Based in beautiful Monterey, CA this small group retreat is designed to combine the best aspects of a relaxing vacation, inspiring lectures, and hands-on workshop all into one exquisite trip. If you have attended Art’s popular “Photography As Art” seminar, images from this location may look familiar to you. Not only is the area home to gorgeous beaches, renowned dining options, and a variety of wildlife and shorebirds – it also happens to be an excellent location to capture abstract images.

This location is brimming with variety – not only is there a plethora of abstract subjects all within a close proximity, but there are also fantastic ocean landscapes, and of course sea otters which we will photograph from kayak.  You did read that correctly – we are also going to bring our group to a fantastic location where they can comfortably photograph sea otters from kayaks. If you have never been in a kayak before, fear not! We have guides available that will be doing all the paddling work so you can sit back and focus on soaking up the views and taking stunning photos that you can proudly share with friends and family – the kind no one else is bringing home!

This special workshop is beginning on Wednesday, Sept 10th, with a welcome gathering at the hotel lobby in Monterey. Our classroom sessions will take place at the beautiful Bradley Photographic Gallery in Pacific Grove. Jason Bradley, the owner of the gallery may also provide some lightroom instruction and/or a printing demo during the retreat. This will complement the lectures that Art Wolfe provides by showing the participants how to take their images from capture, to edit, to print!

Though the location is visibly fabulous on the surface, we will strive to peer deeper into our surroundings and find the landscapes-within-landscapes; metaphors and visualizations beyond the obvious. With guidance and challenges from Art followed by critiques to cap the day, there is no doubt that you’ll come way from this small group retreat improved as a creative photographer, and hopefully with new like-minded friends as well!

Reserve Your Spot Today

Led by Art Wolfe and Libby Pfeiffer
Limited to 8 participants
Minimal hiking involved

Transportation and Accommodation

• Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the hotel, lodging and meals.
• Upon registration you will download a PDF that includes the hotel information. Please call the hotel directly to make your reservations. (They have offered our group a fantastic discount as well)

Itinerary

Shooting schedules have the ability to be altered to effectively cater to the photographic desires of the group, as well as to adapt to changeable weather conditions.

Day 1:

• Meet and greet at 6pm at a meeting room. Everyone can introduce themselves, and Art will give a brief description of the proposed itinerary.
• After our brief and informal meet and greet we will depart for a lovely dinner together.

Day 2:

• This day will begin with an inspiring lecture from Art. He will show you photographs from the region and highlight specific camera settings so you can capture similar beautiful images once we head into the field.
• After the lecture the group will head out into the field and will pick up lunch on our way out. We have selected great locations that will offer both abstract compositions and beautiful landscapes.
• After our day of shooting we will return to the hotel to download images from the day of shooting before we depart for another lovely dinner together.
• Dine together with Art and staff (no host dinner)

Day 3:

• Art may schedule an additional critique on this morning, so that you can learn from the previous day in the field before we head out for another day of shooting. These mid-workshop critiques prove to be invaluable because you can learn from any mistakes that have been made while there is still time to go out into the field and correct them.
• Following the brief critique we will have another full day in the field.
• Download images from the day of shooting
• Dine together with Art and staff (no host dinner)

Day 4:

• Field shoot: Special morning “we paddle you photo” kayak photo session in the Elkhorn Slough, one of the top 10 wildlife viewing destinations in the nation. We will photograph seals, sea otters, a variety of birds, and some marine wildlife as well. This is a great opportunity to photograph from the water level where you can capture intimate compositions, while not disturbing the wildlife.
• After our morning field session we will have lunch together at a local restaurant and head back out into the field.
• Our afternoon field session will include photographing rocks and waves with slow exposures and if there is an opportunity for a nice sunset we will photograph that as well before we had back for our group dinner.
• Dine together with Art and staff (no host dinner)

Day 5:

• Group critique and review. Please note, this is not an intimidating process, but often one of the most constructive and informative segments of the workshop.
• Learn from each others images while they are projected for the group. Art will adjust them in Adobe Lightroom and provide instruction.
• Workshop will conclude by 12pm