Announcing “Travels With Tom” Workshops

In addition to the workshop I am leading with Camera West, I have added a series of eight  workshops that I am calling, “Travels with Tom”. These workshops will be held in locations through out California, and one at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

These workshops are for the photographer who know how to operate their camera, and want to improve their photography.  We will focus more on the aesthetics of creating impactful images rather than the purely technical aspects.  During these 3 to 5 day trips, you will learn to see in order to create a more interesting and emotional image. We will concentrate on finding your best point of focus, (subject) and the elements which support it while eliminating those that do not.  We will study lines and patterns, light and shadow, perspective and depth of field and how they impact your image.  

Travels with Tom Workshops will be priced between $700 and $1000, depending on duration, and location. Included in these trips will be 6 hours of field work, along with two hours of processing and critique each day. We will shoot the morning and late afternoon light. We will be chasing the best light and the best locations, so our daily itineraries will vary according to conditions. While our days will be full, we will make sure to have down time during the day to re-charge your own batteries.

In order to keep costs at a minimum and give participants the most flexibility, Travels with Tom Workshops will not include rooms or meals.  I will let you know well in advance where I am staying and whether group rates are available.  The choice of accommodation will be yours.  A welcome dinner will be included so we can get to know each other and plan for the days to come. 

What you should you bring:

Camera and spare body if you have one.

Spare batteries and charger.

Assortment of lenses.

Tripod.

Filters:

       Polarizing

       3,6,or 9 stop ND Filters

       Grad ND filter set, w/2-3 stop.

Cleaning kit

Laptop, or tablet for processing and reviewing your images.

Clothing:  Dress for comfort and dress in layers. Mornings can be cold and afternoons warm depending on locations.  Rain gear is recommended depending on location and time of year. Light hiking boots or comfortable shoes are also recommended.

These workshops will be limited to 10 photographers to maximize the time I can work with each of you individually.

I hope you can join me on these adventures.

Tom

2019 Schedule

$2200.00 February 25-28 

Camera West Yosemite   Winter

$700.00  March 24-29 

Travels with Tom Alabama Hills Death Valley 

$700.00 April 21-25

 Travels with Tom Big Sur

$700.00 May 5-9 

Travels with Tom North Coast Redwoods

$700.00 June 2-5

 Travels with Tom Pt.Reyes

$900.00 August 11-15

 Travels with Tom    Grand Canyon

$1000.00 September 8-17

 Travels with Tom Paris

$900.00 October 1-6 

Travels with Tom Bodie/Eastern Sierra

$700.00 November 4-7

 Travels with Tom Yosemite Fall

                      December  Happy Holidays!!!!

To register for Travels with Tom Trips or if you have any questions, contact me at [email protected]

To register for Camera West Trips, contact Hal at Camera West Walnut Creek 925.935.1424.

Camera West Trips are all inclusive. Rooms and most meals are included.

Just a foot note, my work is now hanging in the Art Associations Napa Valley Gallery 

 1307 1^St. Napa Ca. Please stop in if you’re in Napa.

My next workshop will be in Death Valley;

Please follow this link for more information, just a few spots remain open.

After Death Valley, we head to the Big Sur Coastline. This is always a favorite of mine.

Please follow the link for more information

From Big Sur, we head off to Tuscany at the end of May;

Registration and information can be found here

I hope you can join us on these adventures. 

These workshops are more travel orientated. I will get you to the right places at the right times, and help you improve your photography. You need not be intimidated by skill level, this is opened to all photographers. If you need help, I'm there for you. If your a seasoned photographer, I want you to enjoy the location, the camaraderie of other photographers, and the experience of the location.

My mission statement for these trips is; "Great Locations, Great Accommodations, Fine Food, and Fun".

These trips are all inclusive for the most part. Airfare is not included, transportation once at the hotel in Tuscany is included. The U.S. trips, getting there is not included, however, we will carpool once we'er at our location. Rooms are included, along with most meals.

Please come back to my Blog, for more information on my fall, and future workshop schedule.

I hope you can join us.

Tom

I just wanted to let you know about my upcoming workshop to Cuba.

I’ve teamed up with Christopher P. Baker, and The Camera West stores, which include the Walnut Creek location, Rancho Mirage, and the Leica Store San Francisco to visit Cuba in January for a person to person workshop.

Here is the link for all the information.  We are limiting this workshop to only ten participants, so we can maneuver easier, and have more personal contact.  I hope you can join us.

http://www.madeinwetzlar.com/cuba-workshop-january-15-21-2018

I will follow up in two weeks regarding a Yosemite Workshop in February, along with others for 2018.  I’m off to the Oregon Coast to scout for a 2019 workshop.   

After I've selected an area or subject to photograph, I then start thinking as a director.  Where will the subject be on the stage.  Do I place it up front, do I place it stage right or left, or, even in the background.  The element that's going to be my subject, must have command of the stage.

Then, I decide who, or what's the supporting cast.  How do they relate to the main character.  What kind of emotion will it evoke.  What role will it play?

How will I light the scene?  If it's a landscape image, the lighting is what probably caught my eye.  Landscape, I'm usually looking for low directional light from the side.  This brings out all the detail, textures, and richness in the photo for me.  And again, creates the emotion in the image. 

Finally, boarder patrol. I'm very meticulous of the edges of my frame.  Looking for things that do not belong in my photo.  I'm responsible for what's inside those frame lines.

I'm off to France for a few weeks, I'll post more when I return.

To be continued...

If I'm not on an assignment, I try to go out with an empty canvas in my mind. That way, my mind is not cluttered with ideas that might cloud my creative process.

After I identify my subject, I then start the process of elimination. Photography is a subtractive art, where, I feel painting is an additive art.  The painter has a an empty canvas that he, she must fill. As photographers, we have to eliminate elements that won't enhance the the finished image. I like to say, if you can't tell what your subject is, get closer.

More to follow,

Tom

These workshops will be a hybrid of a photo workshop and travel experience. The groups will be small in size, 8-10 participants so I can give individual attention to all in the group.  The main goal of the trips will be photography.  However, we will get to know the people, culture, and the food of the areas we travel to.  The mission statement will be: Great Locations, Great Accommodations, Fine Food, and Fun.

Please come back here for more information regarding the trips as they become available. Private message me with your name and e mail if you want to be on our mailing list.  You'll be the first to know about the adventures.

Being planned at this time are trips to the ghost town o Bodie CA, Cuba, Hong Gong, and Tuscany.  I'll publish information as soon as the details are available.

I hope to see you join us.

Tom

This is a good example of looking behind you, when you think you have the perfect subject in front of you.