Upcoming Workshops
Welcome to the FirstLight Absaroka Ranch Workshop
“There’s a little cowboy in all of us, a little frontier”, author Louis L’Amour.
FirstLight is proud to partner with the Absaroka Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming for our “Cowboy Photography Workshop”, July 1 – July 7. This 6-night, 5 day digital photography workshop will focus on the American Cowboy.
Few images are more iconic of the American west than that of the Cowboy. This fading lifestyle remains in a few pockets across our country. Dubois, Wyoming is one of those locations and the Absaroka Ranch is one of the hidden gems of Dubois.
photo by Jeff Vanuga
Situated at 8000 feet and overlooking the immense Dunoir Valley, the Absaroka Ranch is nestled below the Absaroka Mountain range that runs along the southern border of Yellowstone National Park. Additionally, fly fishermen will enjoy the ranch’s location at the headwaters of Wyoming’s Wind River.
The workshop will be built around providing incredible opportunities for photographing cowboys. We have arranged a number of “photo opps” for our students, starting in the early morning “golden hour” as the horses are driven in from the hills, then groomed & tacked for the day, roping demonstrations, and portrait sessions where Jay and Jeff will work with you to capture the photographs of cowboys that you’ll want to hang on your wall. We’ll also go into Dubois on two occasions: on Wednesday to photograph the 4th of July parade (this is an event we’ve photographed previously during our FirstLight Dubois workshop, it’s incredible!) and then again on Friday afternoon when we’ll all go to the Dubois Rodeo, an incredibly rich photo event. Please note: there are only 14 positions available for this workshop, it will sell quickly!!
photo by Jay Dickman
Daily edit sessions will occur between Jay and Jeff, where they’ll go over your work and provide valuable feedback as to improving your photography. We’ll also provide a couple of technical seminars during the early afternoon, so you won’t miss the incredible afternoon light photographic opportunities. The workshop will close Saturday morning with the final presentation of the week’s work and each student will receive a DVD of that show.
Your FirstLight Absaroka Ranch Workshop instructors are Jay Dickman and Jeff Vanuga.
Jay and Becky Dickman founded FirstLight Workshopsin 2003, with their inaugural workshop in Auvillar, France. FirstLight has conducted workshops around the world in Scotland, Barcelona, the Aeolian Islands of Italy, as well as US based workshops in Dubois and the Chesapeake.
Jay Dickman
A National Geographic & Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, Jay has most recently been working with National Geographic Expeditions. In his role as a lecturer and the resident National Geographic Expert, he has been on 25 Expeditions in the past 4 years. Even though he’s been in this business for over 40 years and has worked in more than 80 countries, Jay still loves the craft of photography and the process of teaching.
Jeff Vanuga has taught a number of photographic workshops, including Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, FirstLight and theMoab Photography Symposium.
Jeff Vanuga
His work has been featured in many publications, including: National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Outside, Sierra Club, New York Times, Time and many others.His distinct style and comfort zone in photographing the American West makes him an ideal instructor for the Absaroka Workshop. You can see more of his work by clicking here to be taken to Jeff’s website.
Cost for the FirstLight Absaroka workshop is $2,900.00. The price includes 6 nights at the Absaroka Ranch, all gourmet meals including beer & wine, and workshop fees-which includes hands-on instruction by our two instructors. If interested in our transportation package, please read the *Transportation section below
Additionally, while there will be plenty to photograph during each of the days, there are also horseback rides offered for those interested or fly fishing with gear provided by the Absaroka. Please note: this is a small ranch specializing in the personal touch. There are only 4 ranch cabins, two bedrooms in each with two double beds in each bedroom. The bedrooms are separated by one bathroom in between the bedrooms. This will be a situation of sharing a room with another FirstLight student — we don’t charge extra for this great opportunity to meet a new friend!! Or bring along your best photo buddy!
photo by Jeff Vanuga
What’s included in your fee: 6 nights at the Absaroka Ranch, all meals, horseback rides, fly fishing ($11 license fee per day), workshop fees and a DVD of the final presentation.
What’s not included: Airfare (Jackson Hole, Wyoming is the closest airport), car rental, alcoholic beverages other than those included with meals, or other amenities/incidentals.
photo by Jay Dickman
*Transportation: This workshop will be held at the Absaroka Ranch. Car rental is not essential as we have included two transportation-provided trips into Dubois for events. (your own car allows further exploration of the area, if so desired) If you’re not renting a car, we can arrange transportation from the Jackson Hole airport to the ranch, a distance of 74 miles. The cost for this round- trip will be determined by how many request this package. Please call us to discuss.
Deposit: This workshop will fill quickly, we suggest registering soon. FirstLight alumni will receive a discount, as always. FirstLight requires a $400.00 deposit to hold your place in this unique workshop. Cancellations can be made up to and including May 2, 2012: $200.00 of that deposit is fully refundable at that time-FirstLight will retain $200.00 for administration fees. After May 2, 2012 all monies are due with no refunds. Please click here to be taken to our registration page.
FirstLight reserves the right to cancel the FirstLight Absaroka Ranch Workshop up to May 2, 2012 with all monies returned to you.
FirstLight strongly urges you to consider travel insurance for this, and all workshops.
- photo by Jay Dickman
Winter Light On The Chesapeake
Dawn on the Chesapeake: all photos by Dave Harp
FirstLight Workshops Presents:
Winter Light On The Chesapeake
January 19 – 22, 2012
or
January 26 – 29, 2012
In January, the sun draws a low arc over Chesapeake Bay, creating gloriously warm, horizontal light on the landscape. Wintering snow geese, bald eagles, tundra swans and other waterfowl move about the edges of land and water, a few at a time or by the thousands. At first light and again in the late afternoon, the snow geese take flight in huge numbers, often filling the sky so no space is visible between their wings as they gyrate into the air blizzard-like, repeating this dance over and over. The sounds alone are worth the trip, the light on the birds often extraordinary. This is an ideal time to be on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, to see and hear this lovely migration. Aside from the birds, oystermen in classic wooden workboats head out from Cambridge, Wingate and other landings in search of the illusive bivalve so beloved by the native population for literally thousands of years, and the iconic marsh scenes—water, grasses, trees and sky—glow in the winter light. If we’re lucky, we might add some snow, fog, frost, or ice to spice up the photographic menu.
Join FirstLight Workshops this upcoming January 19-22, or January 26-29, 2012 for a three-day, intensive photographic workshop in and around the beautiful Blackwater Refuge and the nearby Nanticoke River where we will explore this beautiful scenery. We’ll schedule plenty of time for early morning and late afternoon opportunities to photograph bald eagles, snow and Canada geese, hardy overwintering Great Blue Herons and the Chesapeake Bay winter landscape in the “golden hour” light. Evenings will be spent with FirstLight instructors Jay Dickman and Dave Harp going through your work, providing invaluable insight and suggestions on how to improve your photographic capabilities.
Plan on arriving in Cambridge, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Thursday afternoon in time for our opening night cocktail party, where you’ll meet (or reacquaint yourself) with Jay and Dave.
Friday we’ll be getting out early to enjoy the beautiful Chesapeake sunrise over the Blackwater Refuge. We’ll come back to the workshop headquarters to download and review the morning’s shoot, during which you’ll receive feedback on your work from our instructors. Afternoon will find us back out for shooting, coming back after dark.
Saturday will be a repeat of Friday, to allow plenty of photographic opportunities in this magical winter light.
The workshop concludes Sunday morning with a presentation of the student’s work.
After you get home, you’ll receive a DVD of the final presentation.
Cost for this unique workshop is $950.00. For our early birds (humans, that is) who wish to sign up by September 10, 2011, you’ll save $50.00. A $250.00 deposit is required to confirm your place (click here for our refund/cancellation policy). All monies are due by December 1, 2011. Our FirstLight alumni will receive a discount, as always. Click here to be taken to the registration page
Included in your workshop fee: Instruction by our two experts, opening night cocktail party, DVD of the final presentation.
What’s not included: Travel, car rental (you’ll need a car to explore the area) accommodations, food, amenities.
We have arranged a $102 per night room block at conveniently located Holiday Inn Express in Cambridge. Other choices in Cambridge include the Hyatt Chesapeake Bay Resort or local bed and breakfasts. Accommodations must be made by the participant.
FirstLight Workshops
P.O. Box 582
Littleton, CO 80160 – 0582