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We're teaching two summer nature photography workshops in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Hiawatha Forest during 2009.

Our summer nature photography field workshops will show you how to shoot high quality nature images. Meadows, bogs, shorelines, and forest offer a wide array of exceptional nature subjects to photograph during mid-summer. On cool mornings, we'll explore wet meadows to photograph dewy spider webs, dragonflies, wildflowers, butterflies, and blueberries. On overcast days, we'll photograph some of the nearby gorgeous waterfalls, colorful wildflowers, and delicate mushrooms growing in the forest. On clear evenings, we'll photograph stunning rocky landscapes along the shores of Lake Superior and end the day by photographing the sun setting into the waters of the world's largest fresh-water lake.

Our workshops are carefully planned to take you to secret places where you're sure to find magnificent subjects to photograph. We show you how to select exciting photo prospects from the chaos of nature. Then we demonstrate how to shoot great images of the subject with high quality techniques that anyone can learn and master. We spend 100% of our time in the field helping you take pictures with your equipment. We believe that you have joined our workshop to improve your photographic skills, so we don't shoot any of our own images during the workshops. We spend all of our time with you in the field finding great images for you to shoot. We help you use your equipment to best advantage. On occasion, we demonstrate certain equipment like tilt/shift lenses and fill-flash.

To ensure that instruction is complete, informative, and helpful, group size is limited to eighteen participants (a 1:9 instructor/student ratio).

We spend 20% of the workshop presenting instructional image programs that we have carefully put together to maximize learning. The materials contained in the programs are suitable for beginners through professionals. We kindly critique your images during the week and present a spirited showing of each participant's best images on Friday night.

We present a program featuring images that we have taken during the past year. This popular part of the workshop is a great way to show you the new things that we've discovered about nature photography and the new images we've captured.

We also ask each of you to bring some photos from home to share with the group. Although this is optional, it's a great way for us to see where you've been and how well you're doing. If you would like a critique of your images, just ask; and we'll be glad to do this for you. We eat, breathe, and sleep nature photography at each workshop. But that doesn't mean it's all work and no play. We take our field trips at a leisurely pace, so there is time to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We may even get a little silly at times, but then laughter and humor add to the workshop experience.

Participating in our nature photography workshop is not only a great way to improve your nature photography and to learn about nature, it's a wonderful "learning vacation" as well. It's always a pleasure to share experiences and knowledge with fellow nature photographers. However, our workshops are not for everyone. If you are looking for a workshop that takes you into the field from 9 to 5 when the light is unphotogenic and the wind may be blowing, our workshop is not appropriate for you. We believe in taking our field trips at the times that we would normally be out capturing images for our personal files. Therefore, we take field trips every morning, beginning 1/2 hour before sunrise, and stay out until 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Getting up for our early morning field trips isn't going to be as tough as it sounds. We are on the far western edge of the Eastern Time Zone and on daylight-savings time. One-half hour before sunrise is about 6:20 a.m.

Evening field trips begin 3.5 hours before sunset, and we always stay out for the sunset, if the weather allows.

We'll conduct most of our instructional programs -- which cover exposure, equipment, light, composition, and closeups -- during the middle of the day because the light isn't normally the best for photography. All mornings and evenings are reserved for field trips.

About the Pictured Rocks Area
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore receives its name from the colorful rock formations along the southern shoreline of Lake Superior between Munising and Grand Marais. This whole region is a photographer's paradise. That's why we lived here for several years. The land features a mixture of beech-maple and conifer forests, clear meandering brooks, quiet beaver ponds, undeveloped Lake Superior shorelines, several spectacular waterfalls, and hundreds of small secluded wild lakes. Since very few people live here, it's a land of unspoiled beauty that abounds with wildlife. Black bear, bald eagles, osprey, coyotes, and white-tailed deer are plentiful.

Field Trips
Field trips are 3-4 hours long, so we can shoot many great nature images. We'll visit scenic beaches, rocky Lake Superior shorelines, wildflower meadows, waterfalls, and much more of this northwoods where subjects abound. We'll car pool on each field trip. Since we know this gorgeous part of the world so well, we'll take you to many magical places.

Digital Photography
We use a high quality digital projector for viewing your images. Just give us a copy of these images on a CD, a jump drive, or CF card, so we can view them. Bringing a laptop computer is highly encouraged!

Meals
We eat many meals as a group, but meal time is highly variable. Our field trips are dictated by the weather, so meals must be worked in around photography. We'll eat breakfast as a group after the morning field trip. All other meals will depend on our schedule. Since we have never predicted the weather with any degree of accuracy, we'll just have to see what happens. Generally, we'll go to the DogPatch restaurant in Munising after the morning field trip. By the way, the lodge has a full kitchen for cooking, and each of the motel rooms has a microwave oven and refrigerator, so you can do some of your own cooking if you wish.

Lunch is the most unpredictable meal of all. If a restaurant is nearby when we feel like having lunch, we'll go to the restaurant. Dinner is eaten at restaurants, too. In all cases, when we go to restaurants, everyone orders off the menu and pays for his/her meal then. Nobody has ever gone hungry, nor lost weight during our workshops. But, we do work our meals in around taking beautiful images, not the other way around!

Farewell Dinner
Friday night, after viewing the best images taken during the week, we'll all go to a good restaurant at 8:30 p.m. for our farewell dinner. This is a great way to crown such a busy and productive week. And best of all, the Gerlachs are picking up the tab!

Non-participating Spouses
If space permits, a few non-participating spouses who don't shoot images may be allowed to attend part of the program for $150. Since the meeting room space is so limited, non-participating spouses are not allowed to attend any of the instructional programs conducted by the Gerlachs. However, they are allowed to attend our images of the year program and the Friday night "best images of the week" program. They also can join field trips with their spouse. The $150 fee does include the farewell Friday night dinner.

Workshop Dates
First Session: This week begins Sunday evening on August 9 and runs until Saturday morning after breakfast on Aug. 15, 2009.

Second Session: This week begins Sunday evening on Aug. 16 and runs until Saturday morning after breakfast on Aug. 22, 2009.

When the Workshop Starts and Ends
The workshop begins Sunday at 7:00 P.M. at the Timber Ridge Lodge. The program ends after breakfast on the following Saturday.

Tuition
Tuition for the workshop is $650. A $100 deposit is required at this time to hold your space in the workshop. The deposit is refundable, less a $50 service fee, until May 1, 2009. After May 1, the $100 deposit becomes non-refundable, unless we can refill your space on such short notice (minus the $50 service fee). Tuition includes all classroom and field instruction, detailed notes, Pictured Rocks and Hiawatha National Forest user fees, and the farewell dinner Friday night. Meals, lodging, and items of a personal nature are not included.

Lodging
Our workshops are based at the Timber Ridge Motel and Lodge. These accommodations are nestled among the hills and lakes in the heart of Hiawatha National Forest. Timber Ridge Lodge is right on Hovey Lake, and Timber Ridge Motel overlooks nearby Hovey Lake. These two locales give our participants immediate nature photo opportunities and a perfect place to begin our workshops.

Timber Ridge Lodge: (4 Bedroom House)
The fee for each person with no roommate is $44 per night, plus 6% tax. The fee for the room if sharing with a roommate is $49 per night, plus 6% tax. The two large bedrooms are reserved for a non-smoking participants. In the lodge, there is also a basement where John and Barbara stay. Rooms are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The four or five people staying here will share the two bathrooms. This house has a color TV, full kitchen facilities, fireplace, and borders Hovey Lake.

Timber Ridge Motel
This motel has nine units. Each unit has its own private bathroom. The motel is in excellent condition and well maintained. Each room has a color TV, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and an individual deck overlooking Hovey Lake. This is the best choice for those who wish to room together. The lodge accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, traveler's checks, and cash.
Single Person: The fee for a single person is $54 per night, plus 6% tax.
Two People one Bed: The fee is $59 per night, plus 6% tax.
Two People two Beds: The fee is $59 per night, plus 6% tax.

(Note: Since we are writing this so far ahead of time, it is possible that the price for lodging at the Timber Ridge may increase slightly.)

If you would like additional information regarding the Timber Ridge Motel and Lodge, please contact the owners.

Jan or Mary Sue Nolan
Timber Ridge Motel
HCR 1, Box 52
Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-3790

You also have some camping options, if you prefer.
Otter Lake Campground
The Otter Lake Campground is the best choice for those who wish to camp or stay in their recreational vehicle. Cost is approximately $17/night. The nearby Buckhorn campground is wonderful. It's right on Otter Lake and only a few miles from the Timber Ridge Lodge. Although the campground is seldom busy, do make advance reservations. Call (906) 553-4921.

Hovey Lake Campground
Hovey Lake Campground is a tiny, nearby campground on Hovey Lake, but has few facilities. It does have pit toilets, great northern pike fishing, and a wonderful view. It isn't much, but the price is right. No charge!

Travel and Equipment Information
After making a reservation, we'll send you pre-departure information describing photographic equipment and clothing that is most suitable for the workshop. We'll also send you a detailed map showing you exactly how to find the Timber Ridge Lodge and Motel.

How to Get to the Pictured Rocks Area
Since most of our workshop participants drive to our workshop, we have always relied on car pooling. But, you may prefer to fly to K.I. Sawyer Airport, which is only about 40 miles from the Timber Ridge Lodge. There are a few car rental companies at the small airport. We recommend renting a car because it's convenient to have your own wheels. If you wish to rely on car pooling, you can get a taxi at the airport. The fee for a taxi ride to the Timber Ridge in 2005 was about $85 one-way. If you would like to share a rented car with another participant, let us know, and we'll connect all interested parties.

• About Workshops
• Fall Color Workshops
• Workshop Registration