Monsoon Photography
Overview
The lofty overlooks along the park’s South Rim provide spectacular photographic opportunities, especially as summer crests and the scenery is augmented by sensational cloud buildups. Late afternoon storms are the norm, bringing with them dramatic skies, lightning and the occasional rainbow. The challenge is to turn great views into great images. During this workshop, participants will learn how to compose scenes for the wow effect and work with varied natural light to create vibrant images.
In this workshop, novice and professional alike will have the opportunity to take monsoon images from a variety of locations, exploring different compositional methods and experimenting with a variety of lighting situations to make "images with impact."
Trip Highlights
- Photographing from stellar viewpoints
- Learn compositional methods and experimentation with a variety of lighting situations to create "images with impact"
- Daily critique sessions will allow participants to improve their skills as the workshop progresses.
- Experience a stunning sunrises and sunsets from the Rim of this world-famous chasm
Photo description: Summer Sunrise
Photo description: on location at Shoshone Point
Photo description: Sunrise near Desert View
Photo description: Monsoon Rainbow
Itinerary
Meet at the Community Building for class introduction.
Discuss: Lighting, Composition, Depth, Focus, Vision, Intimacy, and Passion
Review: Exposure compensation, White Balance, Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, and Filters
Carpool to various overlooks along the East Rim and visit Desert View Watchtower for sunset.
Theme: Foreground and adding dimension.
Carpool to Yaki Point for sunrise.
Theme: Energy points and designing with lines
Review photos: adding depth, use of filters, advanced camera settings, lens choices
Carpool to Mohave Point for sunset.
Theme: Contrast and visual drama
Carpool to Shoshone Point for sunrise.
Theme: Relationships and edges
Afternoon review images, summary, and class evaluation.
Meet your Grand Canyon expert
Suzanne Mathia
Suzanne is a professional freelance photographer, author and workshop instructor, whose work regularly appears in Arizona Highways Magazine, as well as numerous national publications such as National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Digital Photographer and publications for the Nature Conservancy, Global Action Team, and Smith SouthWestern. Her prints are also exhibited in both commercial and private collections around the country.
An Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop, Suzanne teaches workshops in Landscape Photography for Arizona Highways Photo Workshops as well as her own private workshops and classes.
Suzanne was born and raised amidst the green rolling hills of the English countryside but is now completely at home surrounded by the arid desert and swirling sandstone of the Southwest. She finds Arizona a land of intense beauty and preposterous contradiction.
Her photographs capture the diversity of waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, autumn leaves, and desert sands, from the magnitude of the immense landscape to the smallest, most discreet of details.
“The desert can be unforgiving of even the smallest errors, treating the unprepared harshly. But, for the few with passion, those who are willing to begin their trek at the end of the road, the secret world of the Southwest is revealed.”
Suzanne loves to challenge the ruggedness of the land, the great distances to be traveled, and intense weather conditions to capture images of Arizona and the Southwest that expose its many treasures and extremes.
Her images reflect her keen sense of curiosity, patience, and the ability to see the world and its magic places in new and creative ways.
What's Included
Price for the class includes:
- Our expert instructor.
- Daily critique/review of your photographs.
- Camping on the Rim at Mather Campground.
- Park Entrance Fee Waiver.
- Transportation to photo locations during class.
What's not included
You are responsible for:
- All of your food, photography equipment, and hiking gear (including camping equipment if you chose to camp).
- Transportation to and from the canyon
- Lodging in the park before, during, or after your trip.
- Gratuity for your guide.
Additional notes
Participants provide their own camera equipment and will carpool to the various shooting locations on paved roads.
“
Our family’s experience was nothing short of amazing! "Slim" provided a perspective we would have never been able to get on our own and we learned so much. Her passion for the Canyon and what she does came through too, which made our time something we’ll never forget!
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Andy Jankowski
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The guides were awesome – so educational and patient!!! Encouraging & helpful in every way. Such an amazing first visit to the canyon – Life changing to have experienced the GC up close & personal… Thank you so much!
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Amy Waits
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I've brought many School groups to the Field Institute and the quality of instruction provides them with an understanding of American Indian cultures, diverse ecology, and geologic history. Students leave with a stronger sense of self confidence, an intimate connection to nature, and memories that will last a lifetime.
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Joe Sweeney
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Top to bottom, the Institute exceeded all of my expectations .... they ensured we packed wisely for our trip and saved me from lugging around 5 lbs junk I didn't need. Overall, it's packed with value that I don't think commercial outfitters would provide, and delivered a deeply rich experience.
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Andy M