Epic Patagonia Photo Adventure
"Journey to the Far Side of the World"
March 26 - April 4, 2012 (10 days)
Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina and Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Tuition $4800 (Deposit $1000)
Class Size 14
  
Looking to take your creative expression to the next level? Creative Vision Photo Workshops are designed to challenge you to reach new heights with your nature photography. Join Creative Vision instructors Richard Bernabe and Ian Plant on an intensive, multi-day field and classroom instructional workshop that will help you create photographs you've always dreamed of making.
The Destination
Patagonia, a land of jagged granite peaks, towering blue glaciers, and wind-swept plains, is one of the most breathtaking places on the planet. Called a "Living Eden," the mountains of Patagonia contain some of the world's most inspiring places, and all serious nature photographers should have this trip at the top of their "bucket list." Join Ian Plant and Richard Bernabe to create magical images on the far side of the world!
The scenery in this area is otherworldly, with stunning mountains piercing the heavens, a massive ice field spawning hundreds of glaciers, and deep mountain lakes filled with cold clean water as blue as the sky. Few places on Earth are its equal. Our trip is scheduled for the tail end of summer, maximizing our chances of getting good weather and great light. For this very special photography workshop, Richard and Ian will lead you on an intensive, multi-day instructional workshop that will help you create photographs you've always dreamed of making.
Basic Itinerary
Participants should plan to arrive in Calafare no later than Sunday, March 25 (lodging in Calafate is included in the workshop price for the 25th and for April 4th when we return). We'll have dinner as a group on the 25th, and go over preliminary workshop details. The workshop will officially begin on the morning of the 26th. We'll rise early to photograph sunrise at Perito Moreno Glacier, and then after the morning shoot we will take a bus to our hotel in Chalten, our base of operations for the next few days. Weather permitting, expect to photograph every sunrise and sunset during the workshop. We'll also do some shooting during the day, but we'll make sure to leave plenty of time for meals and rest breaks.
We'll spend five days in Chalten, photographing beautiful views of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and other peaks, as well as several local waterfalls. We then take a bus to Chile, where we will spend the next five days photographing the natural wonders of Torres del Paine National Park. There, we will have abundant opportunities to photograph both landscape and wildlife subjects. On the morning of April 4th, we will conclude the workshop after photographing sunrise, and then we will head back to our hotel in Calafate. We will likely reach Calafate late in the afternoon, so participants should plan to fly out no earlier than April 5th.
Places We'll Visit
The beating heart of Patagonia, Los Glaciares National Park—the famous Fitz Roy area—is our first destination for this photo adventure of a lifetime. While there, we'll seek locations with stunning views of Fitz Roy and jagged Cerro Torre, the two main peaks in the region. In addition to photographing the mountains, we will visit nearby glaciers for stunning views of tons of compressed blue glacial ice, and photograph several beautiful waterfalls as well.
For the second half of the workshop, we visit stunning Torres del Paines National Park of Chile, home to the famous "Cuernos," stunning mountain peaks with a distinctive shape. While in Paine, we'll also get chances to photograph vast herds of wild guanacos (similar to llamas), austral flamingos, and other charasmatic Patagonian wildlife.
Fitness Level
While most shooting locations can be reached by road, we will do some hiking on this workshop. Hikes will typically be easy to moderate in difficulty, and will be less than a mile one way, but may involve several hundred feet of elevation gain and require travel over rocky terrain. Decent physical fitness will certainly facilitate your enjoyment of this workshop. Every participant must complete and sign a standard liability waiver and medical form before participating in this workshop.
Curriculum
Richard and Ian will teach a variety of techniques—both in the field and in the classroom—that will allow you to advance both your technical skills and artistic vision. We focus on a number of professional field techniques to help you create dramatic and powerful nature images, including working with dramatic light, including sunrise and sunset; the fundamentals of powerful compositions; and abstract techniques for creating artistic photographs. In addition, we'll explore a number of artistic philosophies that will help you find your own personal vision.
  
Getting There
Participants are responsible for getting to El Calafate, Argentina. International flights typically arrive in Buenos Aires at Aeropuerto Ministro Pistarini (Ezeiza Airport). Most flights from Buenos Aires to Calafate leave from Jorge Newbery Airport (AeroParque), about an hour away from Ezeiza Airport. Transfer to Jorge Newbery Airport can be made via taxi or minibus. El Calafate has a vibrant downtown area filled with excellent restaurants and charming tourist shops.
What's Included
- Photography instruction
- Double occupancy lodging (single supplement $1000)
- Local transportation to and from Calafate
- Entrance fees and guide fees
What's Not Included
- Airfare to and from El Calafate; transfer from airport to hotel
- Any applicable visa fees and local airport taxes
- Meals
Recommended Equipment
- Wide angle to normal zoom lenses (in the range of 17mm to 200mm)
- Longer telephoto zoom for wildlife (100-400mm)
- Electronic shutter release
- Sturdy tripod
- Sunscreen
- Raingear
- Waterproof boots
- Pack to carry photo and personal gear while hiking
- Water bottle
- Clothing for both warm and cold weather
March and early April in Patagonia is the end of summer/beginning of autumn. Put Patagonia weather is highly variable, and one can experience three seasons all in one day. Bring clothes for both warm and cold weather. Convertible pants/shorts come in handy. A warm fleece hat, gloves or mittens, and a warm parka are highly recommended.
Deposit Required
A $1000.00 deposit will be required with the balance to be redeemed no later than 60 days before the workshop.
Questions?
If you have any questions, or if you wish to register for this workshop, please email Richard Bernabe or Ian Plant.
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