Olympic National Park

May 15-19, 2025

  • Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA

  • $2495 per person

  • Kurt Budliger and Benjamin Williamson

About the Workshop

Join internationally renowned landscape photographers Kurt Budliger and Benjamin Williamson on a photo adventure of a lifetime: the magnificent coastal environment of Olympic National Park in Washington state. Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site is three parks in one, offering us a unique opportunity to capture magical images of superb coastal, mountain, and rain forest scenery. Here you will find the longest undeveloped coast in the contiguous United States, with pebble-beaches, towering cliffs and offshore sea stacks; rain forests with moss-covered trees (the best example of intact temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest); glacier-capped peaks interspersed with extensive alpine meadows; and a stunning variety of marine and mountain plants and animals. The diversity here is simply astounding.

We’ll photograph sunrise and sunsets along the wild Olympic coast, tide pools, along with streams & waterfalls and lush old growth rain forests. We’ll help you gain a strong technical and creative foundation in outdoor photography, learn the importance of “seeing the light,” and share our knowledge of weather forecasting and location scouting. We’ll also cover strategies for making dynamic compositions that have energy and engage the viewer, and help you bring your images to life using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Our personalized approach to instruction extends from the field to the classroom. We are here to help you become a better photographer.

Instructors

Kurt Budliger is a professional landscape and nature photographer and educator based in Vermont. He has been a professional educator for over 25 years. His photographs and articles have appeared in numerous books, calendars, advertising campaigns, magazines and are routinely used by non-profit conservation organizations working to protect wild lands. His clients have included Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, National Geographic Adventure, Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, Vermont Life Magazine, Eastern Fly Fishing, the Drake, Patagonia, 1% for the Planet, Trout Unlimited, Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, and many more. You can see his work at www.kurtbudliger.com

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

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 have photographed before and aim to update yourself on the latest techniques in digital photography, this is definitely for you. If you are just starting out and have a new camera you want to learn, this is for you, too. 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?

  • Our itinerary can and will change due to the weather and other factors. Our goal is to get you in the best possible locations to match the conditions. Over the course of the workshop, we will aim to explore the well-known locations like Ruby Beach, Second Beach, Rialto Beach, Hoh Rain Forest, and Sol Duc, but also some lesser known spots. We like to mix the icons and quieter locations to give you an in-depth experience.

What are the fitness requirements?

  • A basic level of fitness is necessary for participation in this workshop. There is a good amount of walking required, with some ups and downs on short steep hills. Participants should be comfortable carrying their camera gear and personal items a minimum of two miles.

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 and neutral density filters

  • 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?

  • You’ll be responsible for providing your own transportation to the workshop. Once there, we encourage students to carpool to lessen our impact and improve our mobility.

What about lodging?

  • A block of rooms has been reserved at the Forks Motel,  351 S. Forks Ave Forks, WA 98331  360-374-6243  www.forksmotel.com  Please reference Green Mountain Photographic Workshops or Kurt Budliger Photography when making your reservation.

What about meals?

  • Participants are responsible for their own food and meals.

What should I wear?

  • Temperatures in Olympic in May range from cold, 20’s with snow in the mountains, to sometimes hot, near 90 degrees around Forks. For that reason we recommend bringing a range of clothing. There’s also a very good chance we’ll see rain, so bring along full rain gear.

  • Hiking Shoes and Sneakers

  • Waterproof and windproof Shell

  • Light Insulating Hat

  • Headlamp

What does my tuition cover?

  • Your tuitions covers all fieldwork, group instruction, and classroom time. We will also stock emergency first aid kits. It does not include travel insurance, transportation, meals and lodging.

What are your terms and conditions?

  • 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.