Dawn on the Chesapeake: all photos by Dave Harp

FirstLight Workshops presents

Winter Light on the Chesapeake

January 19-22, 2012

or

January 26 – 29, 2012

In January, the sun draws a low arc over Chesapeake Bay, creating gloriously warm, horizontal light on the landscape. Wintering snow geese, bald eagles, tundra swans and other waterfowl move about the edges of land and water, a few at a time or by the thousands. At first light and again in the late afternoon, the snow geese take flight in huge numbers, often filling the sky so no space is visible between their wings as they gyrate into the air blizzard-like, repeating this  dance over and over.  The sounds alone are worth the trip, the light on the birds often extraordinary. This is an ideal time to be on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, to see and hear this lovely migration.  Aside from the birds, oystermen in classic wooden workboats head out from Cambridge, Wingate and other landings in search of the illusive bivalve so beloved by the native population for literally thousands of years, and the iconic marsh scenes—water, grasses, trees and sky—glow in the winter light. If we’re lucky, we might add some snow, fog, frost, or ice to spice up the photographic menu.

Join FirstLight Workshops this upcoming January 19-22, or January 26-29, 2012 for a three-day, intensive photographic workshop in and around the beautiful Blackwater Refuge and the nearby Nanticoke River where we will explore this beautiful scenery. We’ll schedule plenty of time for early morning and late afternoon opportunities to photograph bald eagles, snow and Canada geese, hardy overwintering Great Blue Herons and the Chesapeake Bay winter landscape  in the “golden hour” light.  During the day, projection sessions will occur with FirstLight instructors Jay Dickman and Dave Harp going through your work, providing invaluable insight and suggestions on how to improve your photographic capabilities.

Plan on arriving in Cambridge, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Thursday afternoon in time for our opening night cocktail party, where you’ll meet (or reacquaint yourself) with Jay and Dave.

Friday we’ll be getting out early to enjoy the beautiful Chesapeake sunrise over the Blackwater Refuge.  We’ll come back to the workshop headquarters to download and review the morning’s shoot, during which you’ll receive feedback on your work from our instructors. Afternoon will find us back out for  shooting, coming back after dark.

Saturday will be a repeat of Friday, to allow plenty of photographic opportunities in this magical winter light.

The workshop concludes Sunday morning with a presentation of the student’s work.

After you get home, you’ll receive a DVD of the final presentation.

Cost for this unique workshop is $950.00.  For our early birds (humans, that is) who wish to sign up by September 10, 2011, you’ll save $50.00.  A $250.00 deposit is required to confirm your place (click here for our refund/cancellation policy). All monies are due by December 1, 2011.  Our FirstLight alumni will receive a discount, as always.  Click here to be taken to the registration page

Included in your workshop fee: Instruction by our two experts, opening night cocktail party, DVD of the final presentation.

What’s not included: Travel, car rental (you’ll need a car to explore the area) accommodations, food, amenities.

We have arranged a $102 per night room block at conveniently located Holiday Inn Express in Cambridge.  Other choices in Cambridge include the Hyatt Chesapeake Bay Resort or local bed and breakfasts.  Accommodations must be made by the participant.

FirstLight Workshop

PO Box 582

Littleton, Colorado   80160 – 0582