greg Bull (blue shirt) shoots at Glacier Point

Roberta (driving) with Jaime (back seat) off to the next shooting location

Workshop student Jaime got this shot of the crowd at Washburn Point. This was the first day of Glacier Point Road opening for the season and there was a rush of people.

Workshop student Jeff Altman got this great reflection shot of Upper Yosemite Fall in Cook's Meadow.

Workshop student Greg Bull shoots Upper Yosemite Fall.

Workshop student Joel Hershman followed my advice and went wandering for different shots and came up with reflections in a standing pool of water in Cook's Meadow. We all went over to copy what he had done...

Workshop student Roberta got this reflection of Upper Yosemite Fall.

Phil Bull shoots Cascade Fall from under the bridge.

Workshop student Joel Hershman shot this pano from Cook's Meadow.

Workshop student Phil Bull saw this unique shot along the Merced River.

I absolutely love this shot. It captures the essence of the lure of shooting Tunnel View, probably one of the most photographed vistas in the world. Photo by workshop student Phil Bull

Another great shot from workshop student Phil Bull along the banks of the Merced River.

Workshop student Phil Bull shot this unique view of tree stumps at the Mariposa Grove of big trees.

One more from workshop student Phil Bull from Glacier Point

Workshop student Phil Bull with this nice shot of the night stars circling the North Star.

As promised, workshop student Jeff Perkins was a major show-off with his iPhone getting some truly unbelievable results.

These were done with an iPhone app called "True HDR"; can you believe it?? Magnificent!

Another iPhone shot from Jeff taken from Glacier Point

more from the iPhone as we shot the sunset and dusk on the Merced River.

Spring Week Long; May 16 – 20, 2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:20:43 +0000

What can you say about 13 excellent students, prodigies really, and a variety of weather we could not have ordered out of a Sears catalog! And for the second year in a row, the May workshop was greeted by wintery weather, rain, clouds, cold and yes, snow!! All perfect for shooting and learning new techniques.

The "Partial" group shot; some students opted not to do this hike, and Kevin, the ex-marine went all the way to the top with only a knife clenched in his teeth... (not really, but almost)

Dick composes his image.

Laurie enjoying the day in Cook's Meadow shooting panoramas.

Rudy and Laurie from Columbia Point on the Yosemite Falls Trail.

Marty and Shirley also from the Columbia Point Trail

Hal and Dave, brothers, from Columbia Point

From Cook's Meadow, capturing panos

Steve Bonswor captured this pano from Cook's Meadows.

Taking in the view from Columbia Point

Shooting Vernal Fall from the flat rock.

Kevin (red cap) prepares to shoot Vernal Fall

Kevin Black took this great shot of the Upper Yosemite Fall

We did night shooting from Tunnel View.

Interesting post procedures on this unique shot of grass in the Merced River by workshop student Steve Bonswor. Excellent example of when it's right to break all the rules.

Kevin Black shot this tremendous image of a Yosemite Black Bear. This is a rare untagged bear in Yosemite Valley in the vicinity of Bridalveil Fall.

Several students stayed after the workshop to shoot the "moonbow" at Yosemite Falls. They stayed until 2am! Steve Bonswor got this great one!

Workshop student Kevin Black got this neat shot from Tunnel View. Great black and white conversion!

Nice shot of Yosemite Creek below Lower Yosemite Fall by workshop student Shirley.

Yosemite Early Spring 4/8 – 4/9/2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:32:45 +0000

The March workshop was canceled due to the park being closed, so we had a make-up workshop with Ashim and Chet, students originally scheduled for that class.

We had perfect shooting conditions for the weekend! Lot’s of clouds, flowing water, etc. It was GREAT!!

Chet took this early morning shot

Ashim (left) and Chet shooting test shots at Valley View

The view from Tunnel View was outstanding!

Another great shot from Chet of Upper Yosemite Fall in the background and the Merced River in the foreground.

Ashim took this great shot from Tunnel View

Ashimm took this moving water of the creek below Lower Yosemite Fall.

Chet took this dramatic shot of Bridalveil Fall

The light was very dramatic on this day...

Mid Winter week long; Jan 31 – Feb. 4, 2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:39:31 +0000

I had the pleasure of showing Dennis from Dallas, Texas, the wonders of Yosemite. He’s got a natural eye and we spent a week shooting all over. All of the shots are his, except where noted. I dare say I could not do any better… He’s a tremendous talent!

The HDR processing you see was done with the new Nik HDR Efex Pro software.

Of course, I took this shot of Dennis at Columbia Rock on the Yosemite Falls Trail.

El Capitan with Horsetail Fall; it was too early for Horsetail, as the sun set before it hit the fall.

A close up of what could have been.

Another view of El Capitan from along the Merced River.

One of my favorites of Half Dome along the banks of the Merced River.

This was shot just as the last twinkle of light faded on Sunday evening. Upper Yosemite Fall.

Half Dome at dusk. GREAT light!

A great shot of Yosemite Fall from the Swinging Bridge.

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

Looking west along highway 41 south of the valley.

Cascade Falls

Motion blur shot of Bridalveil Fall

Winter Weekend Workshop February 11 – 13, 2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:02:24 +0000

8 folks convened on Yosemite Valley to capture Horsetail Fall, and even though there was very little waterflow from the fall, a great job was done by all to capture what there was to shoot. What a great bunch of people! from Tennessee, Ukraine (by way of Vegas), and California.

This was as good as it got for Horsetail. Shot by workshop student Tatyana.

The Group along the banks of the Merced River to shoot Horsetail Fall.

Mike (L) and Keith get set for Horsetail Fall on the bank of the Merced River

Tatyana from Ukraine getting set for Horsetail Fall.

Glenn and Carin from Tennessee

Mike scopes out his shot of Bridalveil Fall

Joel, from Alaska, standing in the freezing water of the Merced River scoping out a shot... What dedication!

Carin sets up for a shot of Half Dome from Columbia Rock on the Yosemite Falls Trail.

Tatyana hams it up at Columbia Rock

Keith along the bank of the Merced River assessing his photo opportunities.

Joel tries some macro shooting

We did some night shooting with a quarter moon out; it was perfect!

Tatyana got this shot of Bridalveil Fall at night on a timed exposure.

Mike setting up for motion blur shots of Bridalveil Fall.

Glenn also setting up for Bridalveil Fall.

Carin had her own perch for shots of Horsetail...

February 18-20, 2011; Horsetail Fall

Phil Hawkins Photography — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:19:34 +0000

Horsetail Fall did not cooperate with us this year, but we were more than compensated by a world-class blizzard that dumped 3 feet of new snow on the valley floor resulting in absurdly stupendous scenery to shoot. 15 folks from all over the country convened and got shots they will be hard-pressed to ever repeat.

The workshop was dealt some difficulties due to the snow, digging out the cars, waiting for NPS to open the roads, and having to put on mandatory chains… causing some delay in getting out to the shooting locations when we wanted. But everyone exhibited patience in dealing with the unexpected, and GREAT shots resulted, especially at night.

So far I have shots from only one student, Clair, but it’s early yet, and as soon as folks have a chance to process their huge inventory of shots I’ll be getting more to add to this post.

15 GREAT folks battled the elements to get a shot of Horsetail... but, alas, it was not to be. Conditions did not smile on us.

Night shot of Yosemite Valley

Clair got this tremendous shot of a coyote.

Keith Kountz, from Fresno, assisted in making sure everyone had their questions answered.

John Hampton from Sacramento always had a smile on his face.

Absolutely stunning vistas of snow-carpeted Yosemite Valley.

Another take on the scene.

Pam from San Bernadino came with a brand new Nikon, and learned to use it this weekend.

Clair got this great wide shot of Yosemite Valley.

The view of upper Yosemite Fall from the valley floor. INCREDIBLE!

Workshop student Lynn composes her shot from Cook Meadow

Night shot of Yosemite Valley as cars moved through the mist on the valley floor.

Tram provides the refreshments while waiting in vain for Horsetail Fall to light up.

Karen gets her shot in Cook's Meadow

Workshop student Clair got this shot of Upper Yosemite Fall

Bridalveil Fall appears as a ghostly outline in this shot from Valley View vista.

Lower Yosemite Fall during the blizzard.

A great night shot of Yosemite Valley from workshop student Jenny.

Workshop student Lynn composed this unique shot of El Capitan from Tunnel View

workshop student Jenny got this shot of the Merced River with Bridalveil Fall in the background.

Workshop student Jenny with a unique composition of Bridalveil Fall.

Nice shot of a deer that wandered into Cook's meadow, captured by Lynn

GREAT shot of Yosemite Valley from the Wawona road from workshop student Lynn

Winter weekend January 14 – 16, 2011

Phil Hawkins Photography — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:23:56 +0000

I never cease to be amazed at how such a diverse group of people can come together for a weekend of shared enthusiasm and become friends in such a short time. 8 folks from across the country, 2 from China, 1 from Delaware, Indianapolis and the rest from California. We had a GREAT time!! And for the first time children in our group, 3 great kids, and what a family we were!

Sometimes I wonder who is the teacher in this enterprise. The work the students produced on this workshop is nothing short of stunning. See below.

The Group!

Lining up for shots along the banks of the Merced River

Jim's wife Patty prepares for a shot

Jim Hammond, Patty's husband, also prepares for a shot

Kris from Santa Cruz

Paul, from China, now living in Canada, intent on his shot.

Shashank from Delaware

Francis, Paul's friend from Canada

Stephanie from So. Cal.

Shashank and no, it's not a backdrop.

Patty and Jim Hammond from the Sacramento, CA area

Night shot of Yosemite Falls. We did a lot of night shooting

Jim Hammond

Patty Hammond in shooting war!

Kris Hill

Patty, Your's Truly and Kris

Child prodigy photographer Ava von-Meeteren, a mere 6 years old blew us away with her talent.

Shot by 6-year old Ava von-Meeteren! Notice the composition! Not bad for a 6-year old!

Can your 6-year old shoot like this?

and now for the work of the students:

Shashank shot this of the moon rising over Half Dome along the banks of the Merced River. What a shot!

The moon rises over Yosemite Valley, captured by Patty.

It's amazing how the simplest of objects can be turned works of art. It's all in the eye of the...photographer!

Unbelieveable! What a tremendous shot! One of the best I've seen of this vista! Shot my workshop student Jim Hammond

A dead tree at night in the moonlight in Cook Meadow. Shot by workshop student Shashank

Half Dome over the Merced River! Great job on the HDR by Patty Hammond!

Workshop student Kris Hill took this shot of Half Dome and El Capitan bathed in alpen glow!

The remnants of the forest fire of 1991 against a great sunset shot by Jim Hammond. GREAT color!

Workshop student Patty shot this great image of lower Yosemite Fall.

So, what do you do when a 6-year old girl wants to do light painting? You do light painting!

Our little angel!

Baby bear!

Papa bear and baby bear!

Yosemite Fall Colors Weekend 11/12 – 11/13, 2010

Phil Hawkins Photography — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 06:57:46 +0000

Wow! 7 folks from all over California attended the two day workshop and the fall colors were exceptional! Great sunny weather really brought out the colors on both river reflections and the leaves on the trees.

And for the first time ever, all but one student, who hailed from Phoenix, came from California; virtual locals.

OH YEAH! I almost forgot! Another workshop first. Nick and Ann got engaged on Sunday morning. Nick dragged Ann out of bed to go shoot the sunrise, and while standing at the wall at Tunnel View, popped the question! She said “Yes!”

Ann said YES! to Nick's proposal! A workshop first! Congratulations Nick and Ann.

The group portrait; (l to r) Ann, Nick, Tom, Linda, Chris and Kelvin. Keith, from the SF Bay area, left early due to illness.

Linda clasping a hand warmer on the Mist Trail.

The first day shooting Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Ann chimping on the Mist Trail.

Nick also chimping on the Mist Trail.

Tom setting his camera.

Kelvin making his way along the river rocks.

Tom shot this image of Lower Yosemite Fall.

Kelvin shot this great image of flowing water with tremendous color erflection along the Merced River.

A great shot from Tom along the Merced River

The moon was up, the sun was setting and magnificent colors were captured by the clouds. Kelvin got this one.

What a great view of the setting sun on Half Dome by Tom

The same shot above rendered in black and white.

It wass inevitible; Kelvin and Chris shooting Upper Yosemite Fall from the Mist Trail with.....iPhones... !!!

Great color reflections along the Merced River

Tom got a great shot of Half Dome in the fading sun along with the reflection on the Merced.

Tom got in tight on Half Dome in twilight. GREAT color!

Tom got some great shots along the mist trail of the river and leaves on the riverbank.

Another shot from Tom of colors along the Merced River.

Wow, what tremendous colors reflections on the river captured by Kelvin

It just never stops with color on the river.

Night shooting in El Cap meadow; captured by Kelvin.

Black and white conversion of a timed exposure at Tunnel View. Kelvon got this one.

Chris makes his way on to a rock for the angle on the water along the Mist Trail. We all trained out cameras on him to document falling in the water. Bets were laid down.

Chris took this great reflection shot.

Chris also took this great shot along the Merced River

The colors were really tremendous at sunset. Chris took this shot of the moon through the clouds.

There was a thin layer of clouds that just captured the glow of the fading sun. This shot was taken at dusk by Ann.

Motion blur shot of the Merced River by Ann

Yosemite Fall Weekend Workshop Oct. 15 – 16 2010

Phil Hawkins Photography — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:42:24 +0000

I had two great students this weekend. One had never been to Yosemite. I love showing people Yosemite for the first time! Keith, from the Bay Area of California had visited Yosemite many times but wanted to learn a bit more about how to improve his skills shooting landscapes, and Ashly, all the way from New York had never been to Yosemite and also wanted to improve her skills. We got lucky and had a good variety of weather, all roads were open and it wasn’t too cold. We went to Sentinel Dome, and other places along Glacier Point Road. We also hiked up to Vernal Fall and got great shots. We shot at night and got some TREMENDOUS night photos.

Ashly from New York on the left, obviously, and Keith from the bay area at Vernal Fall

Ashly hamming it up on the ledge overlooking Vernal Fall

Keith setting up his shot at Vernal Fall.

Keith got this great motion blur shot of Vernal Fall; f/22 at 100ISO at 3 seconds using stacked neutral density filters.

Tremendous motion blur shot of Vernal Fall by Ashly.

Keith got this great shot of the stars above El Capitan at night with light from a 1/2 moon.

Ashly also got a great shot of El Cap and the stars though a little tighter on the composition.

We did a lot of night shooting, and Keith got this shot from Half Dome on the last night.

Before the sun set, the colors were great! Ashly got this great capture of the fading sun on the clouds.

Before the last tidbit of light slid away, Keith got this 10mm shot of the clouds over Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View.

We shot along the Merced River and this reflection shot by Ashly was the result of the Photoshop lesson on Sunday.

Ashly fooling around on Sentinel Dome, and yes, it was that cold!

Keith's crown jewel shot of the entire weekend; a timed exposure of Yosemite Valley looking east from Sentinel Dome. White balance was set on "shade" for the warm lighting effect.

Ashly's favorite shot of the weekend from Sentinel Dome.

Just as the sun was setting Ashly got this shot with a 400mm f/5.6. Tremendous color and composition!

Yet another way to shoot Half Dome from an area along Glacier Point Road by Ashly.

This grouse showed no fear of Ashly's camera on Glacier Point Road.

Ashly and Keith on Sentinel Dome at dusk.