Springtime in The Palouse
Field photography workshop with Sharon Lavier O’Keefe, Founder, Northwest Center for Photography
Field workshop:
Friday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Workshop wrap-up and critical print critique
Sunday, July 8, 2012
2–5 p.m.
Tucked away in southeastern Washington and north central Idaho, there’s a unique area of rolling fields, buttes and forest land known as The Palouse. This agricultural paradise offers an abundance of photographic opportunities— from the magnificent pastoral vistas of wheat, lentil and canola fields following the buttes and ravines farther than the eye can see—to the charming and picturesque small towns dotting the landscape.
Tailored to the needs of photographers, from beginners to advanced, we address your photographic goals on a personal level to ensure you get the most out of the workshop experience. We will emphasize elements of visual design and how they can be used to create the essence of an expressive image. An artistic interpretation of The Palouse is well within your reach regardless of the type of camera or lens you may be using.
You will be in a small group of no more than 12 like-minded photographers. A small group means you get the best out of a location and the most photography instruction in the field from Sharon.
This workshop is open to those with a working knowledge of their equipment and a basic understanding of photography. Any camera type or medium (digital SLR, point-and-shoot, or analog) is welcome—however, a tripod is essential.
You may bring up to 10 samples of previous work for a critique on the last day of the workshop. Digital files on a CD or USB flash drive are preferred—however, prints 8x10 or larger are acceptable.
Please join Sharon and share a highly memorable experience photographing springtime in The Palouse. She will introduce you to incredible scenery and you will have numerous opportunities to get acquainted with some of “the locals” where you can learn about life in this rural farming community and some history about The Palouse.
About the workshop leader
Sharon Lavier O’Keefe, founder of the Northwest Center for Photography, has been leading photography tours in The Palouse for more than 10 years. During that time, she has befriended many of the local residents, which adds greatly to your workshop experience.
This native Oregonian has been working as a freelance photographer for over 30 years and has been teaching photography classes, independently and through Portland Community College for nearly 15 years. She was the Staff Photographer for Kaiser Permanente Northwest for more than 12 years.
Sharon’s a gifted teacher and a talented photographer. She inspires her students to find new ways to see the world, in a positive and encouraging environment, and she has a way of engaging strangers to participate in her photographic pursuits. While Sharon takes photography very seriously and is truly passionate about teaching and educating, she firmly believes having “fun” is essential to the creative process.
Workshop agenda
Day 1 (Friday, May 25, 2012)
We’ll meet at 7:00 p.m. for a get-acquainted reception and a workshop orientation. Light refreshments will be served.
Day 2 (Saturday, May 26, 2012)
We’ll meet at 5:00 a.m. and head out in anticipation of photographing a landscape glowing from the sweet light of early morning. After a quick breakfast at our cars, we’ll continue on to photograph the magnificent vistas unique to The Palouse—the rolling hills covered in varying shades of greens and browns and the endless graphic images that constantly change as the sun and cloud shadows dance across the fields. After a midday tailgate picnic and a brief rest, we’re off to capture the late afternoon and evening light. Then, we’ll break for a tailgate picnic while we wait for a Palouse sunset before calling it a day.
Day 3 (Sunday, May 27, 2012)
We’ll rise early to photograph a glorious sunrise sweeping across The Palouse landscape. Following a tailgate breakfast, we’ll travel across The Palouse, stopping periodically to photograph some of the small towns dotting the landscape. We’ll take a break midday for a tailgate picnic and a brief rest—then continue on to capture the sweet light of late afternoon and evening light which causes The Palouse to glow. Our day will end as we enjoy another tailgate picnic as we wait, with great anticipation, for the gift of another Palouse sunset.
Day 4 (Monday, May 28, 2012)
Another early morning get-up, hoping to capture a glorious sunrise weaving its way across the vast unspoiled Palouse landscape. We’ll take time out for breakfast in a local café before venturing off to join the local townspeople as they honor American war veterans in a beautiful hilltop Memorial Day ceremony. This is an excellent opportunity for you to create a photo essay documenting this very moving and inspiring outdoor event.
Following the ceremony, we’re off to see what photographs The Palouse is offering us. In the early evening, we’ll enjoy another tailgate picnic as we wait patiently for the gift of a stunning Palouse sunset.
Day 5 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)
On our final day, you have the option of getting up early for one last opportunity to explore a little more of The Palouse at sunrise. Mid-morning, our group will meet at the local café in Colfax for breakfast. Then, we’ll head back to the workshop headquarters to check out, take a group photo and exchange information. At 1:00 p.m. we’ll meet for a critical print critique of samples brought to the workshop before saying our good byes and heading for home. Workshop ends at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 8, 2012 (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Workshop wrap-up; print critique, photo exhibit and potluck dinner. We will conduct a critical print critique of photographs created during the workshop. Participants may bring a disk with up to 20 JPEGs, suitable for projection on a Mac, for the critique. Participants are also asked to bring three enlarged, matted and framed photographs for the Workshop Exhibit. The exhibit is important because it takes the creative photographic process full circle—from conception and execution to presentation. Exhibit photos should be enlarged to at least a 12x18 or 11x14 print size prior to matting and framing. Participants may also bring unframed, matted 8x10 or 5x7 prints for an optional print exchange.
Other information
Accommodations. Participants are responsible for their own accommodations. The instructor’s home base for the workshop will be the Wheatland Inn, Colfax, WA. Early booking of your reservation is strongly encouraged since accommodations in Colfax are very limited.
Meals. Participants are responsible for all their own meals and should come prepared with whatever is needed for frequent tailgate picnics. Additional supplies may be purchased at Rosauers, a large super market in Colfax.
Transportation. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to, from and during the workshop, as well as trip, health and accident insurance.
Registration and tuition (tuition does not include transportation, lodging or meals). The workshop tuition is $595 per person and includes a $35 nonrefundable registration fee. A deposit of $295 will hold your registration through April 27, 2012, at which time full payment is due.
Upon receipt of your full payment—and the return of a signed Release and Waiver of Liability form—your reservation will be completed and weʼll send out additional information relevant to the workshop. Please make all payments in U.S. dollars, payable to Northwest Center for Photography (NCP), and mail it to: Northwest Center for Photography, 1028 SE Water Ave., Ste. 50, Portland, OR 97214
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 45 days or more before the first day of the workshop. At that time, we will refund your deposit, minus the non-refundable registration fee.
Registrations cancelled after that will be eligible for a refund (less the non-refundable registration fee and a $95 cancellation fee) only if a replacement can be found. If notification or cancellation is made 30 days or less before 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 fees and deposits 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.