Autumn in Acadia

October 10-13, 2024

  • Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA

  • $1895 per person

  • Benjamin Williamson and Darylann Leonard

About the Workshop

This is a small group, intensive workshop designed to help you improve your photography. Our instructors are kind, patient, and attentive to your needs. We work with participants at all levels in their journey. In addition to copious amounts of field instruction, we also provide classroom time to cover special techniques to help your images utilizing the latest advances in digital darkroom technology. We also have image review sessions with kind and constructive feedback. Seeing how others in the group capture the same scenes in different ways can be one of the most enlightening and enjoyable parts of the workshop. We celebrate that and want to help you hone your own unique point of view.

About Autumn in Acadia

It’s no secret that fall is one of the most magical times to be in Acadia. No one does colorful leaves quite like New England, and when combined with the striking land-and-seascapes of Mount Desert Island, what you get is a world-class photographic opportunity. We’ll take you to a few of the iconic viewpoints, for sure, but we’ll also take you to lesser-known locations, where it’s easier to find peace and quiet, and where you can tune in to your own artistic vision and make personally expressive and meaningful images. Our itinerary pays close attention to the progress of foliage and the weather. Our goal is to put you in place to capture some the best images you’ve ever captured, and also to teach you a thing or two that you can then apply to your photography practice going forward.

Instructors

Benjamin Williamson is a full-time professional photographer and photography educator living in Maine. From 2016 to 2022, Ben was the staff photographer, photo editor, and adventure leader for Down East Magazine. He has moved to freelance work to focus on teaching, working on his own photography, and spending more time with his young family. Prints of his work can be seen in major institutions such as Maine Medical Center, Intermed, Bangor Savings Bank, and many others. Ben loves sharing his passion for photography through teaching. He especially likes to highlight the relationships between humans and nature, and believes we can find ways to live more sustainably and in harmony with each other. You can see his portfolio at benjaminwilliamson.photoshelter.com

Darylann Leonard lives in Western Maine with her husband and four rescue dogs. In addition to working as a landscape photographer she is also a full-time clinical social worker. Her experience with helping people through difficult times in their lives has carried over into her vision as a photographer and workshop leader. Darylann believes that photography can challenge people as individuals in a very positive way. Connecting with nature encourages the creative process and allows for inner peace and personal growth. She believes that full immersion in the field combined with photographers coming together to explore the natural world is where the magic truly happens during these workshops.

Darylann is a contributing photographer and workshop leader for Down East Magazine. Her work is on display at Gallery 302 in Bridgton, Full Circle Gallery in Cornish, and The Barking Chicken Gallery in Harrison. You can also view her portfolio at: www.darylannleonardphotography.com

Frequently Asked Questions

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

  • No! You can make great images right away with simple equipment, and that’s what this workshops aim to teach you. If you are just starting out and have a new camera you want to learn, this is for you. If you have photographed before and aim to update yourself on the latest techniques in digital photography, this is definitely for you. If you are a seasoned veteran who doesn’t need much help, just wants to go to great locations and have fun with like-minded individuals, well, this is for you, as well!

What does the itinerary look like?

  • The workshop will kick off on Thursday October 10, 2024 at 3:00 PM at the Edenbrook Motel in Bar Harbor with a short reception. There is no “set” daily schedule, rather we keep things flexible in order to best respond to the weather and available light for making images.  Typically, we’ll be out for sunrise, shoot until mid morning and then take a break for a meal and brief rest.  We’ll convene in a conference room for instruction, post processing and critique during the mid-day hours when the light is typically less conducive to photography.  We’ll then head back out into the field in the late afternoon and evening, ending our session after sunset.  We’ll end our time together after our last sunrise shoot of the workshop on Sunday, October 13th, with plenty of time to return to the hotel for a normal checkout and departure.

  • Possible Locations include but are not limited to: Jesup Path, Jordan Stream, The Tarn, Gorham Mountain, Boulder Beach, Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake.

What are the fitness requirements?

  • A basic level of fitness is necessary for participation in this workshop. Higher levels of fitness will greatly increase your enjoyment of the experience. Stability is an important consideration on this workshop because of the terrain. There will be some short hikes of two miles or less, but generally we stay close to the cars.

What equipment do you recommend I bring?

  • DSLR or mirrorless camera

  • Lenses to cover 16-200mm on a full frame sensor are recommended, 10-150mm on a crop sensor.

  • A sturdy tripod and head

  • Circular polarizing filter

  • Waterproof camera bag (a shoulder bag is not recommended)

  • Waterproof covering for your camera and lens or a packable umbrella

  • Laptop Computer with editing software

  • Card Reader if your computer doesn’t have one

  • Extra Batteries

  • Extra Memory Cards

What about transportation?

  • Participants are responsible for their own transportation, but we do encourage carpooling on workshop days. If you are flying, we recommend flying into Bangor (BGR) or Portland, Maine (PWM).

What about lodging?

What should I wear?

  • Temperatures range from below freezing on some mornings to sometimes very warm days near 80 degrees. We’ve seen it all in the last few years! For that reason we recommend bringing a range of clothing from shorts and short sleeves to long pants and long sleeve shirts along with sweaters and a light jacket. We’re usually good for some rain, as well, so full rain gear is recommended.

  • Hiking Shoes and Sneakers

  • Tall Waterproof Boots - for wading in shallow water

  • Waterproof and Windproof Shell

  • Rain Pants

  • Insulating Hat and Gloves

  • Headlamp

  • Bug repellent

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

  • Bad weather is good weather to landscape photographers. If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. There are many idioms that apply to the weather, and if you don’t already know, being out in all weather usually leads to great photo opportunities! Safety will remain a top priority. We won’t drive, nor ask you to drive, in hazardous conditions. With the right preparation, we can survive and even thrive in what most people would call adverse conditions. Please keep an open mind when it comes to your expectations about what ‘good’ conditions are. We want to teach you how to shoot in all conditions!

What does my tuition cover?

  • The price of the workshop includes all fieldwork, group instruction, and classroom time. Some snacks will be provided by the instructors. We will also stock emergency first aid kits. It does not include travel insurance, meals, transportation, and lodging.

What am I responsible for?

  • Your own transportation, though we do encourage carpooling during the workshop

  • Hotel Accommodations

  • Park Entry Fees - Passes can now be purchased online HERE.

  • A $500 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. Cancelations less than 60 days before the start of the workshop will receive no refund. If a canceled spot is able to be filled before the start date of the workshop a full refund will be given, including the deposit.

Questions? Contact us HERE