Where | High Country | Yosemite Valley | Who for | The Schedule | The Cost |
Yosemite Summer!
A week of Yosemite's best day hikes
A 7-Day Landscape Photography Workshop.
August 27-September 2, 2005
Conducted by Steve Kossack
Limited to only 5 participants
Yosemite Valley / Tuolumne Meadows/ May Lake/ Glacier Point/ The Mist Trail ... AND MUCH MORE!!!!
About the Workshop
F-8 And Be There Workshops and Steve Kossack Photographing The Great American Landscape presents a day hike-workshop in the spectacular and beautiful wonderland of Yosemite National Park. From Saturday August 27, through Friday September 2, 2005 we will be hiking, photographing and exploring some of the most beautiful country on earth! This is the unique opportunity to explore the best of Yosemite that you have long awaited. We will be chasing color and light in some of the most sought after locations. From dawn to dusk the grandeur of both the high country as well as famous Yosemite Valley will be ours to photograph and experience in a small group and at our own pace. We will be doing a series of day hikes from both the high country and Yosemite valley. Some of the most photographed places in the world will be ours for 7 days of field photography. Join us for a summer to remember!
Photographer, workshop leader and guide Steve Kossack will lead this workshop. It's size and design will lend itself the flexibility to hike and photograph the available light and color of this exciting area during our 7-day shoot.
Where is Yosemite?
Found in the heart of the Sierra, in central California, this magical area is what John Muir called the range of light. To the north is the city of Reno Nevada, our meeting point, and to the west is the San Francisco Bay.
The High Country
Our series of day hikes begin here. We will spend our first night in the famous canvas tents of tuolumne Meadows Lodge. The meadows are one of the treasures of the high country. We will make a day hike to May Lake. It's also part of next year's high camp backpack.
Yosemite Valley
At 400 feet this glacial valley attracts more photographers than just about anywhere on earth. It was the home of Ansel Adams and his gallery is still there run by the family. It's sure to be a stop on our valley hike day. We will also explore and photograph some of the locations that have been a part of our yearly Winter Valley Workshop.
The hikes
While this will not be as physically demanding as our 2006 Yosemite high camp loop backpack and workshop, it will however be quite as rewarding photographically. We will do a series of day hikes that will last in duration of 5 to 8 hours a day and will cover as many as 10 miles each day. We will have many options open to us and will go at a pace determined by our small group. We will have the freedom to pick and choose from Yosemite's best day hikes. Consider the photo opportunities!
The panorama trail
A personal favorite. 3 waterfalls on the same hike! We'll experience and photograph Illouette, Nevada and Vernal falls on the way down from Glacier point some 3,000 feet above the valley floor where our day will start. This moderate day hike is 9.1 miles and is considered one of the most scenic of all trails descending to the floor of the valley. This will be one of our chances to see and photograph from Glacier point where the hike begins.
North Dome
From the valley floor north dome seems inaccessible, however from the Tioga Road it can be reached in a couple of hours. From north dome you get perhaps the best views of the expansive faces of Half Dome and Clouds Rest, as well as excellent views of Yosemite Valley. It's a day you'll long remember.
Bridalveil Creek to Dewey Point and the Pohono Trail
This 10 mile hike should be seen and photographed by everyone, but thankfully it's not! The view is stunning of all of Yosemite valley's landmarks and it's a mostly level and downhill all the way! We'll see McGurk Meadow on our way as this lodgepole and fir, both red and white give way to Jeffrey pine and then yield our sought after destination of Dewey Point on the rim, then on to Crocker, Stanford, Inspiration and Old Inspiration Points. Finally will see and photograph the late afternoon light from Tunnel View.
May Lake
Only a mile off the Tioga Road, the accent to May Lake is one of the easiest of all the Yosemite high camps to reach. May Lake sitting at the base of Mount Hoffman is the geographical center of Yosemite National park. We will have many hours to photograph this alpine setting before our decent.
Sequoia Groves
Yosemite has 3 major Groves of Giant Sequoia. A great half day hike, we will certainly visit and photograph these wonders. The groves are some 3 miles from our trail head round trip and they very in size and age.
Who Is This Trip For?
* It's for photographers and nature lovers of all levels. * It's a photography workshop. It's a series of day long hikes. It's a week long summer getaway. * It's a traditional workshop. * It's for you if: * You like working in the field from sunrise to sunset. * You want to learn about landscape location and light * You want to learn about equipment and strategies used in landscape photography * You like traveling with like-minded people, and making images and new friends. Reasonable hiking shape and the will to photograph Yosemite in the summer is all that's needed.
This Workshop
This workshop is small by design. It will allow for ALL levels of photographic experience. There will be no lectures or product endorsements. Personal instruction will be available at all times. The opportunity to photograph and share with the group will always be present. A Print discussions will be a part of our workshop, as will workflow and all aspects of field landscape photography.
Weather, Equipment, Etc.
No one can predict weather in the Sierra, however the summer months are usually quite mild. The high elevations bring cool sunrises and sunsets. The Valley can be quite warm but mild in the evening. Rain gear should be part of your kit. A formal backpack is not necessary but may be used if preferred. This workshop can be done with a quality day pack with room for lunch and water on the trail. A tripod is a must. Electricity will be available. Both film and digital shooters welcome.
The Schedule
You will need 7 days. 2 of them are weekend days.
- Saturday August 27, 2005:
- Arrive Reno International Airport by midday. Transportation to all locations, including the return to Reno on Friday is provided. Our first and second evenings are at Tuolumne Meadows lodge.
- Sunday August 28:
- Our day will be spent hiking and photographing in the May Lake area. We will return to the trail head in time to photograph the sunset in beautiful Tuolumne Meadows.
- Monday August 29-Thursday September 1:
- After our sunrise shoot we will spend the day hiking to North Dome and then Yosemite Valley for sunset. Our series of day hikes and photo opportunities based from Yosemite Valley will keep us busy from before sunrise until well after sunset. All sunrise and sunset shoots will be optional. Our day hikes (all optional) will begin after our breakfast break and we should be back ahead of a sunset shoot each day.
- Friday September 2:
- After an optional last chance sunrise shoot, we will begin the journey back to Reno, Nevada for a mid day arrival and trip back to the comfort of home.
The Cost
This is a 7 day all inclusive trip. The cost of this trip is U.S. $2295. This includes all transportation to and from all shooting locations as well as pick up and drop off at Reno, Nevada. You are responsible for your own travel arrangements to and from Reno. Your accommodations are included. We will be staying in the canvas tents of Tuolumne Lodge and cabins of the world famous Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. Two meals a day are also included in the workshop fee. Bring film and /or bytes and we'll take care of the rest! The workshop payment of $2295 will be required when you register. If you need to cancel for any reason, a full refund (less $200) will be made, but only if a replacement for you can be found in time. If we have to cancel the trip for any reason you will receive a full refund. With only 5 places available this workshop is bound to sell out quickly. A discount is available if you'd like to register now for both this workshop and our 2006 Yosemite High Sierra Camp Loop backpack and workshop.
Register now!
For more info please e-mail Steve Kossack at f8andbethere@cableone.net or telephone Steve at 1-928-634-8071.