California Coast Photography Workshop

This 2-day seascape photography workshop will help photographers create entrancing photos of the breathtaking central California coast. The workshop focuses on understanding your camera's settings in order to break into new creative realms. There is a strong emphasis on producing striking and powerful compositions, as well as telling a story with your photos. The workshop will cover shoot planning and how to be in the right place at the right time. In addition, the workshop will discuss aspects of post-processing and digital workflow. We will discuss:

• Transforming your artistic vision into memorable photographs
• Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO - their relationship to one another and how to change them for exposure control
• Metering and getting a correct exposure
• Histograms, how to read them, and how to fine-tune exposure
• Creative depth-of-field effects using aperture control
• Capturing motion within your photos using different shutter speeds
• Timing waves to capture crashing spray, water streaks, and sandy reflections
• White balance and creative coloration
• Creating perspective, depth, and a sense of "being there" in your photos
• Creating powerful compositions with impact
• Composing to control your viewer's attention in your photos
• Compositional balance, tension, and visual flow
• How to use filters to capture dramatic light or create long-exposure effects
• Shoot planning and how to be at the right place at the right time
• Aspects of post-processing and digital workflow

• Digital SLR camera
• Lenses. Wide and ultra-wide angle lenses are highly recommended
• A sturdy tripod
• Footwear with good traction (waterproof or rubber boots recommended) and warm socks (very important!)
• Creativity and a positive attitude
• Warm clothes in layers, gloves, a warm hat, and a rain jacket
• A wide-brim hat and sunscreen
• A one-liter (or larger) water bottle

Highly recommended items

• Filters (ND, Grad ND, Polarizers)
• Remote shutter release
• Camera rain sleeve
• Flashlight

Fitness level

This workshop is appropriate for photographers of average fitness levels. We will walk approximately 5 miles over the course of each day of the workshop. This includes walking on sandy, uneven, and slippery terrain. All participants are expected to be able to carry their own camera, personal gear, and water during the workshop.

Day 0, Friday, December 6
Students arrive in Santa Cruz and are free to explore the area on their own. After sunset we will meet to introduce the group, talk a bit about the workshop, and give a brief overview of the area and its unique wonders. Then we turn you loose to get a good night's sleep.

Day 1, Saturday, December 7
A pre-dawn wake up call ensures we'll be at our first beach and shooting when the sun rises. Then it'll be a beach-blitz day: from sunrise to sunset we'll be covering the absolute best and most beautiful beaches in Santa Cruz county. Some of our absolute favorite beaches, such as Four Mile Beach and Hole in the Wall Beach, live in this section of coast. Of course there will be breaks scheduled so we can rest, get something to eat, and recharge our batteries. After the sun goes down we'll have an informal discussion of post-processing and digital workflow. But we don't want to keep you guys up too late, because the next day we're back at it.

Day 2, Sunday, December 8
Sunday follows a similar schedule to Saturday: up early to catch the sunrise, then shoot all day till we drop. Except this time we'll be venturing further north into San Mateo county in order to take advantage of the different geology and features its beaches have to offer. This section of the coast will keep us busy shooting bizarre tafoni rock formations and incredible glassy, sandy reflections. Depending on conditions we may also venture down south to explore the dramatic Big Sur coast. After sunset, it'll be time to pack it in and say goodbye.

This workshop is organized to take advantage of the best and most interesting locations the central California coast has to offer. However, the exact itinerary and places we visit may change depending on the group and weather conditions.

• Quality, professional, 1-on-1 photography instruction on par with your level as a photographer
• 8 - 10 hours per day of in-field shooting and instruction
• Image review and post processing session
• Water and snacks throughout the workshop
• A fun, positive, interactive learning environment
• Small class size of 8 students maximum

What's Not Included

• Transportation. While students need to provide their own transportation during the workshop we will be carpooling as much as possible.
• Lodging
• Meals, though the group often eats together throughout the workshop

Deposit Required

50% deposit due upon registering
Balance due no later than 60 days prior to start of workshop

View our cancellation policy

Josh Cripps moved to Santa Cruz in 2009 and has spent countless hours on the area's beaches since then. He knows the seastacks and shelves by name and can dodge a rogue wave with one hand tied behind his back. He loves helping students get their feet wet with seascape photography.

Jim Patterson has lived in Santa Cruz for over 16 years and practically put the area "on the map" with his spectacular seascape photography. From Half Moon Bay south all the way through Big Sur, Jim knows the area's beaches like no one else due to countless hours spent scouting and photographing the central California coast.

Josh and Jim are both professional photographers from Santa Cruz, California. They have been teaching together since 2010 (and separately since 2008) and have developed a tag-team approach to helping students understand photography concepts. Through a combination of theory, philosophy, examples, and on-the-spot feedback, they help students reach those "a-ha!" moments that take their photography to the next level.

Getting to the workshop

This workshop is based out of Santa Cruz, California. Santa Cruz is located at the Northern end of the beautiful Monterey Bay at the intersection of the 17 and 1 highways. Just 30 minutes south of San Jose, 1.5 hours south of San Francisco, or 5 hours north of Los Angeles, Santa Cruz is easy to get to from all parts of California.

Getting around during the workshop

Transportation is not provided. While students need to provide their own transportation during the workshop we will be carpooling as much as possible.

Where to stay

Lodging is not included in the tuition for this workshop. However, Santa Cruz has numerous lodging options, from budget to luxury. We recommend staying along Ocean street in the central part of the city as there are a number of easily accessible hotels and motels. Ocean street is also convenient to our meeting location. Contact us if you'd like lodging suggestions.

Climate

Santa Cruz enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with mild temperatures all year round. In December nights are typically chilly and days are cool, with temperatures ranging anywhere from 32°F to 70°F. Winter also brings relief from the fog that often blankets the coast in the summer. Moreover, Santa Cruz receives the vast bulk of its annual precipitation during the months from November to March. Along with rain, those winter storms bring dramatic light to the coast, making winter the best time for coastal photography in this area.

Recommended clothing

Due to the cool days and chance of getting wet (either from the ocean or a rainstorm), we HIGHLY recommend bringing multiple layers of non-cotton clothing, a sturdy rain jacket and rain pants, a warm hat, gloves, lots of changes of socks, some dry shoes, and waterproof or rubber boots to wear while shooting. A wide-brim hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, and a large water bottle will also be indispensable.

A few nice things folks have said about this workshop...

I just wanted to thank you two for an awesome workshop. I thought you guys were terrific. You're both incredibly knowledgeable about seascape photography and the area - and better yet - awesome instructors. I'd consider taking another workshop just to hangout and see more locations. I especially appreciated that you guys were always available for questions both during the workshop and afterwards. Dinner and lunches were great too. I learned a ton and got all my questions answered. I loved that we were out all day! Best workshop I've taken. ~ ~ Tor B.

[I enjoyed] being able to learn and try new techniques while under the guidance of the instructors. [I learned about] long exposure, filters, composition tips, safety at the shore, and more. [My expectations] were exceeded. ~ Roger W.

I will return for more workshops. I loooooooooove you! ~ Priscilla O.