The Range of Light:
Information

Where does the workshop take place?

This workshop is based in Lee Vining, California, near Mono Lake – the gateway to the Yosemite high country. I won’t know the exact destinations for our field sessions until assessing the conditions immediately prior to the workshop, but we will be visiting the Yosemite high country near Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, and Tioga Pass, as well as going to Mono Lake, and alpine areas just east of the park. (This workshop does not go to Yosemite Valley.)

When does the workshop begin and end?

We’ll start with an introduction and instruction session at our classroom space in Lee Vining beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 10th. The workshop ends at sunset on Friday, July 14th. We plan to do a hike each afternoon to get to our sunset field locations, and also rise early for two or three sunrise field sessions. During the middle of the day we’ll spend some time working in a classroom setting, including doing portfolio reviews. Our aim is to get you to great photo locations throughout the workshop, so the exact schedule may change to take advantage of the weather and conditions.

Transportation

Participants must provide their own transportation to and from Lee Vining. The nearest major airport is in Reno, Nevada; driving time is about three hours. During the workshop we’ll carpool to our field locations; we’ll discuss these arrangements at the introductory session.

Equipment

Any digital SLR or advanced mirrorless camera will work for this class. You’ll want to have a selection of lenses from wide angle to short telephoto (or zooms that cover that range). A sturdy tripod is a must. We’ll send you a complete list of things to bring prior to the workshop.

Experience

This workshop is suitable for photographers of all levels except real beginners. You should have a good understanding of technical fundamentals like exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field.

Hiking

This workshop will include moderate to strenuous hiking (up to 6 miles per day) at high elevations. We hiked 26 total miles in a previuos edition of this workshop. Participants MUST be healthy and in good physical condition. The workshop is based in Lee Vining, outside the eastern entrance to Yosemite, but the field sessons will take place in the high country of Yosemite National Park and the adjacent Inyo National Forest, at elevations of 8,000 to 11,000 feet, and the thin air makes the hiking much more difficult. You should be prepared to hike on trails with elevation gains of 1000 feet within one mile that contain rocky and uneven hiking surfaces, while carrying your camera, lenses, tripod, water, food, jackets, etc. If you have any questions or concerns about your ability to participate in this workshop, please email Michael.

Lodging

We’ve reserved a block of rooms at Murphey’s Motel in Lee Vining. You can also choose one of the other motels in Lee Vining, and camping is available nearby. When you register for the workshop we’ll send you information about all the lodging options. Lodging is not included in the workshop tuition.

Meals

Restaurant choices are limited, but there are a couple of good ones in Lee Vining, and we’ll send you some suggestions when you register for the workshop. On most days you won’t need to pack a lunch, as we’ll be close to restaurants or stores during the middle of the day. Meals are not included in the workshop tuition.

COVID Considerations

We want to make this workshop as safe as possible for all participants. Since the COVID-19 pandemic situation is constantly evolving, our procedures and requirements may change as well. We will, of course, follow CDC guidelines, as well as state and local requirements. We may also institute additional measures to ensure everyone’s safety, including proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID test, masks while indoors, avoiding carpools (meaning everyone will have to drive their own vehicle to field locations), and conducting classroom sessions via Zoom.

Deposit

An $800 deposit reserves your space in the workshop. The balance is due 60 days before the workshop (don’t worry, we’ll remind you!).

Cancellation

We know you’ll enjoy this workshop and learn a great deal, but should you need to cancel for any reason we will refund your tuition (or deposit) in full up to 60 days prior to the start of the workshop. Should you need to cancel within 45 to 59 days we will refund your tuition less a $150.00 cancellation fee. Refunds are not available less than 45 days prior to the workshop unless we can fill the vacancy, in which case you’ll be charged a $150 cancellation fee. If you do need to cancel we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can alert people on the waiting list.

In the rare event that we need to cancel this workshop because of lack of enrollment or an unforeseen event you will receive a complete refund or credit toward a future workshop. We recommend that you avoid purchasing non-refundable airline tickets, and consider getting trip cancellation insurance.

This workshop is full!
Please email us to sign up for the waiting list.
 

Legal Stuff:

This workshop is conducted by Michael Frye Photography and is operated under special use permit with the Inyo National Forest. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)