There are many reasons to choose a photography tour or workshop rather than going into new territory on your own. Not only is the tour more convenient – all the advance preparation has been done for you with a promise to get you to the right place at the right time – but also may incorporate instruction on unfamiliar subjects, camaraderie with fellow photographers, and safety for night photography or just to not be alone on an unfamiliar trail. Photo tours can get you to places not easily accessed on your own – it may require 4-wheel drive vehicles, camping in remote areas, or special use permits. This series of blog posts are written from the PARTICIPANT point of view rather than from a tour operator and hope to offer some insight to the world of photography tours and workshops.
Dream Destinations:
After deciding WHAT you prefer, tour or workshop, the next question to ask yourself is WHERE do you want to go and WHEN do you want to go? The world awaits you, and, let’s face it, these days you can find tours to almost anywhere. Do you want to visit iconic landscape locations such as our own National Parks, go overseas for Irish villages or street photography in India, or shoot macro images at famous gardens? These are the questions you must ask yourself before you start to look for a tour or workshop that will suit your dream destination. Maybe you have several ideas – start or revisit that bucket list! I have been collecting bucket list ideas for years. Every time I see a photo that compels me I research the location and add it to my bucket list with a link back to the photo. Granted, my bucket list is so long I could never visit all those places in my lifetime, but it gives me options to combine with another trip nearby, and I am always updating my priorities. Sometimes I will arrive a couple days in advance of a tour or workshop, or stay longer afterwards, so that I can make a side trip to a location on that list that is just a couple hours away.
Time of year makes a difference – near the summer solstice the time to meet to get to a sunrise may come as early as 3:45AM and the end of a sunset shoot may be as late as 11PM, depending on the distance from where you are staying to the shooting location as well as the actual time of sunrise/sunset. That usually means that you get only a few hours sleep at night and a few hours during the day. A tour is better suited for this situation. Closer to the equinox you may be able to get decent night’s sleep so a workshop would be beneficial for the time between shoots.
Seasonal differences and climate must also be considered. If you want brilliant fall foliage, research peak color for an area and choose tours or workshops scheduled during that time. If you want to avoid the heat in Death Valley, and most people do…., then visit Death Valley November to March. Check out the expected weather so you’re prepared with the right clothing. Nothing worse than a sunrise at 5AM on top of a mountain in 38 degree (F) weather and all you brought was shorts and tees. I have found that a little of each is best – one warm jacket, one raincoat, long sleeve and short sleeve shirts, long and short pants, and count on layers that can be piled on in the morning and peeled off as the day warms up. Comfortable hiking boots are always recommended.
Next time we will explore the Costs associated with a tour or workshop. As always – questions and comments welcome!
Quick link to Part 1.
