Workshop Fee
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Save $ when you register early
$645 early registration by Feb 19, 2021
$695 registration after Feb 19, 2021
If registering before Feb 19, 2021, you have the option of paying just a $350 deposit at the time of registration with balance due by March 18, 2021.
When
Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 3:00 PM EDT-to-
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 3:00 PM EDT
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Contact
Mary Louise RaveseBella Vista Photography
(919) 307-9054
MLRavese@bellavistaphotography.com
Where
Asheville area, Western North Carolina.
Our "home base" is at the 20 acre Mountain Lens Training Center in Hendersonville, NC.
6356 Willow Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28739
Driving Directions
Getting There
Mountain Lens is about a 45 min drive south of downtown Asheville, NC.
Approximate driving times:
Atlanta, GA: 3 hrs 20 min
Raleigh, NC: 4.5 hrs
Spartanburg, SC: 1 hr 10 min
Washington DC: 8 hrs
Lodging
Lodging is not included in the workshop fee. Mountain Lens offers lodging on-site in a cottage and a carriage house.
Their rates run from $99 - $175 per person for suites that include a kitchenette. Luxury amenities include high-definition TVs and high-speed WiFi. Mountain Lens can also provide recommendations for local area hotels and B&Bs.
Contact Mountain Lens directly to book your lodging at (828)-230-3685
Due to COVID, lodging at Mountain Lens will be limited to the first two participants who register. Other off-site accomodations are available within a 20-30 min drive of Mountain Lens for the remaining participants. For example:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hendersonville SE - Flat Rock
2.5-STAR HOTEL
107 Upward Crossing Dr, Flat Rock, NC
Drive time to Mountain Lens: 20 min
Quality Inn & Suites Hendersonville - Flat Rock
2.5-STAR HOTEL
111 Commercial Blvd, Flat Rock, NC
Drive time to Mountain Lens: 21 min
Ramada by Wyndham Hendersonville
150 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville, NC
Drive time to Mountain Lens: 23 min
Flower Photography Workshop:
from realistic to imaginative
Celebrate the emergence of colorful flowers in all nature’s variety with a flower photography workshop! We can approach flower photography from a variety of stylistic points of view from realistic to imaginative. In this workshop, we embrace a full spectrum of techniques so you can discover new approaches and refine your existing skills.
Being based at Mountain Lens in Hendersonville, NC, in the same workshop we are able to combine controlled environment studio techniques, with in-the field photography at the impressive gardens and conservatory at the historic Biltmore Estate in nearby Asheville, NC. The centerpiece of the Biltmore’s famous gardens is the formal walled garden.
Some realistic, left-brained photo techniques we’ll cover include clean, modern, high-key flower photography and focus-stacking to expand depth-of-field, which is especially useful for deep flowers. Imaginative, right-brained photo techniques will include using a Lensbaby specialty lens to combine sharpness with pleasing blur, intentional camera movement techniques, and artistic distortions created by photographing flowers through, or reflected in, textured art glass.
The combination of lecture, demonstration and hands-on photography shooting sessions is sure to spark the imagination and produce some unique and beautiful floral images.
Your experience will be enhanced and consolidated through group photo sharing with supportive image feedback, and you will practice editing your own images with input and guidance from Mary Louise. The workshop culminates with each participant printing one of their images to take home for display.
Who should Attend
Experienced beginner, intermediate and advanced DSLR or mirror-less camera users who understand basic camera operation, are comfortable working in Aperture Priority or Manual Exposure mode, and are interested in expanding their knowledge to include flower photography equipment and techniques. If desired, participants can bring their own laptop to view and edit images. While image editing isn’t a major focus of the workshop, the instructor will provide editing guidance and demonstrations using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Additional software from Topaz Studio and the Nik Collection may also be touched on if needed.
Class size is limited to 6 students.
What is Included
- Lectures on flower photography equipment and shooting techniques
- Take-home lecture notes and resource handouts
- Hands-on photo shoots in the classroom and the Biltmore Estate gardens
- Entry fee to the Biltmore estate for one photo shoot
- Supportive image feedback on a selection of participant images
- Participants are welcome to use one of the available iMac computers
- 2 Boxed lunches
- One print of the participant’s work (additional prints may be available for a fee, if time permits)
What is not included
- Accommodations. On-site accommodations can be booked directly through Mountain Lens. Mountain Lens cottages offer a simple kitchenette so participants can bring in breakfast items from a local grocery. Mountain Lens can also offer suggestions for off-site accommodations if desired.
- Meals other than 2 boxed lunches. We will arrange group dinner take-out orders at local restaurants for those interested in eating with the group (while maintaining physical distance).
- Transportation. Participants should plan to drive or rent a car; public transportation is not readily available.
About the Instructor
Mary Louise Ravese specializes in fine art nature and travel photography from locations across the world. Her photographs are in private, university & corporate collections in over 40 states and are exhibited nationally. She has published images in calendars, magazines, books and websites. Mary Louise is a regular speaker and competition judge for photography clubs. She also enjoys teaching on a wide range of topics related to nature, travel and creative photography. Based in North Carolina, Mary Louise leads classes and workshops at a variety of locations across the US and abroad.