Great Smoky Mountains
Overview
In April, Great Smoky Mountains National Park comes alive with the elegant rebirth of spring. Redbud and dogwood trees bloom, fragile new pale-green leaves emerge, and fog brings simplicity to the chaotic forest backdrop. This is one of the gems of the National Park System, and along with neighboring Blue Ridge Parkway it represents the highlight of Appalachia. Offering easy access to a wide range of opportunities from expansive landscapes to intimate designs, it’s one of our favorite outdoor photographic “classrooms”. Visiting midweek in spring means no crowds in this, the most visited park in the entire National Park System.
Your instructors, Tillman Crane and Rich Seiling, are both master photographers held in high regarded as teachers known for their generous, supportive, and natural teaching style.
Tillman’s motto is, “Great photographs can be made in ordinary places.” His distinctive platinum photographs combine 19th-century materials with a 21st century aesthetic. A former photojournalist turned artist, he loves Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachia in general for its combination of nature and fascinating human history. Tillman has been teaching the art and craft of photography for three decades, and his passion for the artform continues to evolve as he embraces modern digital technology while simultaneously furthering his mastery of the platinum/palladium print. The focus of his imagery remains on the unique qualities of light and sense of place in the ordinary, everyday locations where he lives and teaches.
Rich us known for landscape photographs that derive their power from their elegant composition and serenity. He loves Appalachia for its atmospheric interplay of light, mist, and elegant graphics. Rich enjoys nothing more than sharing his insights, knowledge, creativity, and craftsmanship with other passionate photographers in an effort to help them refine their own vision.
The workshop will be based at Highland Manor Inn, in Townsend, Tennessee, the quietest of the three “gateway” communities accessing the Park with excellent access to field locations. Along with eight field sessions, Tillman and Rich will present projected lectures and lead constructive critique sessions.
This workshop will benefit photographers of all skill levels.
COVID guidelines will be sent closer to the time of the workshop.
Visionary Wild, LLC operates this workshop under a permit issued by the National Park Service at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Itinerary
The workshop will begin with an introduction and orientation session at 1:00pm on Tuesday, April 20, followed by the first field session.
Each day, we’ll be out to photograph during the best morning and evening light, following the daily weather conditions to make the most of opportunities. During mid-day hours, Tillman and Rich will make presentations in the classroom at Highland Manor Inn on composition, light, exposure control, anticipating and working through changing conditions, and essentials of digital image development. A minimum of two constructive critique sessions will provide essential feedback on images created by participants in the workshop.
Saturday morning, April 24, will be the final field session, followed by critique until we adjourn at 3:00 pm.
Instructors
Tillman Crane
- Great photographs can be made in ordinary places. My photographs are always about the elusive qualities of light. Regardless of the subject – stone, tree, building, machine, or object – it ...
Rich Seiling
- Congratulations to Rich Seiling for the publication of his new book, Expert Photo Processing: Proven Steps for Professional Results (2023). Anyone seeking to improve ...
Gallery
Pricing
PRICING AND OCCUPANCY
All prices are per person.
This workshop is priced for single-occupancy, with pro-rated double occupancy rates for couples or participants who have made arrangements to share a room with another participant; and a no-lodging rate for participants who do not require accommodations. If you would like lodging included with your registration and you do not have arrangements to room with another participant, please select single occupancy registration. If you are interested or willing to share a room with another participant, please indicate that in the Notes section when you register. If we are able to pair you with another participant we will do so and reduce your final payment to the double occupancy rate, however, we cannot guarantee this. If we are not able to pair you with another participant, the single occupancy rate will apply.
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
The package includes the workshop itself, with eight field sessions, classroom presentations, and image review sessions; four nights’ lodging, checking in on April 20 and checking out on April 24; all meals from dinner on April 20 to lunch on April 24; and snacks and beverages, including wine and beer with dinner. Prorated fees are available for those who do not require lodging.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
- 50% deposit is required upon registration
- Remaining 50% balance due by January 20, 2021
Please note that full payment is due for registrations made after January 20, 2021.
Click here to review our payment, cancellation and refund policies; as well as terms and conditions for participation.
Highlights
- The quiet of the park’s off-season, featuring the spectacular photographic potential of spring conditions
- Eight field photography sessions, maximizing opportunities to work in magic hour light, and atmospheric morning fog
- Generous expert instruction, focused on advancing participants’ photography
- Composition and creativity
- Working the scene through changing conditions and light
- Understanding and using various qualities of light to best effect
- Exposure and tonal control
- Essentials of digital image development
- Two projected group critique sessions
- Easy fly-in access from Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport, about thirty minutes away
Accommodations
Highland Manor Inn in Townsend, Tennessee is a very comfortable, quiet, and welcoming accommodation just outside the park. It provides an excellent classroom space, easy access to excellent photographic locations, and is near several restaurants where group meals will be hosted.
Travel
