Western Maine Photo Workshop - $575

Instructor Bio

Darylann Leonard’s love for photography began as a child, watching and learning from her father, who was a teacher and self-taught photographer. Through the years, her love for hiking and exploring the outdoors has provided a natural classroom for learning the art of photography. 

Darylann has worked for over 25 years in Maine as a clinical social worker. Her experience in helping people through dark times in their lives, encouraging them to see their inner strength and beauty, has carried over into her vision as a photographer. Darylann believes that not only does photography challenge people as individuals, but it also provides an opportunity to show others the world through one’s own eyes. Her goal of bringing her own vision of the beauty of nature to others keeps her love for this art alive.

Darylann has been a contributing photographer for Down East magazine since 2014. Her photography has been featured on Maine Lake and Mountains Visitor Guide, Midcoast Maine Visitor Guide, and Western Maine Guidebook. Her work has also placed in international competitions, including the Greater Lynn and Glennie Memorial Nature Salon. She earned a second-place finish in the 2013 Maine Photography Show. Darylann has been an exhibiting artist at Gallery 302 in Bridgton, Maine, since 2012.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my [time] with Down East Adventures. Ben and Darlyann were fantastic leaders — both gifted photographers and teachers. I was one of the less-experienced photographers in our group of 10, but I quickly became comfortable asking questions of our leaders and my more experienced group members. Everyone was super supportive and encouraging. We all enjoyed the beautiful scenery, food, and camaraderie of our group. I would sign up again in a heartbeat!” – Rachel G.

Workshop Description

This workshop will focus on fall foliage in the beautiful western mountains of Maine. Darylann Leonard is lucky enough to call this area her backyard, and has intimate knowledge of photo locations, local weather, and great food stops. We will be based in the beautiful town of Bridgton. Possible locations for shooting will be Bridgton, Harrison, Waterford, Stow, Fryeburg, Evans Notch, and Norway. This is not a photo tour. There will be individual instruction based on your goals and your questions. We photograph from sunrise to sunset with an interlude of classroom time, where we review images and discuss techniques that can improve your images. These workshops are designed to maximize learning opportunities and provide guidance on creating the kind of images you want to create. Workshops are limited to 5 people to maximize individual instruction.

The workshop will kick off on Thursday evening with a meet-and-greet dinner followed by our first sunset shoot. Friday morning, we will meet 30-45 minutes before sunrise to get in position and take advantage of the best light. After shooting in one location for about an hour, we will move on to a second, and sometimes third location. We will then stop for breakfast together. After breakfast, there will be a break to have time to rest, charge batteries, and download your images. We will then reconvene for class time to discuss photo techniques, review images, and have time to answer any questions you may have. We will then have a late lunch/early dinner together. Then back out into the field to shoot through sunset. The workshop will conclude following sunset. The most central location to stay for this workshop will be the Bridgton area.

There will be classroom time in the afternoon, where we will discuss how to plan a shoot, best techniques to execute in the field, as well as how to process your images. Darylann will share some of her favorite Photoshop editing techniques and will then open the floor to look at student work and give feedback. We will then reconvene for an early dinner and to chase the beautiful golden-hour light and settle on a location for sunset. This workshop is limited to 5 people to provide the best learning experience for the participants.

Here are some suggestions on places to stay:

1. Noble House Inn
2. Highland Lake Resort
3. Grady’s West Shore Motel
4. Tarry-A-While Resort
5. As well as many Airbnb opportunities.

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 workshop aims 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&Bs 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 for cool mornings and the heat of the day, which usually means a base layer of synthetic, fast-wicking material and a warm fleece or soft shell. Other suggested items are found below.
  • Insect and tick repellant
  • Sunscreen
  • Waterproof outerwear
  • A hat 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! We’ve been running workshops for years now, and can 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 card reader if your laptop doesn’t have one built-in
  • Extra camera batteries
  • Extra memory cards.
  • 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.