Canyons of the East 2024

Canyons of the East 2024

Finger Lakes Waterfall and Small-Scene Photography Workshop

Overview

Join instructor John K. Putnam October 23-27, 2024, for a photography workshop in the beautiful and incomparable Finger Lakes Region of New York! We will visit several parks and explore the gorges and waterways of this unique landscape while photographing countless waterfalls and cascades. We will visit well-known locations such as the Taughannock Falls Overlook and Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park, but this workshop will also have a concentration on small-scene photography, providing time to photograph more intimate scenes and underappreciated subjects. You will also learn best practices for photographing waterfalls and flowing water and post-processing techniques that will elevate the impact of your images while staying true to the subject matter. We have chosen late fall for this workshop for two reasons… first, these parks are popular and can get crowded during peak season, which includes autumn. Visiting at the end of the month will keep the amount of visitors to a minimum. Second, we love the mood of the Finger Lakes in late fall. With leaves on the ground, the gorges become filled with color and offer endless opportunities for foregrounds and patterns while dynamic weather patterns add atmosphere to larger scenes. Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of cascades and waterfalls in the area is astonishing, and the fairytale views, like that of Rainbow Falls, are plentiful throughout. All the photographs in the slideshow below were made over two days in five different parks at the very end of October (to view the entire collection, go HERE). This workshop is open to eight attendees and includes two instructors.

  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Watkins Glen State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Taughannock Falls Sate Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Watkins Glen State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Robert H. Treman State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Robert H. Treman State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Watkins Glen State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Taughannock Falls Sate Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Eagle Cliff Falls in Havana Glen, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Taughannock Falls Sate Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Taughannock Falls Sate Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Watkins Glen State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Taughannock Falls Sate Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Watkins Glen State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.
  • Finger Lakes Photography Workshop, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Finger Lakes, New York.

Basic Schedule

Our itinerary can and will change due to the weather and other factors but our goal is always to get you to the best possible locations to match the conditions. We will try to visit as many locations as possible but we may re-visit certain spots to photograph from new perspectives or under different conditions.

Day 1: Meet and Greet dinner (on us) and orientation.

Day 2: Sunrise/morning field session, break, presentation and image review, post-processing demonstration, sunset field session.

Day 3: Sunrise/morning field session, break, one-on-one post-processing, sunset field session.

Day 4: Sunrise/morning field session, break, one-on-one post-processing, sunset field session.

Day 5: Sunrise/morning field session, final image share, noon departure.

Possible locations include but are not limited to: Watkins Glen State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park, Robert H. Tremen State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Letchworth State Park, Ithaca Falls, Havana Glen, and more. We may also find time to visit one of the well-known Finger Lakes wineries and the award-winning Ithaca Farmers Market.

Do I need a lot of experience or expensive gear to take this workshop?

No! Workshops are for learning and we always make any camera equipment work. You do not need expensive gear for successful image-making.

What are the fitness requirements?

A basic fitness level is necessary for participation in this workshop but we will make it as easy as possible. We want you to concentrate on photography not getting to the top of the next hill. We will be walking for distances up to a couple of miles but not steadily. The gorge trails offer views around every corner so we will be stopping frequently to photograph. We also plan on transporting everyone in a van, that way we can drop you off at the top of the trails and you can work your way down to where our ride will be waiting.

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

We go out rain or shine… in fact, rain is almost preferred for these types of landscapes! Snow can shut down the gorge trails in the area, though it is extremely rare at this time of year. Besides, there are plenty of places to visit and photograph which are always open.

What to Bring

Photo Equipment:

A Digital SLR or mirrorless camera is your best option. You will need a laptop with editing software installed (my preferred software is Adobe Lightroom which is what I will be using for any editing demonstrations but we have experience with most software so bring what you have).

  • DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
  • Lenses to cover 16-200mm on a full-frame sensor are recommended, 10-150mm on a crop sensor.
  • Sturdy Tripod and Head
  • Circular Polarizer and Neutral Density Filters
  • Camera Backpack (a shoulder bag is not a good substitute)
  • Waterproof Covering for Your Camera or a Packable Umbrella
  • Laptop with Editing Software

Other Gear:
My most recommended piece of gear is a pair of sturdy, waterproof shoes. Many of our locations will be uneven, wet, and muddy, so hiking boots will be beneficial. I also recommend layering your clothing. The temps in late October can be all over the place… but expect cold, so bring plenty of warm clothing. Suggested items are found below.

  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Gloves or Mittens
  • Hand Warmers
  • Winter Hat
  • Down Jacket
  • Base Layers
  • Headlamp
  • Muck Boots for wading

Price: $2195 – One Spot Open

Register

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Included in the price are two instructors, classroom space, transportation to and from field trip locations, park entrance fees, snacks and drinks in the classroom, and the meet and greet dinner.

Attendees are responsible for:

  • Hotel Accommodations
  • All Meals (except the meet and greet dinner)
  • Transportation outside of field trips
  • Travel Insurance

We will be based in Ithaca at the Courtyard by Marriott, Ithaca Airport/University. I highly recommend finding accommodations sooner rather than later, places can be booked up and expensive in October. There are lots of rentals in the area as well as hotels.

A $500 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking to hold your spot, the full payment is due 60 days ahead of the workshop start date.

Cancelations:

Cancelations made 60 days in advance will receive a full refund for any amount paid over the non-refundable deposit. Cancelations less than 60 days before the start of the workshop will receive no refund. If a canceled spot can be filled before the start date of the workshop a full refund will be given, including the deposit.

Questions? Contact us HERE