Autumn in Napa Valley, San Francisco and the Northern California Coast / Pacific Northwest Art School Photography Workshops

This Workshop is part of the Pacific Northwest Art School Photography Workshops 2012. Please contact The PNWAS to place your registration.(see link below)
http://www.pacificnorthwestartschool.org/Home.htm .
Phone: 360-678-3396
Toil-Free: 1-866-678-3396
info@pacificnorthwestartschool.org  The PNWAS has long been known for top quality are related workshops. I am proud to be on their faculty for 2012
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Perhaps the nicest time in Northern California is in September. The crowds are gone, the weather is the nicest and the sweet autumn light cast its rays over the vineyards of Napa, coastline as well as the inland valleys.

After our meet & greet meeting on Wednesday evening, we will be in the field shooting all day Thursday, Friday, Saturday and until noon on Sunday. Classroom sessions to review our images, discuss interesting photographic topics and techniques are interspersed. We will photograph in the Napa Valley,  specific areas north and south of the Golden Gate as well as some city locations in San Francisco proper ( i.e. Ft. Point, Row Houses etc). We will spend time in the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate National Scenic Area, Pt. Reyes National Seashore as well as Pigeon Point lighthouse, Pebble Beach State Park, near Half Moon Bay.
Hotels: Fairfield inn – American Canyon CA Wed, Thursday
              Embassy Suites—San Rafael Ca   Friday
               Holiday Inn Express --- Saturday 
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 Whether you are a beginner or a professional. The Bay Area and Northern California offer many diverse areas in which to photograph. Knowing where, when and how to shoot is the key.

 
 Having lived in Northern California for over 10 years, and now, traveling back often to photograph, my knowledge of getting  you to the right locations at the best time and offer instruction in making quality images is extremely helpful.
 
Perhaps the nicest time in Northern California is in September. The crowds are gone, the weather is the nicest and the sweet autumn light cast its rays over the coastline as well as the inland valleys
 
We will photograph for one complete day in the Napa Valley, This time of year is the time that the vineyards at peak with grapes, waiting for the harvest.. Patterns in the hillsides along with some of the most scenic landscapes anywhere provide endless possibilities. We will also visit specific areas north and south of the Golden Gate as well as some city locations in San Francisco proper ( i.e. Ft. Point etc). We will spend time in the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate National Scenic Area, Pt. Reyes National Seashore as well as Pigeon Point lighthouse, Pebble Beach (not the golf course—but the State Park!) and more.
Evenings will consist of informal sessions to discuss information on photographing in the area, critique sessions of your work shot during the workshop as well as general photography information.
 
 
Some of what will be covered.....
1)Improving your photography skills within these “hands-on” workshops
2)Composition, exposure and essential elements needed to make a great photograph and to bring out the story within the image
3)Use of color combinations, how to use color make the image stronger
4)Other techniques including, learning about how tonalities, negative space, balance, framing, emotional impact and flaws affect your images.
5)Seeing an image, working a scene, making the image a strong image
6)Choosing the look of the final image in the field, not after the fact. Taking an image knowing how you will be processing.
7)Making Panorama’s, Helicon Focus and HDR techniques simple
Choice locations have been determined by many years of shooting in the Northern California
 Daily itineraries will be sent out prior to the workshop

  
General FAQ’s can be found on the  2012 workshop page here on this site.. Most everything you need to know is found there. Please let us know if you have specific questions not addressed. I am happy to answer questions directly by email jack@jackgrahamphoto.com or via phone at 503-625-1430 

 
LOCATION / HOTEL INFO
 
We'll be staying near Napa Valley, in a town called American Canyon CA. We are only about 1/2 hour from the Napa Valley. American Canyon is about a 40 minute drive from the airports in Oakland or San Francisco. This will serve as the location for our informal evening sessions Wednesday & Thursday evenings  Friday evening we will relocate to The Embassy Suites in San Rafael, close to our ending location after sunset.  Half Moon Bay will be our evening location,  on the coast on Saturday where we will stay at the Holiday Inn Express..
There very few locations that one can be this close to civilization but yet in such remote beauty.
 
 
 
TRAVEL INFORMATION
 
You should plan on arriving for a get together on Wednesday evening prior t our workshop. We will meet in our hotel (Fairfield Inn, near Napa Ca.) to discuss itineries, logistics and define our goals for the workshop ahead.
 
BY AIR:
Arrive –SFO or OAKLAND
 
BY CAR:
The airport is South of San Francisco and Oakland is about a 45 minute drive across the San Mateo Bridge (depending on the time of day you land!).
 

FOOD/DINING
We will be her to photograph not spend time eating long meals (which is so easy to do here in the Bay Area) However, we will always be close to great food. 
  

 
WEATHER
Early September weather in Northern California can be fantastic. Sometimes it is actually warmer on the coast than inland. Occasional. September features more perhaps the best weather of the year in northern California!. More details will follow after registration prior to the workshop dates.
 
As this is part of the Pacific Northwest Art School Program, I can not offer my normal discounts. However this IS an outstanding value!-JG