Workshop Fee:
ACT NOW: save $100
when you register
by May 31, 2018
$2099 Early Registration by May 31, 2018
$2199 Registration after May 31, 2018
At registration participants can choose to pay in full, or pay a $1000 deposit, with the remaining balance due by August 27, 2018.
Contact
Mary Louise Ravese
Bella Vista Photography
MLRavese@BellaVistaPhotography.com
(571) 594-2390 (East Coast)
or
Sue Bloom
Susan Ruddick Bloom Photography
sue@suebloom.com
(410) 259-1398 (East Coast)
When
Saturday October 27, 2018
to
Saturday November 3, 2018
Add to Calendar
Where
Napa and
Sonoma Valleys, California.
Our hotel is based in American Canyon, just south of Napa.
Lodging
Lodging is not included in the workshop fee. A block of rooms is being held at a special rate for workshop participants at the The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Napa Valley in nearby American Canyon, CA.
Rates are $139/night + 14.2% tax (king or 2 queen beds) (rooms have refrigerator and microwave). Room rates include breakfast featuring both hot and cold items.
If you are a solo traveller and would like to be matched with a roommate, please let us know.
Getting There
San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) and Sacramento (SMF) airports are all approximately 1 hour drive from Napa. Please do not book your non-refundable airfare until notified by workshop leaders.
Can I bring a companion along?
Of course, they'll love it! We realize that wine country is an appealing destination even if you are not a photographer.
Registered participants are welcome to bring a non-participating companion on the trip for half price. Companions are welcome to join us at photography field sessions and workshop social activities like meals, but will not attend classroom sessions or receive instruction.
Our lodging location is convenient to both Napa and Sonoma Valleys and your travel companion can take advantage of all the wineries, gourmet food, shopping and arts activities that the area offers while you are in the workshop classroom sessions.
Comments from Previous
Workshop Participants
"Sue, I want to thank you very, very much for not only excellent instruction, but the priceless amount of information you so generously shared with us" - D.
“I would recommend Mary Louise’s class to anyone who wants to expand their horizons in photography from the realistic to the abstract and artistic” - Chip F.
"Sue - thank you for the inspiration and tools to bring it to life" - T.
“Love, love, love, her. Really amazing ability to teach! Mary Louise’s passion comes through and is understandable. Her ability to translate skill, passion and knowledge – phenomenal!” – Marji G.
"Sue, thank you for being humble and approachable. You are a world class act" – A.
“Mary Louise is great - she obviously understands photography and all of the equipment so thoroughly that she can explain technical details to novices” – Jan W.
"Sue creates an environment that helps you go up a notch." - E.
"Sue has a fantastic personality and wonderful enthusiasm to share." - S.
Fall Color In California's Wine Country
Photography Workshop
Now is the time to support the Napa/Sonoma region
-- A message from the instructors --
In October 2017 the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valleys was affected by wildfires. The impact of the fires on lives lost, acreage burned and homes and businesses lost was devastating for the community. Most vineyards were closed for several days resulting in a large economic impact to the wine industry.
Having offered this workshop in past years, we felt that it was more important than ever to offer this workshop in 2018 to help support the economy of the Napa/Sonoma region. In Napa county alone, the wine industry employs roughly 40% of the workforce.
There is good news to report! All the vineyards and tasting rooms included in our workshop itinerary were spared by the fire. Wine country is open and still absolutely gorgeous. As for the wines, luckily it had been a hot and dry season, so most of the grapes in the 2017 vintage were picked before the fire started. Additionally, very few wineries store their harvest in the valley itself, so largely the 2017 wines were unaffected by smoke or fire.
If you were considering photographing in this region at some point, now is the time. Let us show you why we love photographing in this area, the diversity of photo opportunities it affords, and together let's help the Napa/Sonoma area get back on its feet.
Autumn transforms California’s wine country with the striking pattern of hillsides covered with vineyard rows resplendent in shades of gold and red. Join acclaimed photographers Mary Louise Ravese and Sue Bloom in a weeklong workshop exploring the renowned Napa and Sonoma valleys during this Fall color display.
Excite your senses with an itinerary that will satisfy your visual and creative interests, your appetite for gourmet cuisine and your thirst for some of the best wines in the world.
Your instructors, Mary Lo
uise and Sue, are both professional photographers and experienced instructors who offer lots of practical tips and guidance in the field and classroom. Our low 6:1 student to instructor ratio is ideal for maximizing your learning experience.
Unique shooting opportunities await you:
- Exclusive access to private vineyards/wineries
- Peak fall color when vines are golden & red
- Private hot-air balloon excursion for stunning aerial photography (optional)
- A wide variety of images are possible - from vineyard and olive grove landscapes and close-ups, to architecture, still life and creative images
- Expand your skills by learning how to create striking abstract, Impressionistic & HDR images as well as new transformational post-processing techniques such as photo-based digital painting and digital collage.
In addition to our time in the field photographing, throughout the week there will be lectures, assignments and supportive image feedback sessions, so you can improve your picture-making along the way.
Who Should Attend
All skill levels are welcome. Participants must be familiar with basic camera operation, including the setting of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Some experience with image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom or Photoshop Elements is advisable. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop running the latest version of their image editing software.
About the Instructors
Having access to two instructors means more personal attention to your individual learning needs thanks to a low student to instructor ratio.
Mary Louise Ravese specializes in fine art nature and travel photography from locations across the world. Her photographs are in private, university & corporate collections in over 40 states and are exhibited nationally. She has published images in calendars, magazines, books and websites. Mary Louise is a regular speaker and competition judge for photography clubs. She also enjoys teaching on a wide range of topics related to nature, travel and creative photography. Based in North Carolina, Mary Louise leads classes and workshops at a variety of locations across the US and abroad.
Sue Bloom came to photography in the
mid-1980s, coinciding with the release of the first Mac in 1984. She bought one and starting experimenting with alternative printing processes for photographs. She was digitally collaging before Photoshop was invented.
She has written three books for Focal Press on techniques to enhance and transform photographic images. They have sold worldwide and have been translated into several languages. She continues to write magazine articles, from Australia to the US and Canada, and teach photo workshops across the country.
Sue holds a BFA and an MFA and was an art professor for 34 years. She has exhibited nationally and is also recognized for her work with infrared photography. She serves on the board for FreeStyle Photography in California.