BVP Logo

Workshop Fee 

Act Now!
Save $ when you register early

$725 early registration by Mar. 6, 2023

$775 registration after Mar. 6, 2023

When

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 4:30 PM EDT
-to-
Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 8:00 AM EDT
Add to Calendar

Contact

Mary Louise Ravese
Bella Vista Photography
(919) 307-9054
MLRavese@bellavistaphotography.com

Where

America's Garden Capital - the greater Philadelphia, PA area

Our "home base" is at the
Inn at Mendenhall
323 Route 52 (Kennett Pike)
Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Getting There

The Inn at Mendenhall is about an hour drive south west of Philadelphia, PA, and about 20 min drive north west of Wilmington, DE.

Other approximate driving times:

Baltimore, MD: 1.5 hrs

Washington DC: 2 hrs

New York City: 2.5 hrs

Raleigh, NC: 6 hrs

Chroma Field Abstract 1  

 

Lodging

Lodging is not included in the workshop fee. A workshop rate has been arranged at the Inn at Mendenhall. You can choose from Delux Double or King Room for $124/night + taxes/fees. The rate includes a full hot breakfast buffet. Booking details will be supplied after registration.


 

Flower and Garden Photography Workshop


 

Longwood Conservatory in Spring Join Mary Louise for a flower garden trifecta in this workshop based in America's Garden Capital - the greater Philadelphia area. We'll visit the area's crown jewel - Longwood Gardens during the prime time for spring bulbs. This extensive garden on the former duPont estate offers a variety of flower and plant subjects in both outdoor gardens and a large indoor conservatory. Next, we'll have a "straight out of Holland" experience at a tulip farm. Acres of tulip rows of different colors offer a variety of photo possibilities from macro closeups, to shoot throughs, and intentional camera movement. Rounding things out, we'll visit at least another one of the area's 30+ gardens - which one will be revealed at the workshop because Mary Louise will select it based on the bloom conditions the week of the workshop.

Tulip Impressions In this workshop you'll learn a variety of photography techniques:

  • achieving a selective focus shallow depth of field look

  • maximizing depth of field through focus-stacking

  • shooting intimate landscape vignettes

  • creating painterly looks using intentional camera movement

  • etherial images with a soft glow look - achieved either through using multiple exposures, or a Lensbaby "Velvet" specialty lens to combine sharpness with pleasing blur

tulip The combination of lecture, demonstration and hands-on photography shooting sessions is sure to spark the imagination and produce some unique and beautiful images.

Your experience will be enhanced and consolidated through group photo sharing with supportive image feedback, and Mary Louise will be available to help you with editing help and assistance choosing your best images.

Who should Attend

  

Experienced beginner, intermediate and advanced DSLR or mirror-less camera users who understand basic camera operation, are comfortable working in Aperture Priority or Manual Exposure mode, and are interested in expanding their knowledge to include flower and garden photography equipment and techniques.

Class size is limited to 7 students

What equipment will you need

  

A DSLR or mirrorless camera, tripod (optional, but recommended), and lenses for flower and garden photography. No specific lenses are required to participate, but we typically recommend a mid-range zoom lens, a telephoto lens, a macro lens (or alternatives like extension tubes and/or close-up filters/diopters), and specialty lenses like Lensbaby Velvet if you want to use them.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to view and edit images. While image editing isn’t a focus of the workshop, the instructor will provide editing guidance using Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop if requested. Additional software from Topaz Studio and the Nik Collection may also be touched on if needed.

What is Included

  • Fern Lectures on flower and garden photography equipment and shooting techniques
  • Take-home lecture notes and resource handouts
  • Hands-on photo shoots at Longwood Gardens, a tulip farm, and at least 1 additional garden
  • Entry fees to all gardens/farms on the workshop itinerary
  • Supportive image feedback on a selection of participant images

What is not included

  • Accommodations. A group rate for lodging at the Inn and Mendenhall has been arranged for the workshop (reservation cut off date is March 18, 2023), or you can book your own area accomodations. 
  • Transportation. Participants should plan to drive or rent a car; public transportation is not available. Daily excursions are expected to be 45 min drive or less. Ride sharing among participants is encouraged, but is at the discretion of the applicable parties.



About the Instructor

Photo by Richard Fain 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.