DON GALE “ON THE ROAD”

Unique, on-site workshops conducted in some of the most inspiring outdoor locations. Learn how to combine your love of the outdoors with the basic photographic techniques used by professional photographer Don Gale to record the wonders of nature from behind a lens. See below for more information regarding the workshops.

To see some photos of the locations listed below, check out the GALLERY section of our site. We typically return to the same place, year after year. There's a good chance we've got the images from the latest trip posted there.

2009 Workshops

Happy New Year!

Besides what we've already listed below, we're planning on several more trips this year, but have yet to set all the dates. Please check back, as we'll be adding new events as soon as the details are finalized.

Hope you can join us!


Yosemite Valley in the Winter
February 7-10, 2009

The crowds are gone and the snow-covered valley is incredible! Everywhere you turn is a classic scene, waiting to be photographed.
Check out our website GALLERY for images from last year. We've already reserved a block of rooms at The Lodge At The Falls....give us a call if you'd like one reserved.



Fred Hall Sports show / Long Beach Convention Center
March 4th thru 8th 2009

Print display and daily photo seminars We'll be doing inkjet printing, right in the booth, using the HP 8850

Workshop in Big Sur
March 14-17, 2009

Hidden far from any major city, this is truly a gem of the California coast. Some of the most rugged coastal cliffs, waterfalls, and probably a spectacular display of wildflowers this time of year. Join us for a very special shooting opportunity.....lots of tropical, fern-filled canyons, and a few beaches, which at sunset are truly amazing. Check our gallery section to see images from the recent trip we made here.

Workshop in Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, CA
March 19-22, 2009

Right in the middle of the wildflower season, this place offers rolling, green hills, rugged coastal scenes. Also an amazing variety of birds, otters and seals. It's obvious why William Randolph Hearst chose this location for his unbelievable home.....the famed Hearst Castle. Here's a few of the shots from last year There's plenty of hotels and B&B's right nearby....or, stay with us in the large house we've rented for the workshop base-camp. It's got a huge living room, and kitchen. This gives our group a great place to conduct the classroom sessions, where we do digital slide shows, image critiques, and inkjet printing demonstrations. Call our studio for more info on the workshop, and rental house.


Fred Hall Sports Show / Del Mar Fairgrounds / San Diego
March 25th thru 29th 2009
Print display and booth. Photo seminars daily. We'll have the newest HP inkjet printer in the booth, and doing print demos all day long

Weekend On a Beachfront California Ranch

April 18th thru 20th 2009

Located very near the classic coastal town of Santa Barbara, this private 3000 acre ranch has just about everything you can imagine for a rewarding photographic adventure. Rolling hills, which should be green and loaded with wildflowers. It's own private beach, an overhead wooden railroad trestle, and tons of other amazing features.

The itinerary for this weekend's workshop will include two sunset shooting sessions right on the beach. Three sunrise sessions also on location in the local hills and beach area.  And, mid day, when the lighting isn't at it's best, we'll move indoors for some classroom sessions featuring critiques of student work, using a digital slide projector.  We'll also cover some basic Photoshop techniques on image preparation, and do some inkjet printing demonstrations, using the same printers found in our studio.

The owner of this incredible ranch will also be attending, and has offered the use of his private guest quarters to house our group. It's a huge, 5 bedroom place, located right on the property.  The cost for 3 nites lodging and selected meals will be approximately $240.   Hotels are also an option, and are located approximately 5 miles away.

This is a new location for us.  It's the perfect time of year to shoot the central coast. This should be great!

Lancaster Photography Association
Evening Seminar April 21, 2009 6 pm - 8:30 pm
No Charge, and visitors welcome!
Antelope Valley Senior Center
777 W Jackman St
Lancaster, CA (click HERE for more info)
There's a good chance that the timing for this High Desert seminar may coincide with the annual Poppy bloom in Lancaster! Come out for the meeting, grab a room in a local hotel, and be ready the next morning for some mid-week, crowd free, wildflower shooting. For the most up-to-date wildflower reports, make sure to visit Carol Leigh's website calphoto.com and scroll all the way down to the bottom for accurate reports....


Workshop in Hawaii
April 25 - May 1, 2009

On the lush, green Island of Kauai.  We'll be based on the south end of the island...near some of the worlds finest beaches and scenic views.

Warm tropical water, palm trees, rainbows and sunsets like nowhere else. Our group will have the opportunity to stay together in a huge luxury home, in a hillside canyon, near the beach....or, get a room of your own in one of the many nearby hotels. Call for more information, and to reserve your spot.

A couple of longtime, local residents will be assisting us , and showing some of their personal, secret places to get amazing shots.

The large house, where we'll be based, has all the conveniences of your home....full kitchen, 3 bathrooms, patios, outdoor barbeque, internet service, and a great location ! Centrally located, the house is about a 15 minute drive, or cab ride from the airport at Lihue.

Give us a call for more info, and to reserve your spot.


Dana Point Boat Show
May 28th thru 31st 2009
http://www.danaboatshow.com
Print display and booth / continuous inkjet printing demonstrations


Weekend on the Farm / Workshop $495 Includes some meals
June 4-7, 2009

This unique, on-site workshop will be conducted in historic Pike County, one of the most inspiring outdoor locations in Illinois. Pike County provides a wide array of subjects to photograph, from historical landmarks, Amish communities, Indian burial grounds and farming landscapes to wildlife and scenic sunsets. Our workshop will be based on a private farm, nestled between the Illinois River to the east and the Mississippi River to the west. The town of Pittsfield, just 10 miles to the North, is the county seat and hub of this rural farming community. The photogenic courthouse on the city square was the proving ground for young attorney Abraham Lincoln and his colleagues of the court. Several homes in and around Pittsfield date back to the Civil War and the county is full of old barns, log cabins, and outbuildings.
Typically, this time of year will provide us with the great opportunity for close-up shots of the baby animals which were born in the spring. Lots of very young fawns are right on the farm! If you'll be flying in for this one, the St Louis airport is about a 90 minute drive.
Click here, and then scroll down to see some of the shot's from our last Weekend On The Farm. For more information, or to register for this trip, click here.

Ventura County Boat Show / Channel Islands Harbor
July 16th thru 19th 2009
http://www.venturaboatshow.com/
Print display and inkjet printing demonstrations daily, using the latest HP products


Germany, the Alps and Oktoberfest in Munich / Workshop
September 27 - October 2, 2009

We're returning to what has become a favorite shooting destination of mine. Northern Italy and the southern Alps region of Germany offers a huge variety of natural wonders... as well as architecture and some very interesting faces and lifestyle photo ops.
We've posted some images on the GALLERY section of this website. In addition to all the basic, great shooting, this year we'll head to Oktoberfest for an insider's view of this famous, regional festival.
We'll be flying into Munich for this one. Plans are to make our headquarters in the Bavarian Alpine village of Garmisch. This puts us right in the middle of the amazing scenery. Last time we visited at this time of year, the fall colors were stunning!


Yosemite in the Fall
October 31 - November 3, 2009

Check out our website gallery to see some of the images from last year. We had great fall colors and an early snowfall on the last day. We've already reserved a block of rooms at The Lodge At The Falls....give us a call if you'd like one reserved. And, if you'd like to split the room costs, we can arrange that, too. Click HERE to see images from last year's trip.

Death Valley, Lone Pine & Eastern Sierra Foothills
December 5-8, 2009

This one-two punch has become a very popular trip.....combining the spectacular winter light in the Owen's Valley, and the view of Mt Whitney behind the Alabama Hills, In Lone Pine, we'll use Boulder Creek RV Park as our base camp. They have several rental cabins and trailers..and a great meeting room for our classroom sessions.....and then, onto Death Valley, with the sand dunes, salt flats and un-ending shooting possibilities. Our base camp in Death Valley will be at the Stovepipe Wells Village motel. We've got rooms set aside for our group....give us a call if you'd like us to hold one for you. There's also a campground across the street, along with a gas station, fully stocked general store and a swimming pool.

Check our website GALLERY section to see some of the images from last year. There's also some images posted on out TIPS & TECHNIQUES section.....

General Information: Gear

Suggested Equipment:
The following accessories are highly recommended for the workshops. These are some of the basic tools used for outdoor/landscape photography. We will cover their proper use during the class. However, if you are missing any of the gear listed below, don't let that stop you from joining us. We have plenty of gear available to loan you for the Workshop. Several of the companies we work with have provided us with loaner gear..

• Cokin "P" Series or Lee Filter System and lens shade
  
• Your camera manual
  
• Extra battery and charger
  
• One-stop neutral density "graduated" filter
  
• Two-stop neutral density "graduated" filter
  
• Remote or cable shutter release
  
• An efficient lens shade
• Polarizing filter
• Plenty of memory cards
• Tripod
  

Recommended film: Fuji Velvia transparency



What you will need:

• Any camera will work, film or digital. The techniques that we'll cover pertain to any brand or model. Our sponsors have provided gear for you to use, so before buying an expensive tripod, diffusion panel or reflector, try one of ours.
  
• Day-pack for snacks and drinks
• Everyone is on their own for meals
  
• Outdoor essentials – hat, sunscreen, jacket, flashlight, insect repellent, canteen or water bottle, gloves, rain gear & coins for those back country vending machines.
• Snipe repellant

Workshop Rates and Information

Pricing:
Workshop prices vary depending on locations and days. Call studio for exact amounts. Transportation, accommodations, meals and park entry fees are not included. Give us a call and we can help you arrange lodging and carpools. We'll also assist in arranging for "room sharing"
Most hotels are set-up with 2 beds....if you're traveling alone, this may be a good way to save expenses by splitting the cost.

Also, if there's someone driving to the class, and lives near you, or will drive by your place on the way, give us a call, an we'll let em know, so you can carpool to the class. We make it part of our pre-trip planning, to send out several emails to keep you up to date on how the trip is progressing.

Workshop Itineraries are subject to change depending on class size and weather conditions. Additional workshops will be added to the current schedule periodically. Check our website to stay informed.


Registration:
$100.00 deposit is required to hold a spot in the workshop. To reserve your space in a workshop, you can call us with your credit card information... or by mail with a check or money order. We cannot hold a space in a workshop without a deposit. The balance is due prior to the start of the workshop. Prior to all workshops, you must sign a release form and turn it in prior to the workshop. You may find a downloadable one here to print out and bring along to the workshop.


Transfer and Refund Policy:
If for any reason you need to cancel, please notify us at least 30 days before the start of the workshop. At that time, we will refund your deposit, less a $25.00 cancellation fee. If notification of cancellation is made less than 30 days before the start of the workshop, there are no refunds. However, the full deposit may be transferred to a future workshop. In the event a workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all deposits are fully refunded, or may be transferred to a future workshop.


Private Instruction Available:
$500 full day/$300 half day

Frequently Asked Questions

Here's some general information about our monthly Photography Workshop with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

Where are these classes held, anyway?

Most of the workshops are held outdoors at some of my favorite shooting locations. We'd probably be right here anyway, even if there wasn't a class! Timing is critical. We'll be at each location at its peak time of year. Please note that the Death Valley session is not scheduled in August!

Do I need to have lots of photographic experience?

No! Your experience is not nearly as important as your enthusiasm for getting great shots. We can get you up-to-speed on the basic fundamentals pretty quickly. All topics covered will pertain to either digital or film cameras. And, typically the discussions and demonstrations will be centered on the basics and fundamentals of good photographic technique: composition, exposure, lens selection, filtration, flash-fill, the use of reflectors, understanding depth-of-field, and metering. In addition to these universal subjects, we'll also incorporate the techniques unique to digital: white balance, file size, RAW vs. JPEG, long exposures and noise levels as well as Photoshop and preparing your files for printing. And with the before-and-after demonstrations that we do with slide shows and digital cameras, you'll learn much faster.

What about all that technical stuff? It always confuses me!

Me too. And, it can really be mind-boggling, especially if you get side-tracked on some of the really complex issues. We cut-to-the-chase on these topics and show you only what's critical. As a studio owner, I've had to deal with most of these problems. That's why I love shooting the nature and landscape stuff. It's more of an artistic release than a technical exercise. And, you can impress your friends and neighbors with all your great shots!

I can’t get away from work to attend all the days of the workshop. What happens if I only stay for a day or two?

No problem. This happens a lot, and it’s not a problem. I’d recommend that if you can make it for only one day of the week-end class---go on Saturday. We start off with the basics, early in the morning, and by noon a lot of the principles have been explained, and most of the confusion is gone. Since you pay only for the days that you attend, you can always come back for a refresher course, at a different location.

I know I’ll have lots of questions, and need some things explained a couple times. Will there be enough time for all this?

Yes. That’s why we keep the group sizes small. This allows for lots of one-on-one instruction. Our average class size is less than 10, so we can accommodate students with varying degrees of photographic knowledge. The experience level of the students varies, and actually makes things more interesting.

My camera’s not all that great. And I’m not quite familiar with all the features.

In fact you may not even own a camera, yet. No problem. There’s probably a good camera store nearby that can rent you a camera system for the class. It will give you a chance to practice with a top-notch system before you buy. And a lot of what we cover at the workshops are basic fundamentals. So, even if the camera you do have is not a top of the line model, you’ll still be able to apply all the new information. Some of the newer digital point and shoots models are VERY sophisticated...even though they look very simple. Typically, most everyone shoots with 35mm DSLR’s. But, I’m comfortable with both medium and large- format systems, so bring whatever you’re familiar with. Make sure your camera has full Manual settings, so you can have control of Shutter Speeds, and Aperture. It’s also a good idea to bring along the instruction manual and extra batteries.

Why should I buy a bunch of filters and accessories that may never get used again? Or, what if we find out that we should have gotten some better gear?

You really don’t need to get a lot of accessories for the class. Some of our sponsors have provided us with loaner gear for the students. We've got a supply of Manfrotto tripods, Lee filters and Westcott reflectors and other things for you to try before you buy! Just let us know what you'll need, so we can bring it along.

How do I get there, and where will we stay?

We’ll fax or email you some pretty detailed directions. Also a list of nearby motels and campgrounds. If you’re interested in sharing a ride with another student, let us know. We’d like to have everyone staying relatively close together. That way we can stay in touch in case there’s a change in the itinerary due to weather. This also makes for easier caravaning, if we’re driving anywhere.

Who’s this Don guy, anyway?

I’m one of the fortunate ones who love what they do for a living. Photography has been my only profession, and we’ve operated a commercial studio since the mid 70’s. My assignments have ranged from major corporate annual reports, thru studio table-top shooting and location industrial sessions. We’ve also continued to photograph weddings, portraits, copy and restoration, and custom matting and framing for our line of landscape and nature photographs. And, just to fill in any spare time, I’m also teaching nights at a local photography center.

Am I too young, or too old?

Probably. But it won’t matter for the workshops! We’re not doing any ridiculously strenuous hiking, or climbing. And just getting up before sunrise is enough exertion for most folks. We have a pretty varied age group, and it never has been a problem. We’ve all got the same common love of the outdoors and photography.

I can’t make it to any of the Workshops listed on your schedule? How can I find out about next year?

Give us a call, and we’ll add you to the mailing list, or you can check our Website for any updates at http://www.photographybydon.com/.

How much memory/film should I bring?

Digital: Memory Card capacity varies, but you'll want to have enough storage to cover at least a day's worth of shooting. With today's cameras using more memory, especially when shooting in the RAW mode, you'll want to have enough memory on hand to keep shooting. We'd recommend at least 4GB of memory. If you have a laptop to bring to the workshop, you can download your images after each shooting session and/or burn CD's/DVD's to back the data up. No laptop? Delkin's provided their Burn Away (burn directly from your camera's memory card to either CD's or DVD's) to use.

Film: On a typical day, 3 or 4 rolls. But, sometimes, with great light and exceptional scenery, you'll shoot more. Bring extra. There's nothing worse than running out of film right when the conditions are perfect.

What film is the best for outdoor shooting?

As far as what specific type of film to use, the universal favorite for nature and landscape is Fuji's Velvia. Originally an ISO 50 speed transparency film, with enhanced color saturation, the latest, Fujichrome Velvia 100, carries on the tradition of vivid color and intense saturation of Fujichrome Velvia 50. New Velvia 100 is ideal in any application where Fujichrome Velvia 50 has been used, however, several new features and improvements will expand the applications.. And if you're still trying to hone your metering and exposure technique, a transparency film is what you need. Don't let the slow speeds fool you. Most everything we shoot will be on a tripod, and it's just not a problem. So, whether you'd like to try the 100 speed Velvia, or stick with the 50 speed, Fuji's got you covered. Due to the demand, Fuji is bringing back the Velvia 50 as well, so it will be your choice.

How do I sign-up? This sounds pretty cool.

The best way is to call us at the studio, (626) 444-8008. We can hold your spot, and answer any questions.

What happens if I pay, and at the last minute have to cancel?

If you let us know at least 30 days in advance, we’ll issue a refund, less a $25 cancellation fee. Less than 30 days, we will apply the full amount to another workshop of your choice.

What about meals?

When possible, we'll provide provide coffee and donuts in the morning. We always take an extended breakafter the early morning session, and sometimes eat lunch together. We like to host a hamburger and hot dog barbeque on one of the days. Occasionally the group gets together for dinner. But, after a long day, most everyone is ready to hit the sack early.