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YOSEMITE

Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Mono & Mirror Lakes and more

UTAH

ARIZONA

GRAND TETON

YOSEMITE

BANFF

Explore with us one of the most amazing National Parks in North America.

Welcome to the home of the Granite Giants; where water flows freely and the flowers grow wild. Yosemite is a place incomparable to others, with meadows decorating the valley, hundreds of lakes, waterfalls as tall a 200 story building and tree’s that are the size of rockets. Even some European countries could fit inside this park, that’s just how big this place really is. With over 800 miles of trails; we have tailor-made an experience to best showcase Yosemite to the photographic eye. But no matter what path you take or which hike you embark on, there is aways an exquisite view to be captured.

Photographing Yosemite is an art of controlling light and capturing it in all its glory. Get your camera and tripod ready because you will come back with some amazing photos. You will be guided to premier locations as we chase the light, seek out natural beauty, and go where the weather goes.

This adventure is designed not only to guide you to the most photogenic locations carefully planned for the best light but to aid you in mentally visualizing a scene before capturing the decisive moment. Our aim is to raise your awareness and spark your creativity so that you not only go home with images to be proud of but use your new found skills to improve and expand your photographic technique in general. Apart from the technical aspect of learning your camera settings and capabilities, you will learn how to turn an ordinary image into an extraordinary image by using your own creativity.

In addition, you will become knowledgeable on how to survey the landscape, and utilize and approach your environment. Our time together will include individual and group discussions, inspiring ideas, and great fun. We cannot think of a better location to express your creativity than the stunning beauty of Yosemite!

A quote from John Muir ~

“Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society. Nowhere will you find more company of a soothing peace-be-still kind. Your animal fellow beings, so seldom regarded in civilization, and every rock-brow and mountain, stream, and lake, and every plant soon come to be regarded as brothers; even one learns to like the storms and clouds and tireless winds. This one noble park is big enough and rich enough for a whole life of study and aesthetic enjoyment. It is good for everybody, no matter how benumbed with care, encrusted with a mail of business habits like a tree with bark. None can escape its charms. Its natural beauty cleans and warms like a fire, and you will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree.”

Photographing Yosemite is an art of controlling light and capturing it in all its glory. Get your camera and tripod ready because you will come back with some amazing photos. You will be guided to premier locations as we chase the light, seek out natural beauty, and go where the weather goes.

This adventure is designed not only to guide you to the most photogenic locations carefully planned for the best light but to aid you in mentally visualizing a scene before capturing the decisive moment. Our aim is to raise your awareness and spark your creativity so that you not only go home with images to be proud of but use your new found skills to improve and expand your photographic technique in general. Apart from the technical aspect of learning your camera settings and capabilities, you will learn how to turn an ordinary image into an extraordinary image by using your own creativity.

In addition, you will become knowledgeable on how to survey the landscape, and utilize and approach your environment. Our time together will include individual and group discussions, inspiring ideas, and great fun. We cannot think of a better location to express your creativity than the stunning beauty of Yosemite!

A quote from John Muir ~

“Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society. Nowhere will you find more company of a soothing peace-be-still kind. Your animal fellow beings, so seldom regarded in civilization, and every rock-brow and mountain, stream, and lake, and every plant soon come to be regarded as brothers; even one learns to like the storms and clouds and tireless winds. This one noble park is big enough and rich enough for a whole life of study and aesthetic enjoyment. It is good for everybody, no matter how benumbed with care, encrusted with a mail of business habits like a tree with bark. None can escape its charms. Its natural beauty cleans and warms like a fire, and you will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree.”

Group Size

4-8 Guests

Experience | Difficulty

  • Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
  • DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
  • Busy schedule
  • Travel by car or minibus
  • Considerable elevation changes and lots of walking and hiking
  • (non-photographers also welcome)

Weather | Sun

April – Temps 75/44 F  24/6 C  Sunrise 6:22 | Sunset 7:34 (19:34)

Includes

  • Travel, landscape, nature and wildlife photography
  • Focus on “long exposure” photography
  • Professional photographer | guide
  • Photo walks, hikes & discussions
  • Small group size (4-8 guests)
  • Accommodations
  • Breakfasts
  • 2 Dinners
  • National Park Permits
  • Local transportation

Travel Information

Arrival & Departure Airport: Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) – Transfer time to hotel 30 min
Alternate Airport: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Transfer time to hotel 3 hours 30 min
Our adventure begins at 9 AM on the first day and ends at noon on the last day.
Travel Visa: A visa may be required depending on your nationality. Go to Visa Map to find out.

Accommodations

Yosemite – Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, Ahwahnee Hotel or similar

Helpful Links

> 10 Trees Worth Traveling For – by Erika Suban

Yosemite Prices & Dates


Photographer Leader

Photographer Leader

Jerry Adamo

October 26-31, 2024
May 1-6, 2025

*All prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Please select single occupancy for a private room. For your convenience, we offer optional early arrival and late departure accommodations so you can extend your stay before or after the trip. We typically stay in upscale boutique hotels in the 4 and 5-star category. Not all destinations offer these types of properties. We look for unique hotels that offer cultural, historic, and/or authentic features. Depending on the size of the group, smaller boutique hotels may have limited room inventory. In some countries or in remote locations, we may be limited to lodges or branded chain hotels. In Cuba, we stay in upscale family-owned Casas (bread & breakfasts). On all of our tours, breakfast is almost always included, but not guaranteed. Meal categories listed include (B) for breakfast, (L) for lunch, and (D) for dinner.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

YOSEMITE 6 DAYS

Day 1 | Fresno - Tunnel View - Sentinel Meadow & Cook's Meadow

We meet in the morning at 9 AM at our hotel in Fresno. After breakfast, we will have informal discussions on what our guests are trying to achieve in their photography, subject matters, styles and techniques. Included in the discussion we will discuss PWA’s “10 Guiding Principles of Photography” as well as our “THE ART OF SEEING” photographic technique.

From here we’ll set out on our journey north towards Yosemite. The drive has many opportunities to witness breathtaking scenery, so when inclined, we will take breaks for photography along the way.

We’ll enter the park via the South Entrance, as that is where we’ll come across a spectacular long tunnel that takes us through the mountains and once we are on the other side we will have a quick photo stop at Tunnel View where we will see a grand view of this immaculate park.

As we are nearing the end of the day, we will take a short drive/hike into Sentinel and Cooks Meadow where we will have the pleasure of photographing sunset. Cooks Meadow offers great views of the East and West of the park featuring Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. Trust us, there will not be a bad view in sight.

In the evening we will celebrate with our “Welcome Dinner” in Yosemite Park. (D)

Day 2 | Giant Sequoias - Bridalveil Falls - Glacier Point

After breakfast, our first stop of the day is at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It’s by far the biggest sequoia grove in Yosemite, home to hundreds of the handsome beasts, but the 1,800-year-old Grizzly Giant sequoia is worth the trip all by itself. Our hike is a gentle stroll through the forest taking a variation of photographs along the way, capturing these Giants in their best form. A good idea for this location is to bring a wide angle lens, something below 24mm. After we get back from the shuttle ride to Yosemite valley we will head back to our hotel for lunch.

Once lunch is finished, we will have a very short hike to the base of Bridalveil Falls to capture long exposures/quick bursts of the water falling upon the rocks. This is a good spot to create dramatic black and white photos as the rocks add a strong edge to the bright, white waterfall.

When we get back from the hike there will be some downtime to explore the valley on your own. We will meet up again around 5:45 pm to head up into the mountains towards Glacier Point. This spot is known for its spectacular view of Half Dome and is one of Yosemite’s famous Granite Peaks. There are numerous spots at Glacier Point so we will make time before sunset to chose our location to capture the most enchanting spot during Sunset’s glory. Dinner will be back at the hotel. (B)

Day 3 | Lower Yosemite Falls - Tenaya Lake - Mono Lake

Breakfast will be at our hotel and afterwards we will look through our images and discuss the trip to date. We will also have a Q & A about editing techniques. Today is all about photographing water, from waterfalls to lakes. We start our days journey by taking a short stroll over to Lower Yosemite Falls; the waterfall is an astonishing 2,425 foot tall and if there was a building built in the same size it would mass to 200 stories high. What’s amazing about this location is that the water pressure hitting the bottom of the falls will blow your hat right off your head. Once again bring a wide-angle lens option so that you are able to create dramatic landscapes with a full view. We will take a variation of photographs from close up quick shutter exposures to wide long exposures.

Once we have had our fun and exhausted all possibilities for photo ops, we’ll head back to the hotel dining area for a quick snack and pack bag lunches with us to take along on our next adventure. We head east towards Mono Lake but have a first photographic stop at Tenaya Lake. This lake is extremely picturesque and from the west side of the lake the view looks back upon those Granite monsters we just left. This spot will be the prime place to capture a postcard picture moment. Once we are done shooting we will have lunch while enjoying the gorgeous view from Tenaya Lake.

For the Finale of the day we will arrive at Mono Lake. This lake is home to many Tufa Towers and the only thing you can really compare it to would be walking through a cave with stalactites and stalagmites, with the only exception being that there is no cave blocking the gorgeous sunsets. Having the lake reflect the colors is sure to you leave you breathless. This will be our sunset photo location and an image that no one will forget. (B)

Day 4 | Vernal Fall - Wawona Swinging Bridge - Mirror Lake

What Yosemite has done brilliantly is create paths and walkways throughout the park; making sure that all parties interested can see the beauty within its walls. That’s why today we will focus on Yosemite’s footbridges and walkways. Our first spot is at Vernal Falls Footbridge. Only a mile from the trailhead we arrive at the bridge, crossing the North to the South bank of the Merced River. This locations offers spectacular views both down and upstream the river. The view upstream overlooks Vernal Fall. We will work this spot from select angles, capturing the best placement of the falls in our photographs.

After all photos have been captured, we move onto our next bridge; The Wawona Swinging Bridge. If you like Indiana Jones then you will love this bridge as it actually swings. During this time of year, the Wildflowers will be blooming and will make for amazing foregrounds in our images. This part of the Merced River is also used as a swimming hole so if you’re in the mood, bring your swimsuit along. We will also take a walk through the woods around this area to feel a bit of serenity. At this point of the day, we will head back into the valley and grab some lunch to refuel.

For our final sunset of the adventure we have left it blank so that we can all decide on which area we would like to finish the trip. The options will be, Glacier Point, Lower Yosemite Falls or Cook’s Meadow. Either one of these spots will make for stunning photographs. The reason we’ve left it undecided is because not every sunset is a winner, but if we experience a dull sunset on one of our shoots then we have the option to head back there for round two. Once we are all finished for the day we will head back to our hotel for our final night together. As we are winding down the trip, this will be the opportunity to assess our photographs and be educated on the best retouching techniques for each setting. (B)

Day 5 | Panorama Trail (Optional)

Today we begin our most difficult hike of the trip; the Four-Mile Trail. There may be no better way to see what’s so fabulous about Yosemite Valley than to hike the Four-Mile Trail. Starting near the swinging bridge and finishing near the south valley rim of Glacier Point, this hike offers extraordinary views at every turn. We will see all the amazing landmarks that Yosemite Valley has to offer, but from views that have not been shown on a postcard. You have to take this hike to be able to view its glory.

In the beginning, we will pass through giant trees and a field full of wildflowers. From here we enter the winding trail of the hike which will yield a gorgeous view at every turn. What’s so wonderful about this hike is being able to view Yosemite Falls at each turn from a new unique angle. We will need to bring lunch as this will be a hike that will take up most of our day. Once we arrive at the top next to Glacier point we head down the mountain, but on a separate trail that offers different views; The Panorama Trail.

There are memorable views almost everywhere along this hike. On this side, we will gaze such beauties as Nevada falls from above and Illilouette Falls; moving around them as we go getting variations of photographs. These two hikes will take up our entire day, so be prepared to have snacks, sunblock and plenty of water to bring along.

After such a long hike we will bask in our accomplishments back at our hotel as well enjoy our wonderful “Farewell Dinner”. (B) (D)

Note: This hike is optional. Those who are not comfortable with this hike will be guided to alternate locations throughout the day. Everyone will return to the hotel in the afternoon in time for our dinner.

Day 6 | Yosemite - Farewell

On our final morning, we will have a group discussion, review our past week’s photos, trade contact information and say goodbye. We urge you to extend your stay at Yosemite National Park or elsewhere in California and practice all the photography skills you learned on this Photo Workshop Adventure. (B)

(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner, (E) Excursion

 

May all who come as guests... leave as friends®

 

OPTIONS AND BENEFITS

Pricing

All prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Please select single occupancy for a private room. For your convenience, we offer optional early arrival and late departure accommodations so you can extend your stay before or after the trip. We typically stay in boutique hotels in the 4-star category. Not all destinations offer these types of properties. We look for unique hotels which offer cultural, historic and/or authentic features. Depending on the size of the group, smaller boutique hotels may have limited room inventory. In some countries or in remote locations, we may be limited to lodges or branded chain hotels. Breakfast is included only if included in our room rates.

Private Guided Adventures

We offer amazing private guided photo adventures, cultural tours and vacations for individuals, couples, families and groups. We can customize any of our published adventures, as well as others, to meet your individual needs, schedule, budget and interests. This may include the finest 5-star accommodations, business-class travel, and private guides and fixers who are able to make the impossible possible. If you are not interested in a photo-centric vacation, but you love our approach to private travel, we will be happy to design and deliver an amazing adventure focused on travel, culture and cuisine. Click here to request a quote. Feel free to call us at 1-888-834-0288 or contact us for more information.

Travel Insurance

We offer travel insurance through the internationally recognized Travelex Travel Insurance Company, as well as evacuation and medical transportation insurance through MedJet, one of the best in the industry.

The cost for travel insurance can be as low as 4% of the total trip cost, depending upon age and other factors. Knowing you have trip cancellation coverage can make a big difference should you have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. Travelex Insurance Services is a BBB Accredited business with an A+ rating. Click here to learn more about why you should consider travel insurance.

Rewards Program

Start earning points today and SAVE $200 - $900 off future trips!
Simply register for one of our amazing photo adventures and begin earning points today!

How The Program Works
For every adventure reservation you make with Photo Workshop Adventures, you earn valuable points which you can redeem on your next trip. This is a great way to save up to 8% off future trips. Our Rewards Program is designed with three tiers: Orange, Gold and VIP Members. Points may be applied towards balance payments on your next trip, or you may choose to accumulate points for a free trip in the future.

ORANGE REWARDS
All guests begin with our Orange Rewards Program (Level 1), which earns 4 points for every dollar you spend. You begin earning points immediately after your first trip. A $5,900 spend earns 23,600 points with a value of $236 USD.

GOLD REWARDS
With our Gold Rewards Program (Level 2), you earn 6 points for every dollar you spend. Orange Members who reach 120,000 accumulated lifetime* points (approx. 4-6 trips), automatically move up to Gold Rewards. A $5,900 spend earns 35,400 points with a value of $354 USD.

Additional Gold Benefits:

  • Earn up to double points during promotional events
  • Advance notifications for upcoming adventures and special offers

VIP REWARDS
With our VIP Rewards Program (Level 3), you earn 8 points for every dollar you spend. Gold Members who reach 350,000 accumulated lifetime* points (approx. 8-12 trips) move up to VIP Rewards. A $5,900 spend earns 47,200 points with a value of $472 USD, (8+/-% discount).

Additional VIP Benefits:

  • Earn up to double points during promotional events
  • Advance notifications for upcoming adventures and special offers
  • Ability to Gift or Transfer points to others
  • Receive complimentary airport transfers at the destination location*

Redeeming Your Points
Redeeming your points couldn’t be easier. You can always log in to your account to check your points balance. When you are ready to book your next trip, register and pay your deposit. When you go to pay your balance you will be given the option to apply your points and receive a discount.

THINK ORANGE Magazine

Subscribe to our Think Orange Magazine and eNews. THINK ORANGE is a wonderful mix of stories and tips related to travel, photography, adventure, culture, art, technology, cuisine, lifestyle, people and more. Our objective is to immerse you in a world you may only fantasize about. Raise your awareness and inspire your creativity. Perhaps even help make you a better photographer. We deliver similar experiential experiences that our guests enjoy on our photo adventures. Like all of our adventures, our blog is “photo-centric”, while also allowing you to experience all the nuances and cultural aspects of travel and adventure. Welcome to our world. We hope you enjoy. Our eNews is a great way to receive information about upcoming photo adventures, exciting new destinations, photography tips, special offers and more. Subscribe today!

Gift Cards

Give someone you know a Gift Card, good toward any of our Photo  Adventures, Photo Tours, Private Guided Tours, Online Courses, Prints or Merchandize. Our beautifully personalized eGift Cards and Certificates are delivered to you electronically. They are fully transferable and have a 2 year expiration date. They are available in any amount from $100 to $5000. It makes a great gift for anyone who loves photography, travel or adventure. Order now, or email for more information.

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