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October 14-18‚ 2024 - 2 Spots Available

Workshop Dates

$2,495
$2,495
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  • Experience Level

    Beginner to Advanced 

    This workshop is designed for photographers of all skill levels. You'll receive personalized guidance to build on your strengths and overcome weaknesses. Expect to be challenged and grow, regardless of your starting point.

  • Fitness Level

    Easy to Moderate

    Short hikes to down to the ocean with some elevation gain. Very uneven terrain navigating the rocky shores and potential to get wet.

    More Info 

  • Creative Focus

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    Our schedule mixes coastal field sessions at sunrise/sunset (exploring grand scenes, abstracts, and water motion) with classroom instruction. Learn techniques like Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), long exposures, focus stacking, and processing coastal images using the Rethink Lightroom methodology.

  • Group Size

    Limited to 8 Guests

    We keep our group sizes small to ensure the individual attention you deserve.

  • Location

    Yachats, Oregon

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    Portland, Oregon (PDX)

    Check Flights 

Description

The Oregon Coast offers a dynamic interplay of land and sea, presenting a rich environment for photographic exploration. From towering sea stacks and rugged cliffs to intimate tide pools and textured sands, this coastline provides endless inspiration for creating compelling images.

This workshop is designed to help you move beyond simply documenting the scenery and towards interpreting the coastal landscape in your own unique way. We'll guide you in developing your eye for both grand scenic compositions and the smaller, more intimate details often found amidst the rocks, water, and shifting light. We encourage a thoughtful approach – slowing down to observe the rhythm of the tides, the changing atmosphere, and finding compositions that resonate personally.

With guidance from both David and Jennifer, you'll benefit from two distinct perspectives on crafting images in this environment. Field sessions will focus on developing your seeing and compositional skills. We'll also dedicate significant time to classroom sessions, including image reviews and instruction on David's 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology. This novel Lightroom-based system emphasizes natural results through nuanced midtone contrast and powerful localized adjustments, providing a toolkit to help you effectively translate your vision into finished images.

Join us if you're eager to deepen your connection with the coastal landscape, refine your creative process, and develop your personal photographic voice along the beautiful Oregon Coast.

Meet Your Creative Guides

  • David Kingham

    David is an accomplished professional photographer renowned for his evocative nature imagery. His work showcases intimate landscapes, stunning nightscapes, and masterful black-and-white photography. As the founder of Exploring Exposure, David is dedicated to mentoring aspiring photographers, helping them refine their skills and develop their artistic vision.

    View David's Portfolio 

  • Jennifer Renwick

    Jennifer is a professional photographer renowned for her captivating abstract and small scene imagery. With a keen eye for detail, she uncovers the hidden stories within grand landscapes. Jennifer is passionate about helping fellow photographers discover their unique style and guiding them to express their vision through meaningful projects.

    View Jennifer's Portfolio 

Visual Inspiration

Workshop Highlights & Creative Focus:

  • Engaging with the Dynamic Coast: The Oregon Coast is a place of constant change – crashing waves, shifting tides, dramatic weather, and evolving light. This workshop focuses on learning to see and interpret this dynamic energy. We'll explore rugged headlands, iconic sea stacks, expansive beaches, and potentially hidden coves, seeking not just scenic views, but compelling compositions that capture the coast's wild spirit and subtle beauty.
  • Beyond the Obvious: While we'll visit some classic locations, the emphasis is on developing your unique perspective. We'll guide you in finding both grand, wave-swept vistas and quieter, intimate scenes – the textures of weathered rocks, patterns in the sand, details in tide pools, or the soft light filtering through coastal fog. The goal is to move beyond standard shots and craft images that reflect your personal connection to the environment.
  • Mastering Coastal Light & Conditions: Coastal light can be magical but also challenging. We'll work with the soft light of dawn, the warm glow of sunset, and the diffused light often found under marine layers or fog. You'll learn techniques for managing dynamic range, using long exposures to convey motion or serenity in the water, and adapting your approach to changing weather and tides.
  • Creative Exploration & Techniques: We encourage experimentation! Try different lens perspectives, explore the potential for black and white interpretations focusing on textures and forms, or perhaps play with intentional camera movement (ICM) to capture the energy of the waves. David and Jennifer offer complementary perspectives to help you explore various creative avenues.
  • Developing Images with the Rethink Workflow: Back in the classroom, you'll learn how our "Rethink Landscape" processing methodology in Lightroom helps bring your coastal images to life. This system is excellent for handling the high dynamic range common in coastal scenes, enhancing textures in rocks and water, and developing color palettes that authentically represent the mood and atmosphere you experienced.
  • Personalized Guidance for Vision: With a small group and two leaders, you receive focused attention. We work alongside you in the field and during image reviews, helping you refine your compositions, strengthen your creative voice, and build a portfolio of images that truly represents your experience on the Oregon Coast.

Why the Oregon Coast?

The Oregon Coast offers an incredible convergence of powerful ocean forces and intricate shoreline details, providing fertile ground for photographic exploration. Its constantly changing conditions challenge you to adapt and see differently, fostering significant creative growth. From dramatic, wide-angle seascapes to abstract interpretations of water and rock, the coast provides endless opportunities to practice observation, refine composition, and develop your personal style. It's an ideal environment to learn how to translate dynamic natural energy into compelling, personal images.

Important Details:

  • Lodging: We have secured a block of rooms at the Yachats Inn in the coastal town of Yachats, with a special group rate of $105/night (plus tax). Yachats offers a comfortable base with excellent access to a variety of prime photographic locations along the central coast. Detailed booking information will be sent after registration.
  • Transportation: Participants are responsible for their own transportation to/from Yachats and during the workshop. A standard passenger vehicle is sufficient for reaching all planned locations. Carpooling is encouraged for field outings.

Itinerary

Preparation: Upon registration, a comprehensive itinerary will be sent to you, ensuring all the details are at your fingertips to help you plan your travel arrangements seamlessly.

Day 1: Arrival, Orientation & Coastal Vision

  • 4:00 PM: Meet at the designated hotel in Yachats for introductions and our workshop orientation. We'll discuss the week's schedule and our approach to photographing the dynamic central Oregon Coast environment.
  • Evening Session: Interpreting the Coast. We'll start with a presentation focused on developing your vision for coastal landscapes. We'll explore compositional strategies suited to this rugged shoreline, discussing how to work with tides, changing weather, atmospheric conditions (like fog and mist), dramatic headlands, iconic sea stacks, intimate tide pools, and the powerful interplay of light, water, and land to create evocative images.
  • Group Dinner: Following the session, we'll enjoy dinner together at a local Yachats restaurant, offering a chance for more informal conversation and getting to know the group.

Days 2-4: Field Exploration, Image Development & Refining Your Coastal Craft

  • Early Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise to mid-morning): We’ll head out early each day to explore the coastline during the soft morning light. Locations will vary based on tides and weather, potentially including rocky shores near Yachats, dramatic viewpoints around Cape Perpetua, beaches featuring impressive sea stacks like those at Seal Rock, sandy stretches, and coastal forests meeting the sea. The emphasis is on slowing down, observing the details – from grand vistas incorporating sea stacks and headlands to intimate studies of churning water, tide pool life, or weathered rock formations – and guiding you to find and craft your own unique compositions. We encourage experimenting with different perspectives and techniques like long exposures to capture the movement of water.
  • Brunch & Break: Return to Yachats for a meal and personal time to relax and recharge.
  • Afternoon Classroom Session (~1:00 PM - 3:30 PM): Image Review & Rethink Landscape Processing. We’ll gather first for constructive group image reviews. Sharing and discussing our work is key to growth. Afterward, we'll dive into processing your coastal images using our Rethink Landscape methodology in Lightroom Classic. We'll demonstrate techniques specifically relevant to coastal scenes: managing high dynamic range, enhancing atmosphere and mood (especially in fog or dramatic light), controlling the often cool color palette, bringing out textures in rocks and water, and using targeted adjustments with masks for precise control. Guided practice time allows you to apply these concepts to your images with our support.
  • Late Afternoon Field Session (~3:30 PM onwards): As the light changes, we’ll head back out to a different coastal location, perhaps revisiting areas with sea stacks in different light or focusing on wave action at high tide spots like Thor's Well or Spouting Horn (conditions permitting). We'll work through sunset, applying concepts from the day and seeking opportunities presented by the evening light, tides, and coastal drama. The goal is to translate your personal experience of the coast into compelling images.
  • Return & Dinner Break: Arrive back in Yachats after sunset. Dinner is on your own or in informal groups.
  • Evening Classroom Session (~7:30/8:00 PM - 9:00/9:30 PM): After dinner, we’ll reconvene. This session provides time for further image review, addressing specific creative or technical questions, delving deeper into processing challenges, or discussing location possibilities for the next day based on forecasts and tides.

Day 5: Final Field Session & Workshop Conclusion

  • Early Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise to ~10:00 AM): Our final morning session offers a chance to practice and integrate the approaches we've focused on throughout the week, refining your ability to see and create meaningful coastal images along this unique stretch of shoreline, whether focusing on grand landscapes or smaller details.
  • Break: Return to Yachats around 10:00 AM. This time is for checking out of your room and grabbing a quick bite to eat on your own.
  • Midday Session (~11:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Final Image Review & Discussion. We'll gather for our concluding group critique and discussion. We'll review selected images, offer final feedback, and discuss ways to continue developing your creative voice and photographic practice after the workshop.
  • ~1:00 PM: Workshop concludes. You'll leave with new skills for interpreting and photographing the coast, practical experience with the Rethink Landscape processing system, and fresh inspiration from the wild beauty of the central Oregon shoreline.

What's Included:

  • Expert Instruction & Guidance: Field guidance and classroom instruction focused on coastal scenes from David Kingham & Jennifer Renwick (4:1 ratio).
  • Small Group Environment: Max 8 participants for personalized attention.
  • Image Development & Critique: Classroom sessions on "Rethink Landscape" processing (coastal focus) and group critiques.
  • Collaborative Workshop Zine: A curated 8x8 keepsake featuring participant images, delivered post-workshop.

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: To/from workshop base and during the workshop. Carpooling encouraged for daily field locations.
  • Lodging: (Group rate block typically available).
  • Meals: All meals are the responsibility of the participant.
  • Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended.
  • Personal Items: Camera gear, variable coastal weather clothing (layers, rain gear!), sturdy footwear, reusable water bottle, etc.

Your Commemorative Workshop Zine

As a special part of your Exploring Exposure workshop, we create a unique, tangible keepsake: a custom-designed 8x8 Zine featuring images from you and your fellow participants. It’s a beautiful way to remember the shared adventure and the landscapes explored.

More than that, the process encourages you to mindfully review your work, finalize your processing, and select your most meaningful images for inclusion. About a month after the workshop, you’ll share your selections with us. We then handle the curation, layout, and printing, sending you this beautiful collective memory to hold onto. It’s one more way we support your creative journey, even after the workshop ends.

Our Teaching Philosophy

At our workshops, we are dedicated to helping you discover and develop your unique creative style through personalized training tailored to your skill level and photographic interests. Our goal is to provide you with a rigorous learning experience, both in the field and the classroom, to elevate your photography to new heights.

Your growth and satisfaction are our top priorities. We put your interests first, focusing solely on your learning experience. Throughout the workshop, we will take photographs alongside you to demonstrate how we approach a scene, share techniques, and foster a sense of camaraderie within the group. However, we will never leave you to pursue our own photographic endeavors. Our attention will always remain on you and your progress.

We regularly check in with each participant to provide helpful feedback and advice on your work, without being overbearing. Our biggest goal is to see you succeed and learn, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.

We recognize that each participant joins our workshops at different stages of their photographic development. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced photographer, we are here to guide and assist you. We firmly believe that there is always room for growth and improvement in photography, and we are committed to helping you refine your skills and find your unique creative vision.

Above all, we strive to create a fun, engaging, and rewarding experience for you. Our small group sizes allow us to build strong connections with our clients, fostering a sense of community and belonging. We are driven by our love for photography and find immense joy in witnessing our participants' growth and artistic development.

Join us on this exciting journey of photographic discovery, and let us help you unlock your full creative potential.

Safety First

Your safety is our utmost priority, especially when exploring remote locations. As certified Wilderness First Responders, David and Jennifer are prepared to handle any situation, big or small. We also carry satellite communication devices to ensure we can request rescue assistance if needed in areas without cellular coverage.

Responsible

As proud members of Nature First Photography, we are committed to responsible nature photography practices. We abide by and promote the seven principles of this movement to our clients, encouraging them to join us in preserving the natural world we capture through our lenses.

Join Nature First

Legal Compliance

At Exploring Exposure, we operate with the highest level of integrity. We obtain all necessary permits, carry comprehensive liability insurance, and acquire any required certifications to ensure our workshops are conducted legally and ethically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are spouses/partners welcome?

Our workshops are designed as immersive group learning experiences. Participation in all activities, including field excursions and instructional sessions, requires full registration and payment of the workshop fee. Therefore, spouses or partners who wish to join must register as participants.

Will I have cell service during the workshop?

In many remote areas we visit, cell service and Wi-Fi can be extremely limited or non-existent during field excursions. Expect potential periods of being offline. Service is typically available at our accommodation, but cannot be guaranteed everywhere. We carry a satellite communication device for emergency use.

Will weather cancel the workshop?

Often, dramatic weather provides the best photographic opportunities! We prioritize participant safety, but the workshop will proceed in most weather conditions. Locations or schedules might be adjusted if conditions pose a significant safety risk (e.g., hazardous roads, extreme events). We encourage embracing the elements! Please note that no refunds or rescheduling are offered based on weather circumstances.

Do the instructors photograph during workshops?

Our commitment is first and foremost to your learning and creative exploration. While you might see us create some images during our time in the field, it's always with an educational purpose in mind. We might photograph to:

  • Walk you through how we evaluate and compose a scene, sharing the excitement and challenges together.
  • Demonstrate a specific technique (like focus stacking, long exposure, or ICM).
  • Make images during our field sessions that reflect the specific locations and conditions you're experiencing. This provides highly relevant examples for demonstrating the Rethink processing workflow, directly applicable to the images you're creating on the trip.

Engaging in the creative process alongside you can be instructive and helps foster a shared experience and connection within the group. However, this never takes precedence over providing personalized attention and ensuring you have the support you need to develop your vision. Our focus remains squarely on you.

Detailed Fitness Requirements & Terrain

Physical Activity Level & Terrain: Moderate

This workshop focuses on exploring the dynamic coastline of Oregon, which involves short walks and navigating variable beach terrain.

  • Daily Hiking: Expect short hikes totaling approximately 2-3 miles per day, broken into segments as we move between different coastal locations.
  • Beach Access: Some trails leading down to the beaches involve short but steep sections. While these require careful footing on the way down and exertion on the way up, they are generally manageable if you take your time. Most participants navigate these without issue.
  • Beach Terrain: Once on the beaches, be prepared for very uneven footing, especially on rocky stretches, around tide pools, or on driftwood. Walking on soft sand can also be tiring. Good balance and sturdy footing are essential for navigating these surfaces safely while carrying your camera gear.
  • Fitness Expectation: Participants should be comfortable walking up to 3 miles total per day, including negotiating short, steep trails and, crucially, maintaining balance on very uneven and potentially slippery rocky beaches. You need to be steady on your feet on unstable surfaces.

How to Get There

  • We recommend flying to Portland (PDX), from there it is a 3 hour drive to Yachats.
  • We recommend using Google Flights to find the best option for where you are coming from.

Cancellation Policy

We put a lot of care into planning intimate, high-quality workshop experiences. Because our group sizes are small and significant logistical planning begins well in advance, we must adhere to a firm cancellation policy. We strongly encourage you to purchase trip insurance to protect your investment should unforeseen circumstances arise.

  • Initial Payment: An initial payment is required to secure your spot in the workshop.
  • Cancellation More Than 90 Days Out: If you need to cancel your registration more than 90 days before the workshop start date, we will refund your initial payment, minus a $100 administration fee.
  • Cancellation Between 60 and 90 Days Out: If you cancel fewer than 90 days but more than 60 days before the workshop start date, your initial payment becomes non-refundable. However, should we successfully fill your spot from a waiting list or new registration, we will refund your initial payment, minus a 5% payment processing fee.
  • Automatic Final Balance Payment: The remaining balance for the workshop will be automatically charged to the card used for the initial payment 60 days prior to the workshop start date. We will send a courtesy reminder email a few days before this charge occurs. It is your responsibility to ensure your payment information is up-to-date. If you need to use a different card for the final payment, please contact us well before the 60-day deadline.
  • Cancellation Within 60 Days (After Automatic Final Payment): If you cancel fewer than 60 days before the workshop start date, after the final balance has been automatically charged, all payments made (initial payment and final balance) are non-refundable. This is why we strongly recommend trip insurance. However, should we successfully fill your spot from a waiting list or new registration, we will refund your total payments, minus a 5% payment processing fee. We will make a reasonable effort to fill the spot but cannot guarantee it, especially close to the start date.
  • Process & Policy Understanding: All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email or US mail. Please understand that this policy applies regardless of the reason for cancellation, including medical emergencies, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances. There are no exceptions.
  • Trip Insurance is Highly Recommended: Again, to safeguard against unexpected events (personal/family emergencies, illness, travel delays, etc.) that might prevent you from attending, we strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation and interruption insurance. This can help cover your workshop fees and travel expenses should you need to cancel within the non-refundable period. These are just suggestions, and we have no affiliation with them, but you might consider providers like TravelGuard, World Nomads, or Allianz Travel. Please research plans carefully to ensure they meet your needs.
  • Workshop Cancellation by Exploring Exposure: We reserve the right to cancel a workshop if the minimum participant enrollment is not met or due to other unforeseen circumstances (e.g., leader illness, park closures). If we must cancel a workshop, you will be notified as soon as possible and offered the choice of transferring your registration and payments to a future workshop or receiving a full refund of all payments made directly to Exploring Exposure. Exploring Exposure is not liable for any other expenses you may have incurred, such as airfare, lodging, or rental cars. Trip insurance can often cover these associated costs in case of workshop cancellation by us, providing another reason for its purchase.

Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out, we are happy to help!

Customer Reviews

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Mark Rindflesh
Oregon 2024

My first trip with David was in August 2014. My most recent trip with David and, now, Jennifer, was last month, October 2024. In between, I took 6 other trips to places including Death Valley, Anza Boreggo, Yellowstone and Coyote Buttes. I continue to travel with them because, first, and most important, they have scouted the areas and know where to go to find really good photographic opportunities. Their taste is impeccable. They get you where you want to be.
Almost equally important is that both of them are just good people. They are easy to relate to and fun to be around. They are patient and helpful, always concerned with the group and not their own work. And, speaking of their work, if you look at what they’ve done over the past few years, you will see how highly regarded their work is.
I have no doubt that I’ll be traveling again with them.

User picture User picture

Hi Mark,

It's always a joy to see you, and your kind words truly made our day! Your continued support means the world to us, and it’s been an incredible journey sharing all these adventures together. We're thrilled to know that our scouting efforts and companionship have resonated with you, and we genuinely look forward to creating even more memorable experiences together in the future. Until the next adventure!

Warm regards,
David & Jennifer

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