The 2012 Image Quest Schedule of
Photography Workshops and Photography Tours
davewyman@imountainman.com
Phone: 323 377-7565
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Image Quest offers inexpensive photography tours and workshops with deluxe features, in California and beyond. Photographers with digital, 35mm and medium format cameras are welcome. Each trip offers the opportunity to join with people interested in travel and nature photography. The current calendar offers a variety of locations and themes, and each trip is conducted by Dave Wyman, who has conducted photography workshops since 1982. 

Several Image Quest Photo trips include meals, some prepared by trip leaders. Van transportation is offered on trips outside of California, while most trips in the Golden State involve carpooling. Call, write or e-mail for more information. Or, click on those workshops with underlined trip titles for more information.

Photography tours are hands-on experiences. There aren't any classroom sessions. Participants and instructors, however, spend some significant time together over the course of a photography outing, and we all learn from each other. When we are indoors, usually at the end of a day, we'll often pull out the laptops, a tablet, or an external monitor or digital projector, and look and talk about photographs. Above all, the emphasis is on making artistic, meaningful and contemplative photographs.

Some favorite outings are back for another run, some are new, and all of them will take you to creative places you've never been to with your photography. 

- Photography & Your iPad - Saturday January, 21, 2012 – Photograph the famed Getty Center in the afternoon, enjoy dinner with Dave, then learn the ins and outs of storing, moving and processing your photographs on your iPad.

Cultural Mirages: Route 66 and the Mojave Desert - Friday through Sunday, February 3-5, 2012 Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell (kenrockwell.com). Explore the cultural icons left behind by those who had a love affair with desert highways. Field sessions, centered along old Route 66 east of Barstow, will include the detritus of failed human incursions in the harsh desert environment. We'll begin Friday afternoon, in Barstow; our base of operations will move to remote Amboy, to photograph the famous Roy's Cafe and Motel, a classic roadhouse straight out of the middle of the last century and undergoing a leisurely restoration. Click here for images from a prior trip. Co-instructor Ken's photographs from a prior trip are here. Astronomer and night sky photographer Richard Nolthenius will, weather permitting, teach our group the methods for photographing the night sky with normal camera equipment and Ken and Dave will take the group out for a neon photography session. Includes a group meal, and a cornucopia of unique photography field sessions ferreted out through years of prior explorations. Cost: $325.

Yosemite in Winter  - Thursday through Sunday, February 16-19, 2012 Our group will stay in El Portal, just outside the park, giving us easy access to Yosemite Valley, the historic barns at Foresta, and the snow-covered meadows and forests at Crane Flat. Will we need snow shoes or skis? No. For this trip we will rely on private autos for transportation and our forays out of the car will be easy-paced strolls; just bring your camera gear and clothing for mild cold conditions. We may find ourselves in the middle of a soft Sierra Nevada snowfall at the base of El Capitan, or in full sunlight at ice-rimmed Bridalveil Fall. Whatever the weather, the low-angled light and winter conditions will reveal shapes, shadows and textures otherwise unseen during other seasons.  If conditions are good, we will photograph the Horsetail waterfall which turns to fire at the end of each day during the last two weeks of February. This trip includes a meal and a many beautiful locations of iconic landmarks, as well intimate landscapes. Cost: $280. A $100 deposit will hold your place. Photographs from a previous trip are here.

The Myth, Magic and Romance of Old Southern California - Friday through Sunday, March 2-4, 2012 - Ah, yes – Southern California! Of course there are places Los Angeles and Disneyland and freeways. Yet there a second Southern California, some of it under cerulean skies, some of it hidden away in ancient churches and behind quiet garden walls. It's the Southern California that looks in many ways as it did a century or more ago, where palm trees sway gently in the breeze and must compete for attention with historic architecture and grand landscapes. From our base in lovely Oceanside, California, we will explore some of the more picturesque reaches of the Golden State, from wooden piers and Spanish-era missions, to orange, avacdo and cactus groves, from wild mountain vistas to Indian reservations, from rocky cliffs to early-season wildflowers. This is romantic California, the place of myth and magic, a place that exists both in reality and as the shared, internal vision we all have of a simpler age, half-way back to a place like Eden. It is this second California to which our group will turn its collective and creative photographic eye. Cost: $355. Co-leaders: Daniel Wyman, Ken Rockwell.

En Plein Air - Photography and French Cuisine on the Central Coast - Thursday through Sunday, April 12-15, 2012   The French expression for "in the open air" is "en plein air" and when we hear it, we might think of the Impressionists like Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro. For our photography excursion, we photoraph in the open air, too. However, we will use our cameras and lenses, rather than a brush and paints, as we interpret the spectacular landscapes and seascapes, the historic architecture, and the people of the central coast of California.  Photographers who have joined our  trips for the past several years know that Irene Shibata has provided us with many exquisite meals. To add to the fun, Irene will provide our group with several French Bistro meals, which she will prepare on-site. You can't eat this well in France.  The trip will include a variety of photographic locations, from Montana de Oro State Park on the south, to the edge of Big Sur, on the north, as well as Irene's meals, and we'll base ourselves in the wonderful town of San Luis Obispo. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell. Cost: $500.

Similar to the above trip, we'll explore Yosemite with cameras and with a little less reliance on cars. Special feature: enjoy easy pedaling on the flat Valley floor (which will offer photo opportunities that we could never have in a car) one morening after breakfast. We'll also take the free shuttle bus, do a little walking, and drive to a few beautiful locations outside the Valley. Bring a camera, bring a bike (which can also be rented in the Valley), bring a bike helmet, some comfortable walking shoes, and prepare to see Yosemite in a new light.

The Northern Coast of Oregon - Tuesday through Sunday, June 5-10, 2012  Hallucinagenic seacapes, old lighthouses and old salts, fishing fleets, tide pools, rural landscapes, pine-clad coastal mountains, and a final session photographing waterfalls in the awesome Columbia River Gorge, just outside of Portland are all on the itinerary on a new version of an old Image Quest trip. We will meet in Portland, where we will spend some time exploring the town with our cameras, before heading west to the coast, traveling from Astoria to Newport. Travel will be by comfortable van (we are limited to seven participants plus the two trip leaders) and we'll stay in a lovely accommodations each night, in three locations. Our trip includes transporation, accomodations each night, some meals, and a cornucopia of photographic locations. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell. Cost: $1650.

– The 2011 Schedule –

Cultural Mirages: Route 66 and the Mojave Desert - Friday through Sunday, February 4-6, 2011 Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell (kenrockwell.com). Explore the cultural icons left behind by those who had a love affair with desert highways. Field sessions, centered along old Route 66 east of Barstow, will include the detritus of failed human incursions in the harsh desert environment. We'll begin Friday afternoon, in Barstow; our base of operations will move to remote Amboy, to photograph the famous Roy's Cafe and Motel, a classic roadhouse straight out of the middle of the last century and undergoing a leisurely restoration. Click here for images from a prior trip. Co-instructor Ken's photographs from a prior trip are here. Astronomer and night sky photographer Richard Nolthenius will, weather permitting, teach our group the methods for photographing the night sky with normal camera equipment and Ken and Dave will take the group out for a neon photography session. Includes comfortable accommodations in Barstow, a group meal, and a cornucopia of unique photography field sessions ferreted out through years of prior explorations. Cost: $550 (single supplement available).A $200 deposit will hold your place.

Route 66: The Mother Road and the End of the American Dream - Friday through Sunday, February 11-13, 2011 From Friday morning through Sunday evening, our second exploration of Route 66 will take us to photograph the architecture – crumbling here, brightly lit by neon there – the people and the landscapes at the end of the cultural pipeline of the American Dream. This territory, running generally through the megalopolis that is Los Angeles, stretches from the unblinkingly bleak edge of the arid Mojave Desert to the wide, white sand beaches at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, where our journey's end will be symbolized by the gaudily effusive exuberance of the Santa Monica Pier. The trip includes two nights' accommodations, transporation by comfortable van, a group meal, and an array of field sessions with unlimited photographic possibilities. Group limited to 12 participants, and the two trip leaders. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell. Cost: $650 (single suppliment available). A $200 deposit will hold your place. (Ken's photos from a previous trip are here.)

Yosemite in Winter - Thursday through Sunday, February 24-27, 2011 Our group will stay in El Portal, just outside the park, giving us easy access to Yosemite Valley, the historic barns at Foresta, and the snow-covered meadows and forests at Crane Flat. Will we need snow shoes or skis? No. For this workshop will rely on private autos for transportation and our forays out of the car will be easy-paced strolls; just bring your camera gear and clothing for cold to mild conditions. We may find ourselves in the middle of a soft Sierra Nevada snowfall at the base of El Capitan, or in full sunlight at ice-rimmed Bridalveil Fall. Whatever the weather, the low-angled light and winter conditions will reveal shapes, shadows and textures otherwise unseen during other seasons.  Note: If conditions are good, we will photograph the Horsetail waterfall which turns to fire at the end of each day during the last two weeks of February. This trip includes accommodations each night, and a farewell brunch in the Gold Country town of Mariposa on our way home. Cost: $475. Single supplement available. A $100 deposit will hold your place. Photographs from a previous trip are here.

En Plein Air - Photography and Food on the Central Coast - Thursday through Sunday, April 14-17, 2011 "En Plein Aire" is the French expression for "in the open air" and is often associated with artists like Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro, who favored painting outdoors. For our photography excursion, we will use our cameras and lenses, rather than a brush and paints, to record and interpret the spectacular landscapes and seascapes, the historic architecture, and the people of the central coast of California.  Photographers who have joined our photography trips for the past several years know that Irene Shibata has provided us with many exquisite meals. To add to the fun, Irene will provide our group with several French Bistro meals, which she will prepare on-site.  The trip will include a variety of photographic locations, from Montana de Oro State Park on the south, to Big Sur, on the north, several of Irene's meals, and any entry fees. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell. Cost: $500.

Southern California Photo Express - Friday through Sunday, June 24-26, 2011 From Oceanside to San Diego, explore the southern reaches of Southern California (which is also the terrain of co-instructor Ken Rockwell). Locations will include wooden piers, posing pelicans and bold surfers, an old mission, grand views of the coast, wildflowers, lounging sea lions, and the people and architecture of this laid-back part of the world. Includes a cornucopia of field locations, some meals, and any entry fees. Cost: $350.

Dan Wyman Photograph

Autumn in Yellowstone and the Tetons - Monday through Sunday, October 3-9, 2011 As it has been for Image Quest each year for a couple of decades, our autumn subjects in Yellowstone country will include geysers, wildlife, and the rugged Wyoming landscape. We'll also photograph the historic Mormon barns and tour the Jackson Hole area, travel beautiful backroads in Utah and Idaho, and explore the Tetons.  Our visit should coincide with the colors autumn; mountain peaks might even be topped with a mantle of snow. Expect to photograph bison and elk and moose, with chances to see and photograph bears, beaver, and a variety of birds. We'll also look for wolves (although they are usually not easy to photograph, the one pictured here was happy to pose for us). View photographs from a prior outing here. The tour includes accommodations (double occupancy, non-smoking) in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Montana and Utah, van transportation, a group meal, park entry fees, and an amazing array of field locations. Cost: $1,550 (single supplement available). A $200 deposit will hold your place.

Monterey Bay  - Friday Through Sunday, August 26-28, 2011 The workshop will explore the regions in and around Monterey Bay, with a variety of locations beginning and ending in the wonderful town of Monterey. Locations will include the town itself, some of the Big Sur coastline, the rugged terrain of the Coast Range Mountains, old buildings, and the people of the region. Trip includes some meals, and all entry fees. Cost $350. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell.

Autumn in Yosemite - Sunday through Wednesday, October 16-19, 2011 Photograph Yosemite when the colors of autumn will be on display, and people in the park will be few. We'll photograph classic and novel locations in the Valley.  Dave Wyman is teaching this course for the Yosemite Conservancy. Click here for images from a prior outing. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell.  Cost: TBA.  (Contact the Yosemite Conservancy to sign-up for this trip - like many of the others here, it will fill quickly.)

The Sierra Nevada East Side: Bodie, Mono Lake and the Colors of Autumn - Thursday through Sunday, October 20-23, 2011 We can expect, as we have the past many years, to enjoy the colorful autumn that will turn groves of aspens into flaming torches of yellow and gold. Bodie, the best preserved ghost town in the old west, lies east of Yosemite, as do the strange wonders of Mono Lake. Our travels will  take us into the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, including Lundy Canyon with its aspens and beaver dams, and we'll make at least one stop at the famous Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining. We'll stay in the little town of Bridgeport, far from the madding crowd. Trip includes two meals, entry fees, and a wild variety of field locations. Cost: TBA. Click here for photographs made on a prior trip. Co-instructor: Ken Rockwell (kenrockwell.com). A $100 deposit will hold your place.

Route 66: Neon and Navajos - Thursday through Sunday, November 3-6, 2011 Our group will meet in Albuquerque for dinner on Monday and we'll have a chance to photograph neon and the Day of the Dead festivities. Then we'll travel by van along Interstate 40 to a variety of other locations. We'll turn our cameras towards achingly beautiful landscapes as well as the most kitschy locations in the Southwest, including some of the Indian "curio" shops along the remnants of Route 66. We'll also explore Gallup, where we will make a special tour of the "pawn vaults" in the Richardson Trading Post, and photograph the garrish, glowing neon signs of the old motels; we'll stay in the legendary El Rancho Hotel/Motel. We'll visit the Zuni Pueblo, as well as spend a night in the Wig Wam (on the National Register of Historic Places) in colorful Holbrook, Arizona, a town full of neon and dinosaurs. Cost: TBA. Trip includes transportation by van, some meals, accommodations, entry fees and guided field sessions.  A $100 deposit will hold your spot.

Alternative Photography in Yosemite - Thursday through Sunday, November 17-20, 2011 We will test our creative eyes on this unique trip to Yosemite, where there will be one restriction: no DSLR's. A digital point-and-shoot, a cell phone, Holga, Diana, Instamatic, a Rolleiflex or Yashika Mat, a Polaroid or a pinhole camera? Yes. For a few days, we will remove ourselves from the burden of weight and the burden of technological complexity, and from the belief that weight and complexity are necessary components of meaningful or artistic photography. Includes accommodations, a couple of meals, field locations. Instructors: Chuck Nadeau, Dave Wyman. Cost: $525 (single supplement availabel). Above: Cell Phone Photography (iPhone) at Yosemite

Dave is about to begin work on a new book – including an ebook version – about nature photography.

"Dave Wyman was also very knowledgeable and informative, in additional he was incredibly patient and helpful. I watched him help various students work through questions and issues in a very proactive, helpful manner. He never lacked the energy to answer questions completely and with enough surrounding information to set the context correctly for the answer. He was a GREAT instructor."