North Oregon coast field photography workshop
Larry Cwik, instructor
Designed to improve your photographic abilities —and to make it so fun and rewarding you’ll never want to be without your camera again.
Introductory session:
Thursday, October 20, 7–9 p.m.
Field workshop session:
Saturday, October 22, sunrise to sunset
Workshop wrap-up and print critique:
Friday, October 28, 7–9 p.m.
Workshop information
Larry will start the workshop with a slide presentation of Oregon coast images he’s taken over the years. On Saturday, the group will meet in the parking lot in front of Neskowin Market at 6:30 a.m. for a day of field photography.
Cwik has traveled to the Oregon coast for camping and pleasure for three decades and had his first solo exhibit there in 1984, prior to any of his other many solo exhibits. The coast is a visually rich and very special place that keeps calling Larry back—and during the course of the workshop, you’ll soon see why.
Most visits, weather cooperating, the unique ancient ghost forest of Neskowin, which appears at low tide, is truly magical and spectacular. Mother Nature can be unpredictable, so we’ll hope for the best.
Neskowin is a small, quiet, picturesque, seaside village of 170 people. It has several sections of beach, a curvy creek, Slab Creek, flowing to the beach and the scenic beach-side Proposal Rock, a tree-lined basalt sea stack that is home to some wildlife, all only about 13 miles north of Lincoln City and 100 miles southeast of Portland. Neskowin, a little-known gem on the Oregon coast, is mostly visited by either those that have been there before, or photographers and tourists in the know. The Oregon State Park system has a picnic area, the Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site, available for visitors. A high point, Neskowin Heights, with hemlock trees and stellar views, is a hike up from the northern-most point of the beach. Neskowin has a restaurant and market.
Workshop format
Slide show, some lecture with handouts, hands-on instruction during the field photography session and a critical print critique to wrap-up the workshop.
Workshop agenda
Thursday, October 20, 7–9 p.m., Introductory session
The two-hour introductory session will include a slide show of images created by Larry during trips to Neskowin and the Oregon coast. They will be used to initiate discussions of photographic details that will be covered during the field photography session. Participants will receive a handout containing practical information and useful techniques related to the field photography session.
Saturday, October 22, sunrise to sunset (Yes! It will be a long day!)
Meet at the parking lot in front of the Neskowin Market at 6:45 a.m. for a full day of photography.
It’s a good idea to come prepared for the worst case scenario weather-wise (i.e., rain, wind and blowing sand), and we will hope for the best—sun, puffy white clouds, blue skies and calm weather. Wear comfortable shoes for hiking on rocky or sandy inclines. Dress in layers.
Friday, October 28, 7–9 p.m., Workshop wrap-up and critical print critique
We’ll gather at NCP to discuss the images chosen for sharing from the Neskowin photo session. Participants should bring a USB flash drive or CD with images taken on Saturday using either digital- or film-based cameras. The purpose of the session is to explore your images from both a technical and cultural viewpoint. Only you can take the images you see, and this session will assist you in determining whether or not you’re fulfilling your vision. Feedback and critique of the images will take place in a positive and supportive environment.
About the workshop leader
Larry Cwik was born in West Virginia and raised in Pittsburgh, and he was already serious about photography before moving to Oregon in 1982. Though he travels abroad several times a year, Larry loves Oregon and photographs here regularly—inspired by the coast, mountains and high desert.
He has taught private workshops at U-Develop Darkroom and tries to bring the best out of each student. He believes creativity is within us all.
Cwik has exhibited extensively in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States with several solo shows in Europe since 1983. Notable series to date include: Totems; Industrial Districts; and The Visitor: 29 Years Photographing Mexico. His work is in collections of the Portland Art Museum, Bank of America, Levi Strauss and Company and Bibliotheque Nationale de France.
About the workshop
Enrollment. Participation is limited to 10 students.
Prerequisites. This workshop is open to anyone knowledgeable about using his or her camera; a tripod is not necessary, but would be helpful for those attending who want to capture scenes in movement.
Workshop tuition (does not include transportation, meals or lodging). The workshop tuition is $245 per person and includes a $20 non-refundable registration fee. Once your registration has been completed, we’ll send out additional information relevant to the workshop.
Withdrawal, Cancellation and Refund Policy. We rely on your attendance to make important arrangements so if, for any reason, you need to withdraw please notify us in writing 14 days or more before the first day of the workshop. At that time we will refund your tuition, minus the non-refundable registration fee. Registrations cancelled after that will be eligible for a refund (less the non-refundable registration fee and a $15 cancellation fee) only if a replacement can be found. If notification or cancellation is made seven days or less prior to the first day of the workshop, you will not be eligible for a refund.
NCP is not responsible for a participant’s cancellation due to a medical emergency, death in the family or acts of war.
In the event NCP cancels a workshop due to inadequate enrollment, all monies paid will be refunded in full, or if you prefer they may be transferred to another workshop within 12 months. However, NCP is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of workshop cancellation. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance.
There are no exceptions to our Withdrawal, Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Waiting lists. When a workshop fills, we start a waiting list. There is no charge to be on the waiting list. If space becomes available, we contact the first person on the list. That person then has 24 hours to register before we move to the next person. If a space becomes available within 14 days of the start of a workshop, the registrar may call all persons on the waiting list and the space will be given to whoever completes their registration first.