Eastern Sierra Autumn Color Photography Tour; October 5-7, 2010

Eastern Sierra Autumn Color Photography Tour: October 5-8, 2010

Limited to only 6 photographers; $750 per person (includes three nights of single occupancy lodging). Previous workshop participants can enjoy a 10% discount on tuition! Please contact Michael to register.

THIS TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELED. Thank you for your interest.

General Info
Come join me on an amazing photography tour of California's incredible Eastern Sierra on October 5-8, 2010. The Eastern Sierra is a land of superlatives: high desert meets high mountains. With the Sierra Nevada to the west and White Mountains to the east, peaks and ridges tower 10,000 vertical feet over both sides of the the Owens Valley, and colorful aspen-filled canyons extend upwards to treeline in the High Sierra. This tour will take us to the unique and colorful settings of the Bishop Creek Canyons; Rock Creek Canyon; Alabama Hills; the otherworldly Bristlecone Pine Forest, and other favorite autumn locations of mine. The main focus of this tour is photographing the epic landscapes of the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley while the region is cloaked in its finest autumn colors.

This will be an intensive tour! Expect pre-dawn starts, late finishes, and as much shutter time as you can handle. I'll host technical and creative discussions during mid-day downtime, as well as field image critiques and open topic technical instruction. More than anything, we'll have loads of fun and enjoy the camaraderie of a small group in an extraordinary world-class setting. My intimate group size assures that I will have adequate time to address all your questions and needs, and that we keep our environmental impact on the Eastern Sierra to a minimum.

WHY DOES THIS TOUR BEGIN ON A WEDNESDAY AND END BEFORE THE WEEKEND???

Hundreds of eager photographers descend on the Eastern Sierra each October, with numerous workshops and tours also being conducted during this period. I have intentionally selected these dates to take advantage of my favorite locations at their peak of color, and to best avoid weekend leaf peers, photographers, and other workshops.

ITINERARY (subject to change based on current conditions and weather):

Tuesday, October 5, 6pm: Meet for dinner and orientation in Bishop, California. Lodging is already arranged for you at the Bishop Village Motel in Bishop, CA.

Wednesday, October 6: Pre-dawn start! Sunrise at North Lake in the High Sierra. We'll photograph aspens, color, and North Lake through mid-morning, and then return to Bishop for breakfast and rest. In the afternoon we'll head to Rock Creek Canyon and shoot more aspens and autumn color though sunset.

Thursday, October 7: Pre-dawn start! Sunrise at the Ancient Bristlecone Forest! This will be our longest day, so rest up! We'll photograph ancient bristlecones (3000-4000 years old) through mid-morning, and then head to Lone Pine, CA for brunch, and will tour and photograph the Alabama Hills following. We'll likely conclude our day's shooting on the colorful South Fork of Bishop Creek.

Friday, October 8: Pre-dawn start! We'll shoot sunrise on Mt. Laurel at Convict Lake, and will conclude our day with exploration and photography at McGee Creek. Our day will end around lunchtime leaving everyone plenty of time to travel home.

Our days will be long and filled with photography, camaraderie, and fun. I will address all individual technical concerns and questions, and always assist with compositions, ideas, and creative inspiration.

This is an ALL-FORMATS, ALL-EXPERIENCE LEVELS tour; 35mm film shooters; D-SLR; medium format; large format: all are welcome. Michael is an experienced photographer of all formats and will provide technical instructional regardless of your camera, film or digital.

Requirements/Prerequisites:
All participants must provide their own camera gear (a complete recommended gear list will be provided). Participants should be in good physical condition, and must be capable of walking 1-2 miles each day, at elevations of 7000' and higher. All participants will be required to sign a Release of Liability in order to participate. We will be traveling to a maximum elevation of 11,000' (via automobile); those who have previously experienced symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) should consult their doctor before registering. Your honesty with these requirements ensures a safe and uninterrupted trip for all.

What is Included
Your tour fee includes all guiding, instruction, and three nights (October 5, 6, 7) single occupancy at the Bishop Village Motel in Bishop, CA. Michael uses his private discussion forum (all tour members will be registered) to inform and introduce members, as well as to arrange carpooling and to share tour details as they develop.

What is Not Included
Airfare, car rentals, transportation, fuel, and meals are not included, nor are any items of personal nature (telephone calls, laundry, room service, etc.). Participants will be required to transport themselves (carpooling is highly encouraged) to and from the our meeting location in Bishop, California.

Accommodations
Your fee includes three nights single occupancy at the Bishop Village Motel in Bishop, CA (October 5-7, 2010).

Meals
All participants are responsible for all their own meals/snacks during the duration of the trip. We will likely dine together at the conclusion of each day's shooting.

Registration and Payment
To guarantee your space on this tour, full payment is required. All participants must complete a Registration Form and Release of Liability in order to participate.

Previous workshop participants can enjoy a 10% discount on tuition! Please contact Michael to register.

Cancellation Policy
It is impossible to predict the weather when scheduling a tour. What people consider "bad" weather often makes for good photography. Therefore, the tour will not be canceled due to weather unless extreme weather conditions make it unsafe to continue. Participants should come prepared for all weather conditions (cold, hot, snow, sun, rain).

If the tour is canceled by Michael E. Gordon for any reason, a full refund of the amount paid will be sent to each participant.

Occasionally circumstances arise that prevent a person from participating in a workshop after registration. If you wish to protect your investment in the workshop and related travel costs, please investigate trip insurance. This insurance will reimburse you in the event that some circumstance prevents you from attending the workshop.

Cancellations, for any reason, must be in writing (e-mail or postal mail).

Refund Policy