Announcing: Killarney Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat

Join award winning photographer Andrew McLachlan in Killarney, Ontario May 4th, 5th & 6th 2020 for 2 ½ days of in-depth photographic exploration. This early spring workshop will avoid black fly season. During this workshop we will visit some of the finest landscapes along the Georgian Bay coast as well as iconic vistas within Killarney Provincial Park. You will be walking among the magnificent landscapes that once inspired the legendary Group of Seven, creating your own masterpieces. Marvel at the pink granite outcrops along Georgian Bay and the ancient white quartzite ridges of the La Cloche Mountain Range, while exploring the ‘crown jewel’ of the Ontario park system in Killarney Provincial Park.

The Killarney Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat will require the ability to walk along trails with uneven terrain that are rated as easy to moderate trails. Please do not hesitate to inquire should you have any concerns regarding your abilities.

Our photography retreats are geared towards creating dramatic imagery throughout the entire day, to provide you with extensive opportunities for photographic instruction. For folks that arrive in the Killarney area on the afternoon of Sunday May 2nd there will be the added bonus of a Sunday evening photo shoot near the town of Killarney.

I will be staying at The Sportsman Inn and do recommend that participants book their own accommodations here as well. However, you are welcome to explore other options for accommodations in Killarney, which may include AirBnBs or camping in Killarney Provincial Park.

I am also pleased to announce that Singh Ray Filters have graciously provided me with filters to use as teaching tools for registrants attending my photography retreats.

Dates: May 4, 5, & 6, 2020

Maximum number of participants is 8

Itinerary:

Day 1:

• Sunrise photo session

• Breakfast (on your own)

• Mid-morning photo shoot

• Lunch (on your own)

• Afternoon & Sunset photo sessions

• Dinner (on your own)

Day 2:

• Sunrise photo session

• Breakfast (on your own)

• Mid-morning photo shoot

• Lunch (on your own)

• Afternoon & Sunset photo sessions

• Dinner (on your own)

Day 3:

• morning photo session

• breakfast (on your own)

• participants depart for home at 11:00 a.m.

What’s Included:

• In-depth photographic instruction during each of the photo sessions with LCD review

• Image review and casual Lightroom / Photoshop sessions on Monday and Tuesday evening

What’s Not Included:

• Transportation (car pooling of participants is encouraged)

• Accommodations and meals

• Daily passes for entry into Killarney Provincial Park (unnecessary if you have the annual park pass)

• Snacks such as protein bars are excellent choices while out photographing.

• Alcoholic Beverages

Workshop Fee:

$325 CDN plus taxes

To reserve your spot in the Killarney Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat payment in full is due now.

Please contact me by clicking here to register for this event

Cancellation Policy:

91 days prior to the workshop date 50% of workshop fee is refunded.

90 days prior to the workshop date or less no refunds.

Announcing: The 3rd Annual Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat

Join award winning photographer Andrew McLachlan for the 3^rd Annual Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat. This intensive, photographic event on Lake Superior will be held at the Rock Island Lodge, which is situated on seven stunning acres of Lake Superior shoreline near Wawa, Ontario. Capture the true essence of Lake Superior while walking in the footsteps of the Group of Seven as we explore the most impressive scenery Ontario has to offer.

The Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat will provide participants with 3 full days and 2 half days of photography! Please note that each photographic destination selected for this event is accessed by short, easy walking trails. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome to register.

Dates: October 14 – October 18th, 2020.

The maximum number of participants is 10.

Often referred to as Canada’s inland sea, Lake Superior offers the most dramatic scenery available for the landscape photographer in Ontario. Being well-travelled along this coast I will ensure that you are in the right location at the right time, receive in-depth photographic instruction, and are inspired to capture breathtaking imagery. We will focus our efforts on landscape photography at sunrise and sunset, mid-day photography, as well as starry nightscapes (weather permitting). Mid-day photo sessions to specific locations will based on the current weather conditions that each day provides. There will also be time set aside after dinner for image review and Photoshop / Lightroom image optimization. The dates for this retreat were chosen as they coincide with the onset of Lake Superior’s stormy season, which often means rough seas and waves crashing into the rugged coast.

Here is a testimonial from 2019 participant Scott Powers:

“I had a great time on the 2019 Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat with Andrew McLachlan. The 3 ½ days flew by with endless opportunities to shoot different and exciting landscapes that are so near to home, and yet so foreign to many of us. Lake Superior is truly spectacular scenery.

My goal was to learn more about photographing landscapes and my expectations were exceeded. Andrew’s easy-going nature and extensive knowledge helped me to improve my understanding and knowledge in just about every area. So many things that I “sort of knew”, just fell into place with repeated activities throughout the week.

If you are an amateur who wants to improve, or if you are just looking for an opportunity to hang out with a great group of like-minded people, I highly recommend Andrew’s tour”

New for 2020: the fee for accommodations and meals will be paid directly to Naturally Superior Adventures / Rock Island Lodge by June 1, 2020. Accommodation is limited at Rock Island Lodge; therefore, lodge rooms will be assigned to those that register for the retreat first. Once the Rock Island Lodge maximum has been met additional participants will be placed at the High Falls Motel & Cabins. The High Falls Motel is located about five minutes away from Rock Island Lodge and is where I stay during the retreat.

Itinerary:

October 14th:

• Check in at 2:00 p.m. at Rock Island Lodge
• Meet & Greet with a sunset photo session at Rock Island Lodge
• Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
• Inspiring photographic presentation on the areas we will be photographing around Lake Superior
• night sky photo session (weather permitting)

October 15^th – 17th:

• morning photo session
• breakfast
• free time / mid-morning photo session
• image review / Photoshop instruction at Rock Island Lodge
• lunch (either on site or bagged lunch in the field)
• free time / early afternoon photo session
• late afternoon/sunset photo session
• dinner
• Photoshop / Lightroom instruction
• night sky photo session (weather permitting)

October 18th:

• morning photo session
• breakfast
• participants depart for home at 10:00 a.m.

What’s Included:

• In-depth photographic instruction at each photo session with in-the-field image review
• Nightly Photoshop / Lightroom image optimization sessions
• A selection of various filter types on hand during photo sessions to enhance your creativity. Filters graciously supplied by Singh Ray Filters.

 

What’s Not Included:

• Accommodation and meals will be paid directly to Naturally Superior Adventures / Rock Island Lodge
• Transportation (car-pooling of participants is encouraged)
• Snacks and Alcoholic Beverages

Workshop Fee:

$700.00 CDN plus taxes is due now to register for this event.

Payment may be made by email transfer or by cheque made payable to Andrew McLachlan.

Please contact me by clicking here to register for this event.

Accommodations & Meals:

This payment is to be made directly to Naturally Superior Adventures / Rock Island Lodge. Details to be provided upon registration.

$527.36 CDN plus taxes per person based on double occupancy due no later than June 1, 2020

$767.36 CDN plus taxes per person based on single occupancy due no later than June 1, 2020

Rock Island Lodge waiver of liability and dietary requirement forms are to be completed at time of making final payment.

Cancellation Policy:

91 days prior to the workshop date 50% refund on workshop fee.

90 days prior to the workshop date or less no refunds.

Please note: if we are able to fill cancellations from a wait list of potential participants a full refund will be given.

 

Lake Superior Trip Report

Sunset on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

From October 23rd to November 3rd I was in Ontario’s far north on the shore of Lake Superior teaching two back to back landscape photography workshops. Lake Superior with a doubt provides landscape photographers with the most scenic vistas in Ontario. It is very easy to see what the area caught the eye of the Group of Seven. During this year’s trip we were blessed with inclement weather which saw large waves rolling into the rugged coast, providing us with some very dramatic imagery. We were even rewarded with an early dusting of snow one morning which added further interest to the already impressive landscape.

In between the two workshops I had two half days and two full days off so I decided to venture further north to the area around Marathon, Ontario to explore one of my most favourite parks in Ontario – Pukaskwa National Park. I was also able to locate a specific waterfall along Mink Creek that I had tried to find on numerous previous trips.

Today’s post features a selection of imagery from both landscape photography workshops and my two solo days further afield. I am hard at work putting the finishing touches on the 2020 Lake Superior event and will announce it in the near future. To be added to the contact list please do reach out to me by clicking here.

Daybreak on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Approaching Storm on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Mink Falls, Marathon, Ontario

 

Agawa Bay, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Agawa Rock, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Early Snow on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Lake Superior at Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

 

Lake Superior at Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

 

Lake Superior at Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

 

In-Camera Birch Forest Blur, Ontario

Sandy Beach on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Catfish Creek, Ontario

 

Sarnia Photographic Club

I am very excited to be presenting my all day seminar “Visual Beauty and Creative Expression from the Wildlands of Ontario & Beyond” this Saturday, November 9th, for the Sarnia Photographic Club at the Sarnia Library Theatre from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There will be door prizes from Singh Ray Filters, Wimberley, and Carman’s Camera

Hope to see you there 🙂

Announcing: Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop

The next Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop will be held on Saturday December 7, 2019 at Lifelike Imaging in Mississauga, Ontario (10:00 am to 3:00 pm)

The space for this workshop is limited to a maximum of 8 participants to allow ample time for folks to photograph each species of frog.

Please note that this will be the last Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop for 2019

These are the only workshops available in Canada whereby you will be able to capture stunning imagery of 15 – 20 different species of frogs and toads from all over the world. We will be photographing numerous varieties of dart frogs endemic to the Amazon rainforest, and several other species of frogs from Costa Rica, South America, and Madagascar. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to explore the jungles of the world, with hired guides, on your own, in hopes of photographing a mere fraction of these species. These workshops, in partnership with Understory Enterprises, will bring you an incredible opportunity to photograph these 15 – 20 species of frogs in a comfortable atmosphere with natural, pleasing studio set-ups.

The recommended gear for photographing these tiny frogs is a macro lens and off camera flash. Alternately, using high quality close-up filters such as the Canon 500D filters will allow many lenses such as the Nikon 80-400mm or Canon 100-400mm to focus close enough for these small subjects. Please contact me here if you have any equipment inquiries when registering for this workshop. I also have custom made flash diffusers that will allow folks to capture stunning imagery using camera mounted flash as well. A note about flash use; you should possess a basic understanding of how to operate your flash and make +/- adjustments to flash output.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided during the workshop.

To register for this workshop contact me by clicking here .

Payments can be made via email transfer or by cheque made payable to Andrew McLachlan.

Hope to see you there!

The one day cost of the workshop is $195 CDN plus applicable taxes.

Cancellation Policy:

No Refunds

Announcing: The Muskoka Winter Waterfall Spectacular Photographic Workshop

oin Andrew McLachlan in Ontario’s Muskoka District on January 3, 4, & 5 2020 for one full day and two half days of in-depth photographic exploration of the finest waterfalls in the region. Embrace the beauty of Muskoka this winter and learn the skills of landscape photography amid a winter wonderland of snow clad, iconic white pines and the intricate ice formations that adorn the waterfalls and rivers.

This workshop will require the ability to walk approximately 1 kilometre over uneven, snow-covered terrain. I do recommend the use of crampons on this workshop for the added safety they provide against slip and fall incidents if conditions should be icy.

I recommend that participants book their accommodations with the Sleep Inn in Bracebridge as they serve a continental breakfast. Please contact me prior to booking rooms for instructions on special rate.

This event will run, rain, snow, or sun.

Maximum number of participants is 10.

Itinerary:

Friday January 3:

• Meet at 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn, Bracebridge and carpool to photo session at area waterfall

• Dinner (on your own)

• Optional night photography session at Bracebridge Falls as it is lit with flood lights

Saturday January 4:

• Meet in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn, Bracebridge at 7:00 a.m. and carpool to waterfalls for photo sessions

• Stop for lunch (on your own) at approximately 1:00 p.m.

• Visit additional waterfalls for photo sessions

• Dinner at local restaurant at 7:00 p.m.

• Get some rested for early start on Sunday

Sunday January 5:

• Meet in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn, Bracebridge at 7:00 a.m. and carpool to waterfalls for photo sessions

• Stop for lunch (on your own) 1:00 p.m.

• Depart for home

What’s Included:

• In-depth photographic instruction during each photo sessions with LCD review

• Saturday dinner at nearby restaurant

What’s Not Included:

• Accommodations (numerous options available… I will be staying at the Sleep Inn)

• Transportation (car pooling of participants is encouraged)

• Friday night dinner

• Breakfast (The Sleep Inn serves a continental breakfast)

• Alcoholic Beverages

Workshop Fee:

335.00 CDN plus taxes

Payment can be made via email transfer or by cheque.

To reserve your spot in the Muskoka Winter Waterfall Spectacular please contact me by clicking here to arrange payment.

Cancellation Policy:

No Refunds.

Check your schedule carefully prior to booking.

Report: Muskoka Autumn Colour Spectacular Photographic Workshop

Daybreak in the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Ontario

On Wednesday October 9 the 2nd Annual Muskoka Autumn Colour Spectacular Photographic Workshop wrapped up. We had a fantastic group of participants and were blessed with some wonderful conditions to photograph in.

Brooks Falls on the Magnetawan River, Almaguin Highlands, Ontario

Our first stop was at Brooks Falls on the Magnetawan River in Ontario’s Almaguin Highlands. We were blessed with beautiful autumn foliage and a good amount of flow in the river inspite of the dry conditions we have experienced this past summer.

Hogs Trough on the Oxtongue River, Ontario

Next on our list of locations was the Oxtongue River. Upon arrival bright sunny conditions plagued us, but a quick rain shower approached to create the best conditions possible for us, both above Hogs Trough and below.

Oxtongue River, Ontario

A quick stop at Ragged Falls further upstream was a little less than desired as this section of the river was running quite low, but autumn color reflecting in the river’s details provided some very nice opportunities, which can be seen below.

Oxtongue River Details, Ragged Falls Provincial Park, Ontario

The second day of the workshop was spent exploring the opportunities around the Bracebridge area, which were plentiful and saw us discovering some really amazing reflections along Potts Creek.

Potts Creek, Bracebridge, Ontario

On our final morning we may our way to the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve and were greeted by a stunning morning. The cool night air provided the temperatures for mist to rise from Highland Pond and as the first rays of the sun broke over the tree tops the photographic possibilities were endless. What a way to end the workshop 🙂

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Ontario

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Ontario

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Ontario

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Ontario

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Ontario