Out of Olympic
Landscape and Small Scenes Photography Conference
May 7-11, 2023
Image by Nick Page
Experience and capture the diverse, rugged beauty of the Olympic Peninsula, learning hands-on and shooting alongside the pros.
Explore one of the Nation’s most diverse National Parks as you photograph everything from dramatic seascapes with rocky points, sea stacks and crashing waves to old-growth rainforests and more. Spend five days learning and being inspired alongside the most creative landscape photographers in the world.
INSTRUCTORS
Learn from the world's best landscape and small scenes photographers
I’m excited to be joining an amazing team to teach at the inaugural Out of Olympic conference. I moved half-way across the world to be close to the lush Pacific Northwest forests and the wild west coast so this location is close to my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
– Anna Morgan - Out of Olympic Instructor
Nick Page
Sean Bagshaw
Mark Denney
TJ Thorne
Anna Morgan
Michael Frye
Colleen Miniuk
Kurt Budliger
Eric Bennett
Joseph Rossbach
Ben Williamson
Adrian Klein
Highlights
WHAT MAKES THIS CONFERENCE UNIQUE?
LIMITED TO 60 ATTENDEES
12 world-class instructors (5 to 1 student to teacher ratio!)
Olympic National Park is our number one requested destination
Meals are included
Hotel rooms are only $75/night
This conference immerses you in a world-class diverse environment where you will learn and photograph alongside these pros from the coastline to the rainforest. You will have the opportunity to learn hands-on, in the field, with every one of our instructors. Out of Olympic will have more instructors per attendee small group, enabling an even more personalized experience than ever before. The format is organized for you to learn different techniques, try them in the field, and get feedback on your work each day.
THINGS YOU WILL LEARN:
- How to find compositions in complex environments such as an old growth rainforest
- Camera settings for coastal seascape and forest photography, including exposure bracketing, focus bracketing, long exposure wave motion and wide-angle lens composition
- Use of various focal length lenses to capture different effects, from wide-angle seascapes to telephoto forest composition
- Effective use of polarizers and neutral density filters
- Managing motion including varying shutter speeds.
- Strategies to capture tack sharp images every time
- Finding your composition in grand landscapes and intimate scenes
- Post-processing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop, including luminosity masks, smart object techniques, exposure blending, focus blending.
- Finding inspiration in abstracts and small scenes
- Slowing down and going beyond the iconic shot
- Refining vision and style in your photographs
- Hands-on, in-the-field instruction and image reviews
- Workflow from capture to print
- And much more
Everyone was warm and welcoming. I learned a lot, got to shoot a lot, and just had a lot of fun.
– Cindy Myers - Out of the Smokies 2022 Attendee
Itinerary
Immerse yourself in photography from sunrise to sunset. Each day will be an adventure as you head into the field to explore, learn and photograph Olympic National Park with the instructors. You will then return together and review what you learned, follow up with image reviews, post-processing sessions and more. A range of field sessions will be available based on physical ability and most field session locations are within an hour’s drive from the conference venue.
PRE-CONFERENCE ONLINE ORIENTATION*
In-depth online orientation session (date to be announced)
DAY 1
DAY 2, DAY 3, DAY 4
DAY 5
POST-CONFERENCE ONLINE PHOTO CELEBRATION*
Online photo celebration session (date to be announced)
*Both the pre-conference and post-conference online sessions will be recorded and available to any registered attendee who is not able to attend the live presentation.
Location and Accommodation
Forks, Washington
Nestled inside the Olympic National Park, the conference venue is located at the Rainforest Arts Center in Forks, Washington, just minutes away from the Forks Motel. In-the-field excursions will take place along the Washington coast and into the forests of Olympic, with most locations within an hour’s drive of the Forks Motel. Once you register, we will email you information on how you can book your accommodations.
I never thought that I would have so much one on one time with the instructors, they all were great and I became aware of so many new ways to capture the beauty of landscapes. Thank you.
– Ines Schipper - Out of Death Valley 2022 Attendee
Conference Price
$3200
Reserve with a deposit of $1500. The remaining balance is due 90 days before the event on Monday, February 6th, 2023. The event is limited to 60 attendees.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Opening Night Dinner
3 Brunches | 3 Dinners
Closing Breakfast
Hands-on instruction from the top photographers in the field
Daily hands-on workshops and in-the-field excursions
Small-group post-processing sessions, image reviews and table side critiques
Private Out of Olympic online community to connect with your fellow photographers
A comprehensive online orientation session to help you prepare for your time at the conference
An online image celebration event with instructors after the conference concludes
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Hotel, Airfare, and Transportation
National Park Service Pass, Washington State Park Pass
I never thought that I would have so much one on one time with the instructors, they all were great and I became aware of so many new ways to capture the beauty of landscapes. Thank you.
– Ines Schipper - Out of Death Valley 2022 Attendee
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book my accommodations?
What to expect after I register?
After registering, you will get an email with details about the conference including key dates, hotel information and more. Be sure to stay connected via email to receive crucial event communication including surveys about your preferences and updates as needed.
How am I assigned to my field sessions?
Participants will be split into small groups and will work with each group of instructors at least once during the conference. The instructors will be developing the field sessions in advance of the conference based on their knowledge of the area and what locations will provide the best shooting experience. The full detailed schedule will be released a month before the event.
What Olympic locations will we photograph?
Each day we will be traveling up and down the west coast and into the rainforest to photograph everything from rugged coastlines with sea stacks, crashing waves and tide pools, old growth rainforests and much more. The specific locations will be identified closer to the event to account for weather and other conditions, but the primary areas will include locations such as the forested trails and beaches of the west coast and the Hoh Rainforest.
What fitness level is required for the excursions?
Some of the excursions will have almost no walk where you can get out of the car and start shooting. Other excursions require a hike with variable terrain including sand dunes and potentially rocky, uneven terrain.
We will split the group to accommodate all hiking abilities when necessary. Comfortable hiking shoes/boots are recommended.
What is the weather in the Olympic National Park?
May is spring in Washington and can be mild and wet. Daytime temperatures average around 62° and nighttime can be around 43°F. It is a diverse ecosystem, so be prepared for cold and wet or warm and sunny.
What if it rains?
Be sure to bring appropriate weather gear. Remember that bad weather often makes the best images. Schedules will be re-arranged as needed to accommodate weather conditions.
Who is this event for?
Photography enthusiasts and pros. All levels of passionate photographers are welcome. Just be ready to eat, sleep and drink landscape photography for five days.
What photography equipment do I need?
You’ll want a DSLR or mirrorless camera and a tripod. We’ll share detailed equipment recommendations before the event. A laptop is suggested so you can work on your images during the post-processing and critique sessions.
Will there be a chance to hang out with the instructors?
You bet! Throughout the week you’ll be busy shooting out in-the-field together, but throughout the day there will be opportunities to talk or enjoy meals together. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and get to know your favorite photographers.
Will I be sitting in classes all day?
This is a hands-on, immersive photography experience. We’re not going to bring you all the way to the Olympic National Park to sit in a classroom watching something you could watch in bed on Youtube. Over 5 days, you’ll learn new techniques in the field while shooting with some of the world’s best photographers. There is classroom time available to practice post-processing and to get feedback on images, but you’ll be in the field most of the time.
Do I need a National Park Service Pass?
Many field sessions will occur inside the Olympic National Park so each vehicle entering will need a National Park pass. If you are carpooling with a friend then only one person needs to have a pass. Passes can be purchased online here. You can also pay to enter each location separately during the event at the entrance stations.
Can I bring a non-photographer friend or family member with me?
Of course! The group presentations and in-the-field teaching excursions are limited due to space constraints and are reserved for conference attendees only. A meal pass will be offered at an additional charge so that they can join us for group meals.
How do I confirm I am registered for an event?
ƒYou can view all of the events you’re registered for by logging into your Out of Chicago account. In the upper right corner of the website, go to “my account” and “my conferences”. You should see your conference listed there. If it is not, please email us at support@outofchicago.com.
What if I cannot attend the online orientation or image celebration?
Both the pre-conference and post-conference online sessions will be recorded. Everyone registered for the conference will receive the recording a few days after each session.
What are Out of Chicago’s COVID policies?
With the evolving COVID pandemic, we continue to observe recommendations by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and local guidelines for events. This includes physical distancing, masking, health screening, and sanitation protocols. We may require proof of vaccination to attend the event, as we have for our previous events, along with required masking during indoor conference sessions. This will be determined once we get closer to the event and you will receive any information about COVID requirements in advance of the conference.
What is the refund policy?
You can read the refund policy here.
Other Questions?
If you have any other questions, please email info@outofchicago.com