Smoky Mountains Autumn
Overview
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a landscape photographer’s dream, and one of the best fall color location in the eastern United States. Maples, yellow birch, beech, and dogwood trees show their color, 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 avoids the weekend crowds.
Your instructor is Visionary Wild’s own Justin Black. Raised nearby in Washington, DC, and Virginia, he has returned again and again to Appalachia over the years to draw inspiration from its atmospheric interplay of light, mist, and elegant graphics. Justin enjoys nothing more than sharing his insights, 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, Justin will present projected lectures and lead constructive critique sessions in our socially distanced classroom.
This workshop will benefit photographers of all skill levels.
Itinerary
The workshop will begin with a 2:00pm introductory orientation session at Highland Manor Inn, on Monday, October 12th, 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, Justin 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. Two constructive critique sessions will provide essential feedback on images created by participants in the workshop.
Friday morning, October 16th, will be the final field session, followed by critique until we adjourn at 3:00 pm.
Please review the summary of COVID-19 protocols in the Expectations section on this page. Additional details will be provided to registered participants.
Instructors
Justin Black
- JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer (www.justinblackphoto.com), writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow ...
Gallery
Pricing
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. We will not pair individuals who are not traveling together in the same room, so 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.
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
The workshop includes hands-on instruction in the field, classroom lectures, critiques, lodging for four nights (checking in on October 12, checking out on October 16) unless the no lodging rate was selected, all meals and snacks from dinner on October 12 to lunch on October 16, all non-alcoholic beverages, and wine or beer with dinner. As always, your instructor will be present to teach and assist students throughout the workshop.
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION SCHEDULE
- 100% due at time of booking to register
- Cancellations before September 11, 2020 will receive a full refund less a 5% administrative fee
- Cancellations between September 12 and September 27, 2020 will receive a 50% refund
- No refund for cancellations on or after September 28, 2020
All other terms and conditions apply. Please review our terms and conditions even if you have participated in previous Visionary Wild trips so that you are aware of current policies.
Highlights
- Spectacular photographic potential of autumn 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
Accommodations
Highland Manor Inn in Townsend, Tennessee is a very comfortable, quiet, and welcoming accommodation just outside the park. It provides an excellent and large classroom space, easy access to excellent photographic locations, and is near several restaurants where group meals will be hosted.
Travel
Expectations
COVID-19
We will be providing more detailed information about COVID-19 protocols during this workshop to registered participants, but in general all participants will be required to:
- …use personal vehicles to travel to the workshop location, and to drive to field locations during the workshop. Participants traveling to the workshop together may share a common vehicle.
- …respond to a brief health questionnaire within 48 hours prior to the workshop.
- …wear masks at all times when with the group in an indoor setting, except when eating, and when within ten feet of other participants or other people we encounter during the workshop while outdoors.
- …maintain at least a six foot distance from other people throughout the workshop.
- …have their body temperature measured daily.
- …bring hand sanitizer and have it available at all times.
- …notify the instructor and remove themselves from the workshop group if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, a body temperature above 100.4ºF, or if they learn that they or a member of their household has been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case up to 14 days prior to the workshop. Workshop fees will not be refundable if a participant has to exit the workshop for any reason.
We ask that all participants follow the CDC guidelines on protecting yourself and others as well as any state or local guidance in advance of the workshop. If a participant or members of his or her household are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has experienced symptoms of or been diagnosed with COVID-19, she or he will be asked not to attend the workshop.
