Eastern Sierra Fall Colors & Ancient Bristlecone Pines – Photography Workshop

Eastern Sierra Fall Colors
and the
Ancient Bristlecone Pines & Alabama Hills 

Space still available!

October 4th - 9th, 2015

My most popular photography workshop is the eastern Sierra and the Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains. Join me as we explore the wonderful autumn colors and the surreal landscape of the White Mountains. The rich yellow gold of the aspen trees, the iridescent fire yellow of the cottonwoods and the mysterious astronomical images of the Milky Way in the night sky will intrigue and excite your photographic quest.

We'll also explore the canyons, lakes and meadows on the eastern side of Yosemite National Park. Including Mono Lake, the June Lake Loop, Conway Summit, Lundy Canyon, Lee Vining Canyon, Bloody Canyon and other great scenic locations.

We will then head south to the White Mountains where we will visit the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Believed to be the oldest trees on earth, some well over 4000 years old the bristlecones are fascinating in their gnarled shapes and story of survival. At over 11,000 feet elevation, the terrain is so hostile to these trees that they may grow only one leaf in a season! It has been said that if the moon had tress, this is what it would look like. We will finish with a sunrise shoot in the Alabama Hills. Famous as the premier location for old western movies with its unusual terrain of boulders and rock arches at the base of Lone Pine peak and Mount Whitney, photo opportunities abound.

Catering to small groups of up to six participants, I will challenge you to see things in a different way and help you capture stunning images.

Enhance your skills in your artful photographic evolution!

Lodging: 

Five-nights lodging included - King or double Queen rooms.

* If you would like to bring a non-participant friend or "significant other" to share your room, you are more than welcome. We will be based out of Mammoth California where many recreational opportunities are available.

**If you wish to provide for your own lodging or have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Simply contact me ...here

Transportation: 

Workshop participants are responsible for transportation to and from this workshop. During the workshop we will carpool as much as possible.

Meals:

Each participant will be responsible for their own meals. We will stop so that everyone can stock up on sandwiches, drinks, snacks, etc.

Price:

$1395 per person including lodging - King or double Queen rooms.

$900 Lodging not included 

More info...gear and other stuff: Click Here

NOTE: Although my workshops are not physically demanding, participants should be healthy and mobile enough to walk ata leisurely pace off pavement for some distance (usually less than 1 mile). This workshop will cover elevations between 4,000 and 11,000 feet.

"If you want to rent gear - may I suggest"

 http://www.jgunther.com/Fall_Colors_Eastern_Sierra.htm

California North Coast Redwoods Photography Workshop

 

Fern Canyon Waterfall

California North Coast Redwoods Workshop

 

May 30th - June 2nd - 2013

 

Visit the beautiful Giant Redwoods & Beaches on the Northern California coast

 

$825 - Sign up here

 

Includes 3 nights lodging - single occupancy

 

Join us for another photographic workshop in the Giant Redwoods of California's famed north coast. Typically the Rhododendrons are blooming at this time of year! We will also visit the beaches & tide pools along the areas beautiful coastline.
Once again I will team up with noted photographer Bill Langton as we continue our series of workshops. Catering to small groups of up to six participants, we will challenge you to see things in a different way and help you capture stunning images.
Let us enhance your skills in your artful photographic evolution!

 

Lodging:  Three nights single occupancy lodging included

Transportation:  Workshop participants are responsible for transportation to and from this workshop.

Meals:  Each participant will be responsible for their own meals. We will stop so that everyone can stock up on sandwiches, drinks, snacks, etc.

                                                                             

Yesterdays Presidio & Palace of Fine Arts Workshop

Posted by jguntherphoto on March 2, 2013 | Edit

Sunset Golden Gate Bridge from near Baker Beach San Francisco

Yesterdays “one-on-one” workshop in San Francisco with alumni and friend John S. from New Mexico proved to be yet another stunning photographic experience. While I normally don’t take my “own” photos while doing a workshop, John didn’t mind, so while he was exploring his creativity I had the opportunity to ‘snag’ a couple of my own. Another angle of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Of cormorants and passing dolphins

Also a sunset with cormorants drying the wings and if you look close, a pair of dolphins to the right of the rock. I elected to go B&W as the sunset was almost boring yet very colorful indeed. Of Note: The Bay Bridge has activated the cable lights! Give me a shout if you’re interesting in coming along for my next SF workshop and I will take you to my “spots” for a view of this mesmerizing light show.

My Appologies...

Life has a way of catching up  to us sometimes, and I am no exception. All is good though...
My "posts" have been few and far between and I am working on increasing the frequency.  Thank you for sticking with me and I promise more articles shortly.
Cheers!

John

"Going to the birds..." A wonderful visit with Sandhill Cranes

The other day I made the short trip to the Isenberg Crane Preserve near Lodi California. What a wonderful experience. Arriving shortly before dawn the first thing that really hits you when you visit a bird refuge is the noise. Thousands of birds chatting about who knows what...but to my ears simply magic...

I spent the day with the birds, photographing the magnificent Sandhill Crane (standing 4 to 5 feet tall). Like many species of wildlife, the cranes "call" can be heard for surprisingly long distances. When you hear their call you might think it is so close that the bird is hiding from you. Yet when you look up and see them coming, they're actually hundreds of yards away as they 'notify' their friends of their arrival. The cranes are very social and you'll see them dance as well as all kinds of other humanistic antics. I love it.
The sheer amount of birds was phenomenal. Great Blue Herons, Egrets, Tundra Swans, and a myriad of raptors and other birds too many for me to name. And I understand it only gets better as the winter progresses. At the end of the day I was blessed with an incredible sunset with Mt Diablo silhouetted in the distance as the suns glow settled on the horizon. It wasn't until I got home and found two cranes flying into the sunset many miles away. What a wonderful gift!

New Photography Workshops Added

I have added an on-going series of new workshops. Some are One-Day and some Multi-Day Workshops.

Join me for a great time at locations such as The Presido, The Golden Gate Bridge, and the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Other locations include Point Reyes National Seashore and Mount Tamalpais (we’ll be shooting the waterfalls there in the spring). For longer trips we will visit the Bald Eagles in the Klamath Basin in February and in late in May, our Redwoods National Park and coastal areas in Northern California workshops. More locations will be added in the next few weeks!

Please visit the link on the right or click here for more information on my website. If you are interested in a custom workshop and or one on one training please let me know. Cheers!

Point Reyes Photography Workshop - August 11th, 2012

 Yesterday I held a one day photography workshop at Point Reyes National Seashore. The five of us visited several locations and even though the fog was heavy we were able to capture some great images. Along the way we saw elk, deer, elephant seals, raptors and an elusive bobcat!

Point Reyes Lighthouse

We started our journey with a brief meeting at the park headquarters then off to our first shoot, the old wreck of the "Point Reyes", probably the most photographed boat in northern California. The old boat is definitely showing deterioration as compared to my first images from 10 years ago. Still the photographic learning opportunities abound. It was then off to the lighthouse. The fog provided almost zero visibility. In a way a tribute to the history and need of lighthouses.  Although this lighthouse is now automated it stands as tribute to its own history. Inside the apparatus room there are remnants of the machinery needed to "keep the light". Outside the harsh climate is evident in the rust and lichen growing on the sides of the building. All providing great opportunities for camera work.Our group moved on to the old RCA radio station which has an old growth row of cypress trees that have formed a tunnel effect over the driveway leading to the building. There was such a magnificent overcast/fog layer which gave us near perfect lighting conditions and got some wonderful images. This location is a great place to discuss HDR (high-dynamic range) when it's a bright sunny day. The hot spots and shadows provide a great range light and challenges on how to capture it.   

Next we headed to Pierce Point to see if we could get some images of the elk herd. The fog was getting thicker. While driving, Menno our friend from the Netherlands, spotted a bobcat. He jumped out of the car and ran back a ways and was able to get an image of the elusive cat staring right at him in the fog. Definitely a cool shot. 

We poked around the barn area, shot a few trees in the fog, but light was starting wane and we decided to head back to Drakes beach for some tranquil surf shots on the level beach. Of course right there on the side of the road was a herd of elk. The males "bugling" loudly, rounding up their harems on a Saturday night.  We finished on the beach using longer exposures and got some nice images of the low "silky" surf rolling up the beach. 

All in all a nice day to shoot. Weather wasn't perfect but in a way it's was. The fog gave us some mood to the images, and of course the overcast is natures perfect neutral density filter.

Thank you, Sarah, Menno, Glenn, and Ash for allowing me the opportunity share my thoughts and techniques in a great location with great company!

Next up: Mini Workshop August 18th 3-10pm San Francisco  More info...