The Gardens of Portland

Please consider joining me on a 2 day trip through 3 of the most spectacular gardens in the world. Please read on for lots of details. !! 
Information on what to bring, weather etc will begin to flow about August 10, 2012
 
DEPOSIT and REGISTRATION INFORMATION
 
I normally require a 250.00 deposit for most of my workshops. As the cost of this 2 day experience is $175.00, a 50.00 deposit is required instead of the normal deposit.
Registration forms are found on the main page of the gallery section of my web site.
 
www.jackgrahamphoto.com/photo-workshops
 
 All levels of photography are encouraged. All I ask is that you are somewhat familiar with the buttons and functionality of your cameras. The more you are comfortable with your camera, the more you will get out of the workshop.

 
OVERVIEW:
 
What these 3 venues have in common:
 
1)      We will work on both Landscape and close-up photography. I use the word close-up since I believe you do not need a macro lens to take high quality close up images of objects.
2)      We will visit 3 of the most photo graphical gardens in our area with diverse plant life in their prime blooming period.
3)      This is a 2 day event. In addition to the flora locations, we’ll spend about 3 hours in the Japanese Gardens in Portland. (Admittance to the gardens is included in your sign up fee).
4)      We will review and talk about our images, as a learning process after the workshop
5)      During the weekend, , we’ll spend some time in my studio working on processing (see below).
6)      We’ll have a barbecue on Saturday evening after our workshop.
 
What we will work on
 
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

 
Endless possibilities of both landscape and close up photography are available. You’ll be able to meander throughout the rows of Lavender, roses or dahlia’s looking for patterns of color and textures. It is important to not be overwhelmed and want to quickly capture every flower within sight. Slowing down and studying the subject will make for better images. Paying close attention to your backgrounds will also enhance the final images you capture.
 
If you own a macro lens, certainly bring it. However, great close up images are available using both wide angle, telephoto and macro. Though a macro lens opens up some wonderful possibilities, great images can be made with telephoto lenses.
 
I strongly suggest using a tripod and tripod head
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LOCATION INFORMATION
 
SWAN ISLAND DAHLIAS
About 40 minutes south of the airport in Portland Oregon, in the heart of the Willamette Valley is Swan Island Dahlias. Covering over 40 acres of more than 350 specie, this is the largest Dahlia field in the United States. Every year over 30,000 seedlings are planted. Upon arriving at the Swan Island Dahlia Farm, you will be amazed to witness the over 40+acres of dahlias, all in symmetric rows, in every color imaginable..
 
I will work with of you in all aspects of this kind of photography both in the field and in our classroom pre, during and post workshop sessions. A review or critique of our work will occur during and after out workshop in order to see our results and understand what might have to be done differently to come away with some great shots.
I  guarantee you’ll remember this workshop. Nowhere else is this type of photography so accessible.
 

All levels of photography are encouraged. All I ask is that you are somewhat familiar with the buttons and functionality of your cameras. The more you are comfortable with your camera, the more you will get out of the workshop.

 
PORTLAND ROSE TEST GARDEN

On Saturday Afternoon, we’ll visit and photograph the Portland Rose Test Garden. Located in Washington Park in Portland's West Hills, this garden includes more than 10,000 plantings of over 500 varieties. The International Rose Test Garden is also one of 24 official testing sites for the internationally respected All-America Rose
Selections (AARS)
The Portland Rose Test Garden is the oldest public garden of its kind in the United States
 
 
JAPANESE GARDENS / PORTLAND OREGON
 
The Garden is located in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, directly above the Rose Gardens in Washington Park.
 
The garden was designed by Professor Takuma Tono beginning in 1963, though the garden opened to the public in 1967.
 
In a study conducted by the Journal of Japanese Gardening, it was ranked first out of 300 public Japanese gardens outside of Japan and considered to be one of the most authentic. This is notable because a traditional Japanese garden normally takes hundreds of years to evolve and mature, but the Portland Japanese Garden evolved much more quickly—a fusion of hurried western style and stately eastern expression.
 
The 5.5 acre Japanese Garden is composed of five distinct garden styles. When we enter a Japanese garden, the desired effect is to realize a sense of peace, harmony, and tranquility and to experience the feeling of being a part of nature. In a deep sense, the Japanese garden is a living reflection of the long history and traditional culture of Japan. Influenced by Shinto, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophies, there is always “something more” in these compositions of stone, water, and plants than meets the eye.
 
Three of the essential elements used to create a Japanese garden are stone, the “bones” of the landscape; water, the life-giving force; and plants, the tapestry of the four seasons. Japanese garden designers feel that good stone composition is one of the most important elements in creating a well-designed garden. Secondary elements include pagodas, stone lanterns, water basins, arbors, and bridges. Japanese gardens are asymmetrical in design and reflect nature in idealized form. Traditionally, human scale is maintained throughout so that one always feels part of the environment, not overpowered by it

Schedule:
Friday:
 
Early AM-Sunrise-- Possible Col. River Gorge Sunrise
7:30-10:30--Swan Is Dahlias
 
11:00-12:00:noon-(on your own)
12:30pm-3:30pm –    Image review in my home studio in Sherwood
4:30-7:00PM--Portland Japanese gardens
 
7:00 on--   Possible sunset--somewhere on the area 
 
Saturday:
 
8:00am-10:00am--Back to Swan Is Dahlia's--work on what we learned on Sat!--
10:30-11:45AM---travel to Portland Rose Test Garden
12:00-2:00 --Portland Rose Test Garden
 
 3:00-5:35  Image review in my Studio
 6;00-  when ever-------BBQ etc at my home! in Sherwood
 
 
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE:
 
We will take our time, and look for the inner beauty to capture in our photography. We’ll use the combination of water and the amazing plants to create some wonderful images. Patterns and foregrounds are the order of the day. We will stress simplicity and use all aspects, including Depth of Field, proper exposure and more to improve your overall photography as well as come away with some wonderful images in these word class gardens.
 
TRAVEL INFORMATION
 
By AIR:
 
Fly into Portland (PDX). I recommend arriving no later than mid to late afternoon on Friday August 25th. Get a good night’s rest on Thursday evening. We’ll be leaving the Fairfield Inn early on the 26th.
 
 
LODGING: I recommend staying at the BEST WESTERN TIGARD< OREGON:
 

16105 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, Oregon, 97224-3440, US

Phone: 503/431-2100

 
This hotel is about 5 minutes from my studio and only 20 minutes from the Dahlia fields and about the same to the gardens.
BY CAR:

The airport is on the North Side of Portland accessible via I-5 /I 205 and I 84. Tigard is about a 30 minute drive south,  from the airport
 
FOOD/DINING
 
As in any city, there are many good restaurants. Portland boasts some of the best. The downtown area is about 15-20 minutes from the Airport.
However, we are here to photograph and often the best light is at breakfast and dinner. Please know this in advance. Don't worry, we do eat!

If you are coming with a non photographer (no extra charge!), don't worry, the area is still something to see, shooting or not. There is a wonderful market in downtown Portland on Saturday morning and overall great shopping where many local items can be purchased. However on this workshop, both locations are so amazing, I would encourage bringing your non photographer on the workshop.
Please contact me for more details jack@jackgrahamphoto.com