Shoot Till You Drop: Waterton

with Joe Desjardins and Monika Deviat

The title says it all! Spend four days surrounded by the beautiful mountain scenery of Waterton National Park in Alberta while shooting and learning as much as possible. This unique workshop gives you the chance to try a variety of styles of photography with the expert instruction and guidance of two seasoned Alberta based photographers, Joe Desjardins and Monika Deviat.

Waterton in the fall is full of colours and wildlife. Participants will be able to shoot landscapes during the best light, wildlife, portraits, and go out to capture the stars at night. Classroom sessions will be conducted for all four photography components of the workshop so you are prepared before we head out into the field. Class size is limited to ensure everyone will get one on one help in the field.

Landscape Photography

Techniques will be discussed to get you on your way photographing the Alberta landscape. Topics include what’s in the gear bag, settings, composition, light, focusing and tips on perfecting exposure.

Wildlife Photography

Joe will be taking the lead on this genre and covering the basics to get you started in photographing Canadian Wildlife. Joe will discuss what’s in the camera bag along with the do’s and don’ts of photographing wildlife. Camera settings, techniques and safety related to wildlife will also be covered. The diversity of wildlife in the park is incredible. We have the opportunity to see bears, foxes, elk, deer, moose etc. and a variety of birds.

Night Photography

Night photography is one of the most challenging genres of photography and Monika’s favourite. It is worth the effort and staying up late to see how magical the stars make the landscape appear. Participants will learn how to focus in the dark, choose the best settings for their night images, how to compose and plan nightscapes and get to play with some light painting techniques.

Portrait Photography

The fourth component of the workshop will be portrait photography, including how to use off camera flash. Understanding light is the key to creating portraits that make your subject look their best and create specific moods and drama. Knowing how to use a flash outside of a studio setting is a useful tool in any photographers repertoire. Exploring the potential of what off camera flash can do for your subject is fun and exciting. We will ensure everyone comes away with an understanding of how to balance natural light with off camera flash, how to properly position your equipment and how to use modifiers like diffusers. Equipment will be provided.

Suitable for beginner to intermediate photographers.

About The Instructors:

Joe and Monika are not just passionate about photography, they are passionate about teaching. They both conduct seminars and workshops around Alberta. The workshops are not just tours to locations, these are sessions intended to teach you skills and improve your photography. You will come away from this workshop with numerous new skills, great images, and an enthusiasm to continue practicing and getting outdoors to shoot.

Learn more about Joe and his work.

IG @joedesjardins.ca

Learn more about Monika and her work.

IG @deviantoptiks

What to Bring:

• DLSR or mirrorless camera

• Variety of lenses

• Long lenses for wildlife

• Wide angle, fast lenses for night

• Everything in between for experimentation

• Filters

• Extra batteries (and chargers)

• Extra memory cards

• Tripod

• Remote/Intervalometer/Shutter Release

• Off Camera lighting (+ stand and a way to trigger the flash) if you would like to practice with your own equipment

• Snacks

• Water bottles/Beverages

What is included:

• Accomodations (shared room)

• Breakfast and lunch.

What is not included:

• Transportation

• Travel insurance

• Dinner

• Park Pass

Workshop Plan

This schedule is a tentative plan. Changes may be made due to weather or other conditions that may affect the component we are shooting.

Day 1:

• 2 pm Start - Meet & Greet

• Basic wildlife and landscape presentation

• Dinner

• Wildlife Drive + Sunset Shoot

Day 2:

• Sunrise + Wildlife Drive

• 10-2ish break

• Night Photography presentation

• Dinner

• Wildlife Drive + Sunset Shoot

• Night Shoot

Day 3:

• Classroom on Portraits

• In the field portrait shoot

• Night shoot

Day 4

• Sunrise + Wildlife Drive