The Oregon Coast is a treasure for the landscape photographer. Rocky coastlines, towering sea stacks, beautiful hidden beaches – all shaped by the strong tides of the Pacific Ocean. It is without a doubt one of the most photogenic places on earth. Join Scott Davenport on an exciting journey to this breathtaking and gorgeous coastline.
I could spend hours exploring the area around Sisters Rock, just north of Gold Beach, Oregon. On this day, the swirling, misty clouds created an ever-changing display of light, shadow and fog. This was at high noon. Good light is good light.
High winds had the clouds whipping across the sky and the sun peeked above the horizin in the distance.
I couldn't resist getting a "hero" shot among the rocks at Bandon Beach.
The workshop begins mid-day on November 11th, 2019. We'll meet at our private house in Bandon to get to know one another. We plan the workshop to help you achieve your photography goals.
Each day we will shoot sunrise and sunset. We'll monitor the weather closely and select locations to get the best conditions. If the skies are interesting mid-day, we may choose to stay out shooting and forgo a post-processing session. The weather is fickle and may turn on us the next day. We'll take advantage of good conditions and make photos when the odds are in our favor.
In between our shoots, we will stay together as a group and enjoy meals together, too. When conditions aren't good, we'll return to our private beach house to recharge. I will host post-processing sessions in between shoots, too. I will have some prepared material, although I prefer to tailor lessons to your needs. This is your workshop.
After our final sunrise outing, we wrap up our workshop on November 15th, 2019. Days will be long. The alarm will ring early. Some days involve a couple of hours of driving (we'll carpool). This isn't a vacation and we will "work" during the workshop. You will be tired afterwards - but you'll also be grinning from ear to ear!
Please note! This workshop involves moderate hiking over uneven terrain. You should be comfortable carrying your gear while hiking. Any questions or concerns, contact me.
8 location shoots on the central and southern Oregon Coast
4 nights lodging in our private beach house in Bandon, Oregon
Daily hands-on coaching and instruction in the field
Group and personalized post processing instruction
Photo critiques
Water and snacks while on location
Transportation (airfare/car rental) to and from Bandon, Oregon
Meals
Travel Insurance
Anything else not expressly included
In my experience, the more questions and thirst for knowledge you bring to the workshop, the more you will get out of it. I thrive on questions and love teaching photography.
How to create dynamic, compelling landscape compositions
How exposure settings affect the appearance and feeling of water in your photos
How to best focus your camera for landscapes
Workflow and post processing techniques to realize your creative vision
How to use masking and brushing to make your photos pop!
And much, much more…
Participants receive a complete workshop handbook with details on what gear and clothing to pack. Here's a summary:
A camera that is capable of manual mode. Interchangeable lenses are a plus.
A variety of lenses. If you can pack only one, pack your most versatile lens.
A sturdy tripod. The coast can get windy.
A laptop with photo editing software.
A polarizing filter and neutral density filters.
A warm, waterproof jacket, hat & gloves, and layers of clothing.
Sturdy hiking boots that can get wet.
An open mind and a can-do attitude!
This workshop will involve some hiking. If you are comfortable walking on uneven ground for 1 to 2 miles, you'll be fine on this workshop. There are some coastal trails and stairways that wind down several hundred feet on steeper inclines, so the hike back up is the tough part. If a location is out of your comfort zone, I'm never going to force participation. We'll figure out an alternative.
This workshop is for photographers that are serious about improving your craft. All skill levels are welcome. You do not need to be an advanced photographer. You'll get more from the workshop if you already have an understanding of the fundamentals. If you can work comfortably in aperture priority mode and know when it's time to switch to manual/bulb, you are plenty prepared.
“Scott is without question the best instructor/tour leader I have ever had!”
“I will be holding all others to your high standards.”
“Scott’s workshops are ALL about the participants.”
“Scott exceeded my expectations on all fronts.”
The beautiful overlook at Coquelle Point in Bandon, Oregon.
A sunny Sunday morning on Whaleshead Beach, north of Brookings, Oregon.
The Heceta Head Lighthouse perched along the Oregon coast.
What locations will we visit?
We will choose from a pool of locations on a daily basis. Bandon Beach, the Samuel H. Boardman Corridor, and Brookings are just a few of the places we’ll choose from. There are many more great places to choose from, too. Daily weather conditions will play a significant factor in selecting a location. The ocean tides, too. We may visit a location more than once if a particular spot gives us the best conditions for good photos.
Will we shoot in the rain?
The short answer - yes. The Pacific Northwest gets a lot of rain. It’s to be expected. We won’t shoot in a downpour or if there’s a lightning storm. Conversely, we won’t let a light rain discourage us from reaching a location and being prepared for a shoot. The weather can be fickle. Rain showers can come and go over the course of an hour or two. And that makes for interesting photos! All the photos on this page were taken in the month of November.
What will this adventure cost me in total?
I can’t give you a firm number, but I estimate the total cost around $3000. How am I arriving at that number? The workshop and 4 nights lodging is $1895. The remainder is derived from reasonable estimates: $450 for a domestic flight to Portland (PDX), $300 for a rental car for a week, and $300 for food. If you're traveling internationally, of course your flight cost will be higher. And if you rent a luxury car and dine on high end seafood every meal, those costs will be higher, too. :-)
I'm flying in. What airport should I travel to?
Good options are Eugene Airport (EUG) or Portland International (PDX). Both are a healthy drive from Bandon – but this adventure is well worth it! Portland is roughly a 4 1/2 hour drive from Bandon. Eugene is closer at about 3 hours drive. There are more flights into Portland than Eugene generally speaking. It all depends on where you are traveling from. Note: Portland traffic is terrible - account for an extra hour of travel if you are in the city during rush hour.
Can I bring a spouse or +1?
No, unless she/he is participating, too. Our purpose during our workshop is to live and breathe photography. This isn't a vacation. There is "work" in this workshop. But is being out in nature with our cameras really "work"? :-)
What level of fitness do I need?
There aren’t any epic hikes. You do need to be sufficiently fit to walk a mile or two on uneven terrain. Several of the locations involve steep grades or longer staircases to reach - meaning the hike out is the tougher part!. If you can hike on a steep grade for a 10 to 15 minute clip, you’re in good shape for this workshop. Of course, I’ll never force you to go somewhere out of your comfort zone. We’ll figure out alternatives if and when called for.
Is Oregon cold in November?
On average, temperatures at the coast are about 50F/10C. The wind can be strong and in the early mornings and evenings it is colder. Layers of clothing is advised, along with a waterproof jacket with a hood. I also recommend bringing a hat and gloves.
What is the beach house like?
It’s really cool! It’s along Beach Loop in Bandon. Bandon Beach itself is a short walk from the house and Face Rock is visible from the house. Each bedroom has a privacy door and a queen size bed (one has a king!). There are 3 bathrooms to share among the group. The house has plenty of other amenities, too. There's a 55" TV (although I don't think we'll be watching it much), an open space for post processing lessons (or just relaxing and recharging) and wifi (of course!). Downtown Bandon is just a short drive away and we will take several meals in town.
Do I need a rental car?
Yes. You are responsible for getting yourself to Bandon. I suppose you could Uber your way there, but it'll be one heck of a fare. And after the workshop, you might want to spend a couple of extra days exploring the Oregon coast yourself. There's just so much to see and photograph!
What post processing software do I need?
Anything you are comfortable with using. I use Lightroom and ON1 Photo. I am also familiar with Luminar, Aurora HDR, Capture One, and Apple Photos. If you don't have any post processing tools, read this blog post and download a free trial.
My focus in the workshop is to teach you why a photo needs adjusting and what should be adjusted to make your photo stronger. The mechanics of how to do that will vary from tool to tool... and it's usually straightforward to figure out once we know why we want to change something in a photo.
The workshop size is extremely small. I am taking just 5 photographers on this adventure. I want everyone to have plenty of 1-on-1 time with me. When you finish this workshop, I want you to leave not only with great photos, but as a better photographer, too!
Registration
The workshop cost is $1895. That includes personalized instruction, on location guidance, post processing lessons and 4 nights lodging in our private beach house. Lodging is from the afternoon of Monday, November 11th, 2019 through the morning of Friday, November 15th, 2019. Each participant has their own private bedroom.
A deposit of $895 reserves your space. Per my workshop cancelation policy, deposits are non-refundable. You will be invoiced for the remaining $1000 about 90 days prior to the workshop. If you need a payment plan, contact me and we'll make arrangements.
Signups within 90 days of the workshop pay the full workshop price at registration time.
Liability
Participants agree to join the workshop at their own risk and must sign a waiver of liability. By its nature, outdoor landscape photography has inherent risks. I’ll never lead you into an area that is unduly dangerous. If at any time during the workshop you don’t feel comfortable, certainly let me know.
Cancellations
Please review my cancellation policy. This policy covers cancellations from both students and the instructor(s) and refund information.
Deposits are non-refundable.
