Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

Instructor Bio

Read an interview with Dave here.

Dave Waddell is a professional photographer with over 14 years of experience photographing a diverse and varied set of subjects and is the staff photographer at Down East. In 2017, he moved from Philadelphia with his wife and two children and settled into a new home in midcoast Maine, where they have spent the last five years falling head over heels in love with the people and landscape of this incredible state. For Dave, photography is a means for a deeper immersion in the surrounding environment and a way to connect with and learn more about others, their interests and motivations. In addition to photography, Dave loves to spend time with family and friends, play guitar, and spend as much time as possible outdoors hiking, biking, kayaking, and snowboarding.

Workshop Description

The midcoast region is known for its scenic beauty, and fall is the perfect time to experience all it has to offer. We’ll base in Camden and combine opportunities for fall foliage photography with visits to lighthouses and harbors. The blueberry barrens are especially beautiful this time of year.

We will meet as a group for dinner the night before to go over expectations in the workshop. We'll meet early the next morning and head out to our first location. After the morning shoot, we’ll head to a classroom location and engage in a lesson and short critique of images we captured in the morning. You can bring your own laptop, although it is not necessary. Dave will answer any questions you may have about certain techniques or processing challenges. This will go on for about an hour and a half, and after this, we usually have a 1-2–hour break for rest, which is very important because there is still a lot of day ahead. After break, we’ll go out for a shoot in the early afternoon, followed by a late lunch/early dinner. After that, we will continue shooting in the field right through sunset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lot of experience or expensive gear to take this workshop?

No. You can make great images right away with simple equipment, and that’s what this workshops aim to teach you. If you have photographed before and aim to update yourself on the latest techniques in digital photography, this is definitely for you. If you are just starting out and have a new camera you want to learn, this is for you too. If you are a seasoned veteran who doesn’t need much help, just wants to go to great locations and have fun with like-minded individuals, this is for you as well! You will need a basic DSLR or mirrorless camera and a tripod, but you don’t need a lot of fancy gear. I’ve put together a list of recommended accessories.

What about transportation?

Participants are responsible for their own transportation.

What about lodging?

Maine is a popular place and many hotels and B&B’s fill up fast. We ask that you stay close to our predetermined morning meet-up location.

What should I wear?

The most recommended piece of gear is a pair of sturdy shoes. We walk across the hard and angular rocks in many of these locations, so hiking shoes are very helpful. We also like to layer, which usually means a base layer of synthetic, fast-wicking material, a warm fleece or soft shell, and a down jacket for cool mornings. Other suggested items are found below.

• Insect and tick repellant
• Sunscreen
• Waterproof outerwear
• Wool socks
• Gloves
• Two hats, one for warmth, the other for sun protection
• Rubber boots (not absolutely necessary, but there may be mud or wading in some locations)
• Headlamp

Should I be concerned about ticks?

Yes. All outdoor activities in New England carry the risk of picking up these nasty hitchhikers. Please use bug repellent that you can apply to your skin, or even better, permethrin, which you apply to clothes you plan on wearing in the field. Also, give yourself an extensive review when you get home at night to check for ticks.

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

Bad weather is good weather to landscape photographers. If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. There are many idioms that apply to the weather, and if you don’t already know, following the weather is one of our favorite things to do! Dave’s been running workshops for years now, and he can honestly say that there hasn’t been a single day where we haven’t enjoyed being out photographing, even in the rain. Please keep an open mind when it comes to your expectations about what “good conditions" are. We want to teach you how to shoot in all conditions!

What does my tuition cover?

The price of the workshop includes all fieldwork, group instruction, and individual tutoring. It does not include travel insurance, meals other than what has been specified, transportation, and lodging.

Should I bring a laptop?

Yes. We recommend you bring your laptop to follow along during classroom time and to take notes. We also recommend you bring a card reader so that we can share and critique your photos if you’d like.

What camera equipment do you recommend I bring?

• DSLR or mirrorless camera
• Lenses to cover 16-200mm are recommended
• A sturdy tripod and head
• Circular polarizing filter
• Waterproof camera bag

Cancellations

The payment is 50% refundable in the event you have to cancel, as long as the cancellation is made 21 days before the trip. After that time, your payment is non-refundable. Alternately, 100% of your payment will be refunded if a replacement can be found prior to the trip.

This workshop needs a minimum of two participants. In the event the minimum is not met, we may cancel or offer to move you to a different workshop.