Dates: Monday through Thursday, May 10-13, 2010

Yosemite National Park: Come to Yosemite and explore a unique part of the natural world. In mid-May people are less obvious, and waterfalls are flowing with enormous vigor. There are juxtapositions of light and shadow, and a natural sense of form and texture. We'll photograph Half Dome and El Capitan, watch for animals, and look for the "intimate" landscapes of reflecting pools and wildflowers, and explore a bit of gold rush country. The past winter and current spring, abundant with late rains and snows, promises spectacular waterfalls and an intensely green landscape, and a chance to view colorful wildflowers. 

This will be a hands-on photography tour of one of the most beautiful places in the world. As such, we won't spend much time in front of a computer, we'll be in the field making photographs, learning new ways to see the park from the instructors and participants, and discovering new ways to connect with the world around us.

Cost: $450 (double occupancy, single supplement available)

Arrival Date/Time for Yosemite: Monday, May 10; accommodations will be ready after 3:00 p.m., instructors will be on site about 4 p.m.  

Transportation: Via private auto; trip leaders will help make arrangements between those who need a ride and those who can offer a ride. We encourage you to carpool where possible.

Trip difficulty: None - the trip will be conducted at a photographer's relaxed pace. We will be out to learn about photography and Yosemite, and we'll see a goodly chunk of the Park.

Accommodations: We'll stay in El Portal, just outside the park, within easy distance of Yosemite Valley, the historic barns at Foresta, etc. Rooms are shared; single supplements are available, check with Dave for information.

Meals: This trip includes breakfast on our final day in the gold rush town of Mariposa. We will always be near places to eat at meal times, and Yosemite has several places to purchase a meal or food, from markets to fancy restaurants. The trip will also include a terrific picnic meal.

Return Time: We'll end officially after brunch on the final day. If you wish, caravan with the instructors, who will make a few photography stops on the way.

Who this trip is for: Anyone who loves the natural world, history, and photography.  The instructors will accommodate novice through advanced photographers.

Instructor: Dave Wyman has shown a passion for nature and travel photography for much of his adult life. The author of three pictorial guidebooks (including Yosemite in Photographs), his photographs and articles have appeared in publications including Outdoor Photographer, Outside, Sierra and Backpacker. He has conducted photography and natural history tours in California and the southwest since 1982, both through his own enterprise, and for the Yosemite Association, the Los Angeles Zoo, the San Diego and the Los Angeles natural history museums. and has taught at USC and UCLA.  For a decade, Dave designed and directed the Adventure Photography Program for the University of Southern California. When he's not on a photography tour, he's off with his camera on his bike or on a mountain. Dave recently was a prize winner in the Adorama iPhone photography contest.

What to Bring:

- Camera gear (see below)
- Clothing for warm and cool temperatures; recommended: ski cap for cool mornings and evenings, mittens (optional)
- Day pack and/or camera bag
- Money for meals not included, and entry into the park ($20, good for a week; we'll do our best carpool to cut down expenses and make getting around easier and faster).

What Will be Provided:

- Three nights' accommodations at Cedar Lodge
- Guided photography walks
- Equipment demonstrations and lectures
- Help with carpooling where necessary
- One breakfast, one picnic meal

Photographic Equipment: you don't need to spend any money on equipment you don't already have. A basic digital or 35mm camera will serve you well. If you are serious about photography, however, you should attempt to bring along two accessories: a tripod & cable release. These items will allow you to photograph in the early morning hours and into evening, and also allow for creative techniques.

CF or SD cards: bring plenty of storage space for your digital photographs. Bring enough battery power to last through a day.

Film: the instructors recommend film from ISO/ASA 25 to 200. Fujichrome slide film offers excellent color saturation for slide film and has fine grain. Fujicolor and Kodacolor are good print films. Print film speeds up to ISO 400 are fine.

Note: Participants are encouraged to bring up to 20 slides/digital images and/or prints to share with the group. Digital images can be on your laptop or a thumb drive or CD (that the instructors can show via a laptop computer or with a digital projector).

Weather: we can expect mild to warm days, and cool evenings. Just about anything is possible, from temperatures in the '80's in the Valley during the day and down to the 30's in the evening (but don't bet on either). Be prepared with a selection of clothing. "Bad" weather, often in the form of afternoon thundershowers, is sometimes the best weather for photography.

Tentative Itinerary: on Day 1 depart anytime for Yosemite; our accommodations will be ready after 3 p.m. After dinner, we'll take in a slide show to learn about Yosemite and nature photography. On Day 2, we'll depart early for the drive to Yosemite Valley, photographing the powerful Merced River and waterfalls, and view the meadows and amazing granite walls, as well as watch for wildlife, and view  the amazing rainbow over Bridalveil Fall. On Day 3 we will photograph at Foresta, with its historic barns and fire scars from the massive 1988 burn and more major fire in 2009, and travel to Wawona and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. On Day 4, after an optional early morning session, we will enjoy a farewell breakfast. Although the workshop will end officially at this point, you are invited to remain with the instructors, who will head home via Highway the little gold rush town Hornitos.

How to join us, where to send payment: May a check payable to Image Quest, and mail it to 1164 Alvira Street, Los Angeles, California, 90035.You can also use paypal.com (contact Dave, first).

If you have any questions: call the trip leader, Dave Wyman, at 323 377-7565, or e-mail him at davewyman@imountainman.com.