Insights and musings about photography and the creative process
See You Next Time!
The Wild Mustangs of the Adobe Valley workshop is officially SOLD OUT for 2018. Sign up for our mailing list to learn about our upcoming workshops.
See you in 2019!
The Wild Mustangs of the Adobe Valley workshop is officially SOLD OUT for 2018 but we'll still be here waiting for you in 2019! I'll be bigger and stronger then, but I'm sure I'll have some new bothers and sisters to Awwww over too :). If you really wanted to come, add your your name to the waitlist in case someone changes their mind. Otherwise, make sure you're signed up for our mailing list so you'll be notified when the next workshop is announced.
Ladakh Himalayan Scouting Mission
The Art of Seeing is taking 1-2 adventurous souls on a very special scouting mission to Ladakh, India. Learn more about this photography trip today.
Tibetan Buddhism dominates the spiritual lives of the inhabitants of this region. Monasteries, some over a thousand years old, are found throughout the mountains.
My latest workshop is a little different…it's what I call a 'scouting mission', meaning it's the trip I make to work out all the details for a future workshop. Normally, I do these trips alone, but this time I'm looking for 2 or 3 adventurous souls to join me in Ladakh, India June 28 - July 11, 2018. The highest mountains in the world, the Himalaya, run right through this remote region of northern India…this is the land of the snow leopard and home to indigenous cultures that have existed in isolation for millennia. This trip is not for everyone, however. We’ll be working long hours and covering a lot of ground with our feet. There are no guarantees...we may very well arrive at just the right place at just the wrong time. That's what I mean by scouting mission. But if you have a taste for adventure, can live with some uncertainty, and welcome the idea of traveling with a very small group, we should talk. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to know how I and other workshop leaders create their events…well, here’s your chance to see how the sausage is made :).
If you are interested, please read the workshop description carefully before registering. Contact me if you have any questions. Hope to see you in the mountains!
Elaborate headdresses are worn by the Drokpa of the Dha Hanu valley
Is India on Your Bucket List?
Join us for an immersive, photo-centric exploration of a culture carved by deep rivers of spirituality and history.
The Colors of India 2018 Photography Workshop & Tour
“This is India; the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a thousand nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition...” - Mark Twain, Following the Equator, 1897
You'll be amazed at how well Twain's perceptive observations still hold up nearly a century and a half after they were penned. Our task is to capture bits of the India of yesterday and today with our cameras. India’s ancient monuments, including its most famous, the Taj Mahal, are just beginning of what this land of colors and contrasts offers the avid photographer. I’m very excited to announce the Art of Seeing Photography Adventure’s latest workshop, The Colors of India, Feb 22 –Mar 18, 2018. Join us for an immersive, photo-centric exploration of a culture carved by deep rivers of spirituality and history. Our itinerary covers the best of the must-see monuments but we’ll veer off the beaten path early and often in search of more authentic visions of Indian life.
Experience Highlights
· With its riotous colors, the Holi Festival is arguably the most photogenic cultural celebration on the planet.
· The holy city of Varanasi lies at the center of the Hindu universe and attracts millions of devout pilgrims seeking spiritual rejuvenation in the sacred waters of the Ganges river.
· Jodhpur, the Blue City, exudes such a relaxing vibe that you will be tempted to do nothing but park yourself on a rooftop terrace with a cool beverage and stare up at massive Mehrangarh Fort.
· Wake up for sunrise over Gadissar lake in the desert outpost of Jaisalmer Fort and then ride into the Thar desert atop a camel for sunset and a star filled night in the sand dunes.
The opportunities to make unforgettable memories and photographs on this carefully curated journey are literally endless. Join us and See for yourself.
15days/14 nights all inclusive $5595*
*See workshop page for complete details: www.artofseeing.com/india-2018
The Santa Barbara Backcountry in Spring
Read my blog to see photographs & stories from our latest photography trip to the Santa Barbara backcountry. Sign-up for our next trip!
Santa Barbara Backcountry MeetUp Recap
Vineyards and mustard blooms make a photogenic combination
Some were scared off by the possibility of rain. Some people just aren’t into camping (something I struggle to comprehend). And I’m sure many others thought I was exaggerating just how spectacular the Santa Barbara backcountry looks at this time of year. Fair enough, but the brave souls who made it to our MeetUp group’s Santa Barbara Backcountry & Night Photography event last weekend were rewarded with a lush landscape in its absolute prime.
Proof
I’m giving up trying to describe in words how picturesque this area is in early Spring. I’m just not that good of a writer. So here are the pictures.
The Area
The area in question is essentially the Santa Ynez valley and its surroundings. If you’ve ever visited Santa Barbara’s wine country, you’ve been here. The main thoroughfare is Hwy 154 which branches off Hwy 101 in Santa Barbara before rejoining the 101 about 35 miles northwest. Cachuma Lake County Park, where our group stayed, is smack in the middle of the valley and makes a great base of operations. There are a handful of cabins and yurts in addition to hundreds of campsites at the lake. Make reservations, especially if you want a cabin or yurt. Many other lodging options from motels, B&B’s, and even a Vegas-style casino/hotel are available in nearby towns of Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, and Los Olivos.
Now, that's a photographer!
Go Now
You still have about a month of prime conditions left. But at some point in April, depending on how much more rain the valley receives, those emerald hills will become beige and brown. It’s still beautiful but nobody will mistake your photos for Ireland.
Photography Guide
This visit inspired me to put together a Santa Barbara Backcountry Photo Guide. It will include maps, photo locations, places to stay, and other points of interest to photographers. It will be available as a free download here on the artofseeing.com website. It’s still a week or two away from completion but if you want to be notified when it is available, just sign up to receive updates.