California became known as "The Golden State" for good reason...the gold rush and the riches that followed. California is also rich in many other ways, such as being a state that contains a high concentration of world-famous places of beauty.

From San Francisco to Big Sur, Death Valley to Yosemite, one can travel short distances and move from beautiful California beaches to rugged snowy mountains. On this 10-day photography tour we will do just that -- travel through many of the most breathtaking places on the planet.

If you have a sense of adventure, several camera memory chips you'd like to fill up with great images...oh and like to have fun, then this trip is for you!

This workshop was designed by professional photographers, for photographers. With that in mind, we've painstakingly designed an itinerary that maximizes your opportunity to capture professional quality images whilst visiting iconic and exclusive locations.

This trip will focus primarily on landscape photography. The itinerary is scheduled around amazing and iconic California landscape destinations. Locations include San Francisco, Big Sur, Death Valley, Eastern Sierras, Mono Lake, Bodie Ghost town, Yosemite and more!

See the itinerary tab for more details on each location.

Expect easy to moderate hiking to be involved. Oftentimes, getting to the best spot for photography requires a little effort. The ability to hike 1 to 2 miles per day is a good guideline to know if your fitness level is up to par. That extra effort is well worth it once you lay eyes on the landscape prize!

Group Size

This workshop was designed with these three things in mind: photography, comfort, and learning... oh, and fun! Guess that makes it four things.

For this workshop, group size is only up to 10 participants to maximize the learning experience from two professional instructors. With a small group everyone can easily share in the photography of the locations we visit, get to know each other well and keep the overall experience simple and intimate.

Day 1 - Travel to San Francisco, overnight lodging

Day 2 - Morning (9am) workshop Orientation, transportation to Fisherman's Wharf Lodging. Early afternoon to night photography around San Francisco of the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and more.

Day 3 - Depart for Carmel/Big Sur down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Many photography stops along the way. Sunset at Julia Pfeiffer Beach/McWay Falls. Overnight in Cambria.

Day 4 - Depart for Death Valley. Check into hotel, afternoon to sunset shoot.

Day 5 - Full day in Death Valley including Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Dunes, Badwater Basin, Rhyolite Ghost town and more. Overnight in Death Valley.

Day 6 - Sunrise/Morning shoot, Lunch and depart for Eastern Sierra Range. Lodging in Lone Pine, night photography in the Alabama Hills (weather dependent)

Day 7 - Depart for Mono Lake, photo stops along the Eastern Sierra route 395, sunset shoot at Mono Lake Tufas. Overnight in Lee Vining.

Day 8 - Sunrise shoot at Mono Lake, then a photographic visit to the famous Bodie Ghost Town. Depart for Yosemite Valley over the famous Tioga Pass. Overnight lodging in El Portal.

Day 9 - Full Day (sunrise/sunset) in Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point

Day 10 - Morning departure to San Francisco for afternoon flights. Workshop complete.

Travel and Lodging We've chosen the hotels, not only for proximity to our amazing photographic destinations, but also for comfort and cleanliness. At all locations, you'll feel confortable and safe, while enjoying swimming pools and hot tubs at most locations, as well as wi-fi. Your transportation for the duration of the workshop will be a Mercedes passenger van, adorned with the Aperture Academy logo. This comfy and roomy ride is affectionately dubbed, the "ApCab".

Meet our master instructors and learn what qualifies them to give you a great experience during your workshops! While you're joining us, you will receive comprehensive digital photography instruction and tutoring by our team of award-winning photographers.

Scott Donschikowski is a professional photographer, speaker and instructor of photographic arts and digital darkroom techniques. He is a master of the digital workflow, is an Adobe Certified Expert and has taught and lectured all over California about the benefits of becoming proficient in the digital darkroom.

Scott is a versatile photographer, specializing in architecture, lifestyle and landscapes but also having completed work in weddings, editorials, events and product photography. He has worked extensively covering events for the City of San Jose and has contracted his work out to a number of local businesses providing them with his own unique style of photographic imagery.

A tech geek at heart, when Scott is not out taking pictures in his native California, he spends his time writing for numerous blogs, maintaining several websites, reviewing photography gear, and refining his digital darkroom craft. He is also an avid astrophotographer and when the available light runs out, he brings out his telescope and captures images of the heavens above.

Phillip Nicholas fell in love with photography after his mother gave him an old point-and-shoot camera to use during his first photography class. He would snowshoe out from his home and practice using the camera amidst the snowy woods of Northern Michigan. In the beginning, he focused on capturing the small things others missed, and enjoyed taking macro nature shots.

He began to realize that photography was his passion, and took his learning to the next level. He completed his photographic imaging program at Lansing Community College and started to learn how to develop a portfolio and expanded his repertoire to include natural landscape pieces.

Phillip moved to Yosemite National Park in 2011, and started working at the Ansel Adams Gallery. During his time at the gallery, he had the opportunity to participate in workshops with some of the leading contemporary landscape photographers. He also began selling, and continues to sell, his personal work at the gallery. He also discovered another passion – that of teaching. He began to teach, solo guide, and lead walks in the park on a regular basis, and received excellent reviews.

→ The cost includes:

• all accommodations (based on double occupancy), during trip dates, upon your arrival to San Francisco (single room supplement is available, see pricing tab for more information);
• all transportation during your workshop, including all park entrance fees and permits
• water and snacks (granola bars, etc)
• all your photography instruction and photo editing instruction

→ The cost does not include:

• arrival and departure flights (San Francisco (SFO))
• meals
• fees to obtain a passport (if traveling from outside the US)
• excess baggage fees
• personal expenses such as, room service, alcohol, or additional beverages, laundry, phone service or activities not listed on the itinerary
• travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• instructor Gratuities

→ To get the most of your images, a DSLR is strongly suggested. Single point-and-shoot cameras often result in disappointment and frustration and are difficult to learn with and control for creative results.

For our landscape scenes, we usually recommend a lens with a range of 24-105mm. You'll also need a wide angle lens for a few of locations. For wide angle, we recommend 16-35mm on a full frame camera, or 11-16mm on a crop sensor. If you don't have any lenses in this focal range, we recommend companies such as, www.borrowlenses.com, who offer outstanding rental products are reasonable prices.

Graduated neutral density filters are recommended. These types of filters come in hard and soft step/grad. They are also available in different densities. We suggest a 3 stop soft grad if you're only purchasing or bringing one GND.

Polarizing filters are also strongly suggested. While we have a few GNDs to loan out, we do not have any polarizing filters to loan. Circular polarizers are best, and these filter styles thread on to your lens. Be sure to look at the size of the lens on which you will be placing the filter, to ensure it fits. You can check out the following websites for filter purchases: www.adorama.com, www.BHphotovideo.com, www.amazon.com.

A sturdy tripod is a necessity. The lower light experienced at sunrise and sunset require longer exposures, of which cannot be hand held. If you don't currently own a tripod, we can suggest the Induro brand and Manfrotto brands. You can purchase a good tripod, that will last years, for under $300.

If you tend to be heavy on the trigger finger, make sure you bring sufficient memory cards. Multiple 16gb and 8gb cards are a good idea, as is an external hard drive to back up your images (500gb minimum), with your laptop. If you want to view your images, get feedback and photo editing skills, your laptop is a must-have.

→ It's a mix of both. We do expect you to be familiar with the basic settings of your camera, because you don't want to be fiddling around with how to set the exposure when the once-in-a-lifetime sunrise color display is fleeting. That would probably not be the best situation for getting the "shot," nor for learning. However, our instructors will be available in the field with suggestions about exposure, composition and technique. But, in general, it's best to come with a working knowledge of your camera gear. If you're unsure, we highly recommend you sign up for one of our one-day workshops (such as San Francisco/Marin Headlands) prior to taking this trip, to get you comfortable and familiar with your camera. Once back at the hotel though, we have options that are more of a workshop format, and we can offer you image critique and post-processing skills instruction.

→ Check with your individual airline, as they vary. General rule of thumb is to pack as light as possible. Carry your camera equipment with you onboard, as a carry-on. Do not include your camera gear with your checked baggage, with the exception of your tripod. Please bring 1 soft-sided suitcase, as there is limited room for luggage during ground transportation days.

→ The overall temperatures are fairly moderate. Mornings in some destinations can be in the 30s, with afternoons in the mid to high 60s. Dressing in layers is always recommended for optimal comfort. Mornings can be brisk, while afternoon can get quite warm. For this reason, we'll have plenty of water for you... but it's your job to drink it. (Don't worry, we'll keep reminding you.)

→ No, you don't. However, tour price is based on double occupancy, so we will place you with other solo travelers of the same gender. However, if you prefer your own room, we can make arrangements for single accommodations for a supplemental charge.

→ YES! We recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover any non-refundable registration fees, travel, lodging, equipment rental or any other related expenses.

No problem! We are happy to answer them: Contact Us.

The workshop fee is $3,995. A $1,500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your space. Balance is due by June 30th, 2015. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:

• Refundable Balance: 150 days (five months) or greater (not including deposit).
• No refund within 149 days or less of the start date.
• Seats are transferrable.

Please Note: Returning student discounts are not applicable to Sojourn Series workshops.

The workshop/tour price includes:

• Lodging (for single supplement, add $900)
• All guide and instructor services
• Park fees and permits

The workshop/tour price DOES NOT include:

• Transportation (flights) to/from San Francisco
• Meals
• Alcoholic beverages
• Instructor Gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Additional/optional excursions not listed in the itinerary

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