Workshops

Fall Color in Great Smoky National Park
& The Blue Ridge Parkway

October 18 – 22, 2001Workshop 0110

‚ This Workshop is now past. This page is retained for historical interest only‚

If you would like to be placed on the waiting list for future workshops
please complete the registration form.

Join a unique landscape photography workshop in October, 2001.Fall Color in Great Smoky National Park. Conducted byMichael ReichmannandSteve Kossackthis workshop will be limited to just 9 participants. 

Smoky Colour, October, 2000

Photographed with a Hasselblad XPan and 90mm lens on Provia 100F

The Workshop

From before sunrise each day until after sunset, this workshop will be aboutdoingphotography in one of the world’s most dramatic fall color locations. No lectures, no slide shows, no commercial promotions. You and 8 other photographers will work with Michael and Steve exploring the wonders and photographic opportunities of the Southeastern United States’ most beautiful Fall colour location.

The Workshop Leaders

The workshop leader, (and publisher of this site) isMichael Reichmann, a photographer, author and teacher with more than 30 years behind the camera.Steve Kossackis a talented wilderness photographer and has co-taught with Michael on these workshops before.

About the Workshop

Each morning for 3 full days we will be up before sunrise and shooting on location somewhere in theGreat Smoky National Parkor along theBlue Ridge Parkway. We will have a shooting itinerary for each day, but there will be flexibility and scope for serendipity. This workshop is not about basic instruction, though that will certainly be available if anyone wishes. Instead, we will all be working and shooting the landscape together, sharing ideas and techniques.

Discussion will be a major part of the workshop — not lectures. You will be free to work independently, or closely alongside Michael and Steve. What lenses to use, what filters, exposure issues and problems? Understanding perspective and light. Dealing with contrast, color and monochrome. There will be time to explore all of these topics, in words,and action.

Simply put, what we will achieve is an opportunity for you to work closely with an experienced landscape photographer. You will explore famous as well as hidden locations. Your fellow photographers will provide feedback and share their vision.

Grotto Falls, Great Smoky. October, 2000

Who Should Attend?

If you love doing landscape photography, this workshop is for you! Attendees will range from relative beginners to experienced photographic artists. The workshop is aboutdoingphotography andsharinginformation. Michael and Steve are there as guides, advisors, mentors and resources.

You will be doingyourphotography, atyour pace, not just watching someone else do his. Advise, hints and critique will be available — if desired, but this weekend is about you, and what you need and want to do.

What Formats will People be Shooting?

Participants will be working in either 35mm or medium format. Bring a single body and lens, or your whole 50lb kit. Bring whatever gear works for you, but remember — you’ll be carrying it a good part of the day, so choose carefully. We’ll be shooting before sunrise and after sunset each day and a good tripod should be part of your technique all of the time.

Discussion about equipment and technique will be a big part of the workshop and there will be lots of opportunity to learn how others work, what equipment they use, and why.

Large format equipment is discouraged for this particular workshop because we intend to explore a lot of ground and to be able to move quickly between locations.

Travel and Accommodation

The workshop begins with the group meeting up at the airport inKnoxville TN, onThursday, October 18, 2001.

Blue Ridge Sunrise, October, 2000

You are responsible for your own transportation toKnoxville. We take over from there.  We will explore the area in 3 vehicles, with 4 people in each vehicle. All driving will be done by a Workshop leader

If you’ll be driving rather than flying to the area then you can meet us at our first night’s location inTownsend, TN. 

The workshop will formally end after sunrise onMonday, October 22at which point we will drive back to Knoxville in time to catch early afternoon flights.  

How Strenuous Will it Be?

Landscape photography is a passionate and energetic pursuit. A typical day involves waking as much as 2 hours before sunrise, and then driving to a remote location to arrive 45 minutes before dawn. Mid-days will be for driving between locations though the deep woods ofGreat Smokyallow for some mid-day shooting as well. Shooting continues though sunset and then there’s frequently a long drive in the dark back to our base motel. Breakfast and lunch are eaten on the road and only dinner is a sit-down meal.

We will be working out of our vehicles a great deal of the time but there will be some 30-45 minute hikes from the vehicles to shooting locations, so a manageable shoulder bag or back-pack type camera case is advised.

Anyone in reasonably good shape will likely not have any problems. But, I urge you to read the liability disclaimer below and seriously consider your state of physical fitness before joining this workshop. 

Unique Extras

Because theFall Color in Great Smokyworkshop is conducted byThe Luminous Landscape Inc., as an attendee you will receive several unique extras.

A private section on this web site’sDiscussion Forumwill be available to all attendees. Participants and workshop leaders will have an opportunity to get to know each other on-line beforehand, and will be able to keep in touch after the seminar.

After the workshop attendees will be able to submit their work for critique on-line, if they wish, by the other attendees and the workshop leaders. A private display space will be created exclusively for workshop participants.

Attendees will be given a public section onThe Luminous Landscapeweb site where they can, if they wish, publicly exhibit images shot during the workshop.

Cades Cove Tree, October, 2000

Photographed with a Rollei 6008 Integral and 300mm Schneider APO Tele-Xenar on Provia 100F

Pricing

The 3 days seminar workshop is all inclusive. It includes full workshop tuition, 4 nights of accommodation (2 persons to a room), breakfast and lunch (in the field), and dinner each day. All of this forUSD $995.00.There are no other charges! Of course you will provide your own equipment and film. The cost of any alcohol consumed is, naturally, not included. 

A deposit of $495 will be required by mail within 10 days of your electronic registration, and the balance of $500 no later than September 1, 2000. Cancellations prior to September 1 will receive a refund of all except $50 of the $500 deposit. Between September 1 and October 1 a 50% refund of the full fee will apply. There will be no refunds after October 1. Ifwecancel for any reason, any monies paid by you will be fully refunded.

This is an opportunity to eat, sleep and breath landscape photography in one of the most beautiful Fall colour locations in the Southeast. There are only 9 spaces available!

The "Where & When" of the Workshop

Forecasting the time of fall color is tough. In 2000, while scouting the area for this year’s workshop, we were there in mid-October and found good colour at mid-altitudes.

Since we need to have this trip planned months in advance the only thing to do is choose 3 days and keep our fingers crossed. I’m reasonable confident though that during the week that we have chosen we’ll find good colour at several elevations. Of course whether or not it’s a good year for fall foliage is beyond anyone’s control or knowing.

Itinerary

A more comprehensive itinerary will be available prior to the Workshop. We’re going to closely monitor fall colour conditions beginning in September and try and adjust our plans according to last minute reports from the region.

Thursday, October 18, 2001

ArriveKnoxville, TN(timing of flights to be discussed) and then drive together toTownsend, TN, the town closest to the Northwest end of the Park. Depending  on our schedule we may do some shooting within the park before sunset. This will be followed by an orientation dinner in Townsend later that evening. 

Friday, October 19, 2001

Sunrise and morning atCades Cove. Afternoon atRoaring Fork. Sunset atClingmans Dome. Overnight inMaggie Valley.

Saturday, October 20, 2001

Shooting inGreat SmokyandThe Blue Ridge Parkway. Overnight inMaggie Valley.

Sunday, October 21, 2001

Shooting inGreat SmokyandThe Blue Ridge Parkway. Overnight inMaggie Valley.

Monday, October 22, 2001

Sunrise location then drive back toKnoxvillefor mid-day. Fly home.

You’ll note that each day is described as from "sunrise to sunset". In fact, that’s not completely true. We’ll usually be leaving the motel as much as an hour before first-light, which itself is 45 minutes before sunrise. 

At the other end of the day we’ll likely be shooting somewhere at sunset that’s located as much as an hour from our motels.These are long days!Breakfast is always eaten in the vehicles on the way to our dawn location, and lunch is picnic style by the side of the road. Mid-day is usually spent driving between the morning and late-afternoon locations.

At the risk of repeating myself, these arelongdays. You have to love doing photography and be willing to extend yourself a bit. But, it’ll definitely be worth it.

Video Filming

On this workshop we will joined byChris Sanderson, a friend and experienced filmmaker. He will be filming a video forThe Luminous Landscape Video Journal, a new publication which began publication in the Summer of 2001.

Chris will be videoing during the 3 days that we’re all together. Our intention is to put together a filmed presentation that will, in part, show people what a photography workshop is actually like.

Naturally, we will need your consent to be filmed. Once you have registered for the Workshop we will be sending you aRelease Form. This will signify your permission to be included in the filming that will be done during the workshop. We will, of course, be providing you with complimentary copies of whatever video or print material comes out of this, and you may choose to either be listed in the credits by name, or not, as you prefer.

Finally, I want to ensure you that the filming of the workshop will in no way interfere with the workshop and the time that we spend together. Chris is an experienced filmmaker and will be shooting in an unobtrusive documentary style. Of course, as an experienced cinematographer and director Chris will be available as another resource person to all Workshop members and he will also be driving one of the vehicles. If you have problem with being filmed during the workshop please ask me for more information, or consider taking an alternative workshop.

Liability Limitation

The Luminous Landscape Inc., our instructors, guides, and cooperating agents aim to provide every participant a safe, educational, and enjoyable experience. We act solely as agents for you regarding accommodations, special activities, and travel, by any means, and assume no liability for any act, error, omission, injury, loss, delay, mishap, or damage to persons or property arising from any cause during the course of the workshop or in transit thereto. We can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in the services to be provided. We reserve the right to change our arrangements should conditions necessitate, or to cancel any aspect of the workshop due to exceptional circumstances. In the event that we deem it necessary to cancel the workshopafterOctober 1, 2000, we will provide a full refund which the participant acknowledges as full and final settlement.

As there is always an element of risk in any adventure associated with the outdoors, participants must read this form carefully. This liability release will certify that the participant is physically fit and capable of participating in outdoor photography exercises in field locations, and is fully and completely aware of any associated risks created by field locations and weather. 

By Submitting the Workshop Registration Form I acknowledge that I have read the above information concerning responsibility and releaseThe Luminous Landscape Inc. and Michael Reichmann, their guides, instructors and any cooperating agent from any liability.The Luminous Landscape Inc. and Michael Reichmann will assume no liability for injury, illness, or loss of personal property or expenses thereof associated with workshop participation.

I furthermore understand and agree that though the timing of the workshop is intended to coincide with the peak of fall color in the region being visited, there is and can be no guarantee that extensive or evenanyfall color will be found in the area, and during the planned time of this trip.

Since there are just nine places available,Fall Color in Great Smokyis bound to sell out quickly.  To fill out a Registration Form simply clickhereor on the button below.  If you have any questions before registering, clickhereto send an e-mail inquiry.